Q&A

Reservations, reception, returns, etc.

Q:Should I make a reservation for a rental bicycle?	A:The number of rental bicycles is limited, so it is best to make a reservation early. 　　We recommend making reservations two weeks in advance, however during busy periods such as Golden Week, we recommend making reservations two to three months in advance.
Q:How do I make a reservation?	A:Applications can be made via Official LINE or phone from two days before to three months before the rental date.　　　　　　　We will check the availability of the bike and reply to you, and your reservation will be completed. 　　Please call 070-2272-0022 during business hours from 9:00 to 18:00.
Q:I want to change or cancel my reservation	A:Changes and cancellations can be made via our Official LINE account or by phone. 　　Changes must be made before 6pm on the day before your reservation. 　　Cancellations made by 6pm two days prior to the reservation are free of charge. 　　If you cancel after 6pm on the day before the reservation and before 6pm on the day before the reservation, 50% of the reservation fee will be charged. 　　If you cancel after 6pm the day before, on the day of, or without permission, 100% of the usage fee will be charged. 　　We will contact you 3 days prior to your reservation to confirm your reservation.
Q:I'm going to arrive later than my scheduled time.	A:Please call us as soon as you know you will be late. 　　If you have not been contacted within an hour of your reservation time, or if you are unable to contact us, 　　Your order will be canceled. 　　If you cancel on the day, 100% of the rental fee will be charged.
Q:Can I pick up the bike the day before my reservation?	A:You can collect your item by paying the rental fee from the afternoon of the previous day.
Q:Can I use a credit card?	A:Visa, MASTER, JCB, AMEX, DINERS, etc. are accepted. 　　You can also use code payments such as PayPay.
Q:What are the rental hours?	A:Rental starts at 6:00, but it will take 20 to 30 minutes to adjust the saddle and fill out the application form, so 　　Please come with plenty of time to spare.Also, returning plan while it is still light out will give you greater security and peace of mind. 　　If multiple groups have reservations for the same time slot, they will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Q:Can I rent it on the day?	A:If there are bicycles available, you can rent one, but please inquire via Official LINE account or by phone. 　　Also, please allow 1 hour for preparation, so please contact us with plenty of time.
Q:Will I get a refund if I return the item before the rental period?	A:There will be no refunds.Please understand.
Q:What is the return time?	A:Please return it within the reserved time. 　　If you stay beyond 7:00 p.m., a standard extension fee will be charged. 　　We may also contact you in the evening on the day to confirm the return time.
Q:Can I return it midway?	A:For a fee, you can return the bike to the nearest train station bicycle parking lot. 　　For more information, please see the Omi Bicycle Rental K-velo homepage. 　　To experience the sense of accomplishment of Biwaichi, or to avoid causing trouble to those accompanying you, 　　There may be various reasons for this, but I believe it is dangerous to push yourself too hard. 　　The journey is not over until you get home safely. 　　I would like you to avoid using all your strength and return it with 20% of your strength left.
Q:Is there parking available?	A:Free parking is available in the parking lot of Business Hotel Shell, with priority given to rental customers.
Q:I'd like to store my luggage.	A:We will store your luggage free of charge, but please note that we limit the number of items to one per person, regardless of size. 　　It is also possible to ship luggage.(Yamato delivery, charges apply.)
Q:Are there changing rooms, hot springs, and showers?	A:Unfortunately, no. 　　Nearby are Chomyoji Onsen and Gamo no Yu, and a little further away are Hotaru no Yu and Gokuraku Yu.
Q:Are there toilets?	A:There are toilets at Business Hotel Shell, so please feel free to use them. 　　The hotel also has drink vending machines.

Bicycle rental

Q:What is included in the rental equipment?	A:All bikes are equipped with cycle computers, lights, locks and also include helmets. 　　In addition, saddle covers and tools are available in limited quantities on a first-come, first-served basis. 　　Quick Shot (puncture repair agent) is free when you rent the bike, but if you use it, it will cost 1,100 yen.
Q:I'm tall (short), is that okay?	A:Available for people up to 190cm tall (junior height 129cm and above).
Q:I'm heavy, is that okay?	A:Please note that the maximum load capacity is 110kg.
Q:Can you provide a bike fitting?	A:Only the saddle height is adjusted.
Q:Do you have binding pedals available for rental?	A:No, but you can bring it in.Please install it yourself.
Q:Is there a rear carrier (luggage rack)?	A:It is not provided, but you can bring it in.Please install it yourself.
Q:Does it come with a front desk carrier (front basket)?	A:They are installed on lightweight bicycles, but not on cross bikes or junior bicycles.In addition, they are not permitted to be brought on board as they may interfere with the brakes and cause problems while driving.
Q:Do you have road bikes?	A:I'm not preparing a road bike.I think it's dangerous for people who don't normally ride road bikes.Also, the chances of getting a flat tire are higher than with a cross bike.(This is my personal opinion.)
Q:What does your outfit look like?	A:It's good to wear clothes that you can exercise in.　Long sleeved clothing is recommended to protect against sunburn and minimize injury.Also, it is best to wear leggings, straight pants, and slim pants for your feet; flared pants can sometimes be dangerous.We may refuse to allow you to wear sandals, high heels, or other footwear if we deem them dangerous for riding.
Q:Does your butt hurt?	A:However, our rental bicycles have saddles made from soft materials.In addition, for hard saddles, we offer free rental of saddle covers.(First come, first served)
Q:Do you have children's bicycles?	A:There are junior bicycles for people between 129 and 145cm tall and for people between 136 and 154cm tall, and if you're over 150cm tall you can also use adult cross bikes.Numbers are limited, so please contact us first to check availability.Additionally, we do not provide child car seats or child trailers, and these are not permitted to be brought on board.

Accidents, damage, theft, flat tires, breakdowns, insurance

Q:I caused an accident	A:When someone is injured, ensuring their safety is the top priority.Next, ensure your own safety.Please consider measures to prevent secondary disasters.If necessary, please call 119 for an ambulance.Then, please contact the police on 110 or our company at 070-2272-0022.
Q:I broke my rental bicycle while using it.	A:We ask that loaned items be returned in the same condition, so we will charge you for repairs to any damaged items.The car is not insured.
Q:My bicycle was stolen.	A:We will charge you for the amount of damages up to the manufacturer's suggested retail price (including accessories).Therefore, please lock or keep an eye on your rental bicycle.Please also contact us immediately.
Q:What should I do if I get a flat tire?	A:Please have the bike repaired at a bicycle shop.(At your own expense.) or you can fix it yourself by replacing the tube (1,100 yen) or injecting Quick Shot (puncture repair agent 1,100 yen).Be careful though, Quick Shot only fills small holes.If you use a Quick Shot, the tube will be replaced with a new one after you return it, so it will cost you 4,400 yen in total: 1,100 yen for the Quick Shot, 1,100 yen for the tube, and 2,200 yen for the replacement.
Q:What if my rental bicycle breaks down?	A:Please call our store at 070-2272-0022.We will advise you on the appropriate course of action, and if we are unable to handle the problem ourselves, we will refer you to a specialist sports bicycle shop (closed on Wednesdays).
Q:Are you insured?	A:We are TS Mark (bicycle insurance) certified.We offer liability coverage for bodily injury and compensation for passenger injuries, but do not include property damage compensation, so please purchase these coverages if necessary.For details, please see the insurance page.

Click here for details on bicycle insurance

Biwaichi(Circumnavigating Lake Biwa)

Q:How long does it take to hike Biwaichi?	A:Some people with good stamina can complete the 150km course around Lake Kitako in 12 hours, including breaks, but the full 200km course of Biwaichi takes around 20 hours, and the 150km course of Biwaichi around Lake Kitako takes around 15 hours, so we recommend you plan on spending one night and two days, or two nights and three days, with plenty of time to spare.Currently, at our company, half of our clients do the tour in one day, and half do it over two days and one night.In addition, the lakeside road is 7.5km from our rental property Business Hotel Shell.
Q:Please let me know if you have any recommended plan and accommodations.	A:If you can travel for two days and one night, I recommend plan includes staying at an inn in Takashima City. The Biwaichi course is flat, but there are two climbs in Nagahama City, so it's best to finish it on the first day. The scenery in the north is also amazing, so I want you to enjoy it while you're still healthy. Takashima City accommodation plan Day 1, 90 to 110 km drive, leaving between 6:00 and 11:00, arriving between 15:00 and 17:00 Day 2, 70 to 120 km, leaving between 8:00 and 10:00, arriving between 15:00 and 19:00 　 The lodging is listed on the website of the Wanokuni Lake Biwa Promotion Council, an organization promoting Biwaichi. Please refer to the information on "Cyclist-friendly Accommodations in Shiga Prefecture."

Q:How long does it take to hike Biwaichi?

A:Some people with good stamina can complete the 150km course around Lake Kitako in 12 hours, including breaks, but the full 200km course of Biwaichi takes around 20 hours, and the 150km course of Biwaichi around Lake Kitako takes around 15 hours, so we recommend you plan on spending one night and two days, or two nights and three days, with plenty of time to spare.Currently, at our company, half of our clients do the tour in one day, and half do it over two days and one night.In addition, the lakeside road is 7.5km from our rental property Business Hotel Shell.

Q:Please let me know if you have any recommended plan and accommodations.

A:If you can travel for two days and one night, I recommend plan includes staying at an inn in Takashima City.
The Biwaichi course is flat, but there are two climbs in Nagahama City, so it's best to finish it on the first day.
The scenery in the north is also amazing, so I want you to enjoy it while you're still healthy.
Takashima City accommodation plan Day 1, 90 to 110 km drive, leaving between 6:00 and 11:00, arriving between 15:00 and 17:00
Day 2, 70 to 120 km, leaving between 8:00 and 10:00, arriving between 15:00 and 19:00
　
The lodging is listed on the website of the Wanokuni Lake Biwa Promotion Council, an organization promoting Biwaichi.
Please refer to the information on "Cyclist-friendly Accommodations in Shiga Prefecture."