[Geysers] OF Bike Rental - Message from the specialist!

[Matthew McLean]

The following message is from our bike specialist concerning rentals at Old 
Faithful.  It should cover just about everything.  But, please let Geoff or 
me know if you need any clarifications.

-Matthew

Hello -
	My name is Geoff Getty, and I am the new Bike Specialist for Xanterra Parks 
and Resorts at Old Faithful.  I was forwarded your mail regarding your 
concerns for the bike operation here, and wanted to take the opportunity to 
answer your questions.

First off, all the rental agreements, bike brochures and maps have been 
developed by myself in direct coordination with both NPS and Xanterra Risk 
Management.  Our agreement and trail map does specifically mention off-trail 
travel is prohibited, as well as bike traffic on the boardwalks.  There will 
only be myself and one other Xanterra employee renting bikes out, and I can 
assure you I have a detailed speech that I will require each bike rider 
listen to before turning them loose - specifically reinforcing safety issues 
both on the trails and along roadways, prohibited travel areas, and proper 
"parking" of the bikes when they leave them somewhere.  This will be done 
while using a map to point out the exact areas they can and cannot travel 
through.

I too was concerned about equipment failure, and how to eliminate the "I'm 
at Fountain Flats with a 3 year old and a flat tire - come get me" phone 
call.  We will be using Slime brand tube additive, which is a self-sealing 
compound that instantly seals punctures in tires.  I will also provide the 
riders with the bike shop phone number, so if they are stuck somewhere and 
have a cell phone, they can call.  Also, using our rental agreements, we'll 
be able to track when bikes should have been returned.  I'll also be asking 
each group where they intend to go, and how long they intend to be out.  If 
someone is out past their agreement, we'll know where to start looking for 
them.  Finally, I will have a bike carrier on my personal vehicle and can go 
retrieve bikes and/or guests who may be stuck somewhere.

Your concern about injuries (specifically tumbling into the big hole past 
Artemisia) is valid.  Straight up, there is no way to eliminate all 
possibility of injuries.  However, with guest education through the use of 
stern warnings about risks, as well as reinforcing prohibited activities, we 
should minimize it as much as possible.  I have concerns myself about biking 
along the roadways, especially with the oversized mirrors on RVs overlapping 
what little room there is to bike on.  I've coordinated again with NPS and 
we've developed some procedures for the bikers to minimize there exposure to 
vehicles, and again we'll be going over in detail with each biker these 
risks and the proper safety procedures.  NPS is even looking into lowering 
the speed limit in what we anticipate to be the heavier biked areas.  Also, 
every bike rental comes with a helmet, which we are requiring the use of - 
NPS is also aware of this.  We being a concessionaire cannot levy fines for 
rule violations, but NPS can.  Based on your input, I modified the rental 
agreement to state that any infraction of rules can result in a stiff fine 
by NPS.  Again, I will personally make sure every biker that goes out will 
be instructed exactly where they can and cannot go, as well as any other 
pertinent NPS regulations.

The reasons the Snow Lodge was chosen as the location for the rental 
operation was 1.) We actually have the space to house the operations there.  
With 30 bikes, 4 "hitch-alongs", a bike trailer, and lots of related gear, 
equipment, tools, and accessories, we needed a space that could be dedicated 
to the operation.  The easiest answer was using the space the Bear Den Ski 
Shop uses at the Snow Lodge in the winter.  2.)  The Lodge and the Inn 
receive so much traffic during "geyser rushes" that I imagine it would be a 
nightmare trying to deal with the crush of people trying to rent bikes all 
at once, as well as maneuver them through the crowds.  My concern would be 
that in the frenzy to keep up with the rush, corners would be cut, and 
safety could be compromised.  3.) While there's more roadways around the 
Snow Lodge, there's also less traffic, and much clearer lines of sight to 
allow drivers to see bikers.  With the bikes coming out of the rear entry to 
the Snow Lodge near the Gift Shop, the bikers will be entering traffic via 
the dead-end parking lot next to the Upper Hamilton store.  This lot 
receives very little constant traffic and gives bikers a good opportunity to 
acclimate before moving to busier roads.

As far as our rates go, we currently have a one hour, a half-day, and a 
full-day rate.  We are working on a multi-day rate now, which we are 
currently discussing being the full day rate at 20% off.  I don't anticipate 
any "full-week" rentals, as anyone wanting to bike that much I'd expect 
would bring their own bike, and typically we don't see guests staying that 
long in one area of the park.

We will most definitely be providing a lock with each bike rental, as well 
as a helmet as mentioned above.  Guests will be required to lock bikes when 
they leave them.  We will also be requiring a deposit in case of damaged, 
stolen, or lost equipment.  Again, all this will be covered with each biker 
before they  leave with any equipment.

Matthew McLean indicated to me that you were interested in information about 
the bike racks out in the basin.  Currently, our plan is to use the existing 
bike racks, and supplement them with new racks when possible.  The schedule 
for this will be determined based upon NPS approval of the racks and the 
installation method, which may take a bit.  We also will have racks 
installed at the trailhead to Fairy Falls (along the Fountain Flats Freight 
Road) and the terminus of the Lone Star Trail, as well as any other areas we 
see getting heavy traffic.

Some other info you should know is we will have several sizes of bikes for 
rent - I believe a 14.5", 16.5", 18.5", and 21" size in standard "top-bar" 
bikes, and a 14" and 18" in "low-step".  We will also have a boys and girls 
size.  In addition, we'll be offering "hitch-alongs" which are basically a 
trailer that adds a seat, handlebars, pedals and rear wheel to an existing 
bike (kind of like a tandem configuration) for smaller children, and for 
even smaller kids we'll have a full covered trailer an adult can tow behind 
a bike.  We'll also have some apparel for rent, such as gloves and 
windbreakers.  The bikes themselves are Trek Navigator 200s, and I believe 
should have both front and rear suspension for a very comfortable ride.  I 
also believe all the bikes will be 21-speeds, if I've read the Trek website 
correctly.  We will have a total of 30 bikes for rent, and I would be very 
surprised if we see all of them out in one day.  I see about 75 percent of 
our traffic being 1 hour rentals between the Snow Lodge and Morning Glory, 
and the other 25 percent being traffic between the Old Faithful Area and 
Fountain Flats/Firehole Lake Drive as well as the Lone Star Trail.

I definitely appreciate your interest and concern for this operation's 
impact on Yellowstone.  This will be my 6th season in the park, and my 5th 
year with Xanterra (I also worked at Grand Canyon with Xanterra).  I look at 
this place as my home, not just a job, and am just as impassioned about 
protection of the basin and all of the park.  I encourage all geyser gazers 
out there to stop by and come see our shop, again located in the Snow Lodge 
Gift Shop.  I also encourage any of you to directly report to me any issues 
you see with bikes and guests, as well as any comments or suggestions you 
might have about improving the operation.  If you would like to familiarize 
yourself with the types of bikes we will rent, please visit 
www.trekbikes.com, and look for the Navigator 200 under the Bike Path / 
Comfort section.  All of our bikes will be Trek bikes.  If you have any 
questions, you can mail me directly here at ggetty at xanterra.com, or call the 
bike shop directly at 307-545-4825.

Thanks again, and I hope you have a great summer season!
- Geoff Getty
   Old Faithful Bike Specialist
   Xanterra Parks and Resorts
   307-545-4825
   ggetty at xanterra.com