Thorn Cycles Forum

Community => Thorn General => Topic started by: NZPeterG on January 27, 2013, 09:16:02 AM

Title: Warmshowers
Post by: NZPeterG on January 27, 2013, 09:16:02 AM
So I have just signed up with Warmshowers.

How many of you all are signed up with Warmshowers and/or have use them?

Pete . . . . . .
 ;)
Title: Re: Warmshowers
Post by: ianshearin on January 27, 2013, 10:45:37 AM
Great site, Pete thanks for posting.
Signed up.
Title: Re: Warmshowers
Post by: Matt2matt2002 on January 27, 2013, 10:53:41 AM
Yep me too.
And I have a power shower.
 ;D
(cue jokes..... I have a shower once a month whether I need it or not)
 ;)
Title: Re: Warmshowers
Post by: Andybg on January 27, 2013, 11:47:34 AM
Have been a member for about 18 months and although not stayed at anyones yet have had about 20 cycle tourists stay at my house over that period. Their experience of it (warshowers perse) of them is that it is better than couch surfing in respect to finding hosts with similar interests and understanding of the needs of touring cyclists.

From my point of veiw it has been interesting to see different peoples take on touring and the reasons they are out there on the road

Andy
Title: Re: Warmshowers
Post by: ianshearin on January 27, 2013, 11:54:14 AM
Nice one Andy  :D

Also nice to hear that the website works and cyclist do use it.

Can you report on any negative aspects (if any), and of course any stories are always welcome  ;)
Title: Re: Warmshowers
Post by: Andybg on January 27, 2013, 01:16:03 PM
From a hosting point of view the only negatives are that cycle tourists are generally bad planners in terms of when they are going to turn up. Plus or minus a week seems to be as accurate as they get. The only other negative we have ever had is trying to get rid of them but I think that is more down to my wife's cooking than aything lol!

From a toureres point of view I would say it is just hit and miss in respect to what you are going to find/ services that will be available. Most of the toureres we had visiting usually went for a 2/3 days of camping then either stopping at a warmshowers oppertunity or a hotel depending on availability.

Andy
Title: Re: Warmshowers
Post by: Pavel on February 12, 2013, 02:30:09 AM
I am and so far, though I am far off the normal routes that long distance cyclists here in the US seem to stick only to, I have hosted two times.  Once a gent from England who was detained at the Iranian border and so decided to galavant through the US instead.  I joined him for two days on his journey, took some picture, and had a great time. He cooked a great British stew for us and was fun to talk to.  Then a few weeks later we had an absolutely fantastic and rewarding time with a cyclist down from Quebec.

It is a marvelous way to make bonds with like minded people of many backgrounds.  I feel privileged to have hosted ... rather than the expected other way around.

So ... c'mon down any and all! :)
Title: Re: Warmshowers
Post by: Reynoldsfan on February 27, 2013, 05:45:34 PM
Yes - I signed up to Warm Showers last summer. I live on a remote Welsh farm - and still have had three separate sets of travellers cycling in here. I have thus far enjoyed the involvement immensely. You just have to be completely straight on both sides about what you each expect from the first point of contact. Let each other know the constraints to do with ' notice period '. I'm fine, for example, with saying I need, for example, 5 days notice, and if the visitor can't give that, they need to be prepared for me not to be able to host them. I felt really happy to be able to offer a French family of 5 - three small children included - a hot shower and a good hot meal on the most windy and wet midsummer's day I can recall! (But thats Wales for you!)
Title: Re: Warmshowers
Post by: jags on February 27, 2013, 06:15:23 PM
Ah love to but the wife is very uneasy with strangers in the house.i did host 3 fellclub members  all nice lads enjoyed there company showed them all the sights my town has to offer all fed and watered and bedded down for the night  so far no complaints.
but no i won't be joining up  for obvious reasons. ::)