Terms & Conditions for Hirers: 2023

Hi. We are a group of decent people who have a small business hiring out sports equipment, so we’ve come up with some fair terms and conditions for our fellow decent people: you, the hirers.

1. Booking

All hires must be paid for in full at the time of booking online or booking/hiring at Marra (Denton House, Gosforth, Cumbria, CA20 1EJ).  We prefer card payments.

1. Cancellations

If you cancel your hire, or any part of your hire, over 7 days before the start of the hire period, you will receive a full refund.  If cancellation is 5-7 days before, a 50% refund will be given.  If 2-4 days before; 25% refund.  If less than two days’ notice, sorry, no refunds can be given.

In the unlikely event that we need to cancel your hire booking, we will of course refund the full costs.

1. Equipment collection

The person responsible for the hired equipment (“hirer”) needs to be the person picking it up from Marra Bikes and Boards (“Marra”), but can be a different person to the one making the booking.  The hirer must provide photo ID, and a debit/credit card which can secure a deposit (see below).  If equipment is going to be delivered to you at your accommodation/home, the deposit will be taken over the phone in advance.

The hirer must be over 18 years of age.

The hirer must sign the ‘hire agreement’ which asks for confirmation that they have read these Terms and Conditions (a copy will also be available to read on collection).

Deposit funds are required to secure all hires to protect Marra against losses or damages.  The hirer’s credit/debit card will be used to take a deposit amount of up to £100 per piece of equipment (i.e. per bike/board) for the hire period.  Full refund of deposit amounts will be made on receipt of all hired equipment (including ancillary equipment) in good condition and on time.  As a guide only, the following table details the likely payment required for any lost or damaged items. Where deposit funds do not cover losses/damages, Marra will take further action to recover funds as necessary.

We will not refund any hire charges for equipment returned early.

Hired equipment must be collected at or between the specified times on your hire agreement.  Late collections may result in equipment not being available, or full hire charges being taken.

1. Responsible use of equipment

As lovers of sport and our sports gear ourselves, we have invested in high quality bikes and boards for you to hire.  We want you to enjoy and respect them.

Equipment will be provided to you in a safe and good condition.  It is your responsibility to check the equipment as you collect it and speak to Marra immediately if you are not 100% satisfied.

We include an expectation of wear and tear on our equipment in our hire charges.

Any damage to our equipment (including ancillary equipment) beyond wear and tear, will need to be paid for by you.  By signing the hire agreement, you give us permission to take the cost of repair or replacement from your deposit, and where the costs are higher, these will need to be paid for by you at the end of your hire period.  This may be up to the retail value of the bike/s or board/s.

We provide enough bike locks for every hiring group and we ask that you lock your bike through its frame and rear wheel to an immovable object. There are no locks for the boards or ancillary equipment.

If your hire period includes overnight/s, we ask that you keep our equipment locked indoors.

Any loss of our equipment, for whatever reason, will be your responsibility.

If you experience any problems with our equipment during your period of hire, please return it to Marra or call us on 07521 982453.  It may not be possible for Marra to attend to you at your location should you experience mechanical issues whilst using our equipment.  Where mechanical failure occurs, we will endeavour to replace the equipment with a suitable alternative.  Not returning equipment to Marra at the end of a hire period, for whatever reason, will result in being charged for the next hire period plus 20%.

We provide at least one basic tool kit with every bike hire group which includes a spare inner tube, pump, and a multi-tool.  These are only to be used by competent cyclists wishing to manage basic issues themselves (e.g. punctures, adjustments for comfort).

We provide instructions for all board hirers on how to safely and effectively inflate and deflate their board/s.

1. Safe use of equipment

Non-swimmers are not permitted to hire or use our boards.

Children (under 18s) must be supervised by adults when using our equipment.

Novice users of bikes/boards should use our equipment with a more experienced person, or seek ‘induction’ from us at the start of hire.  Safety and guidance information is additionally provided with all hired equipment.

You must have sufficient competence, experience and fitness for the equipment you use and the activity you choose to do with it.

You must not use the hired equipment whilst under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication affecting your capacity to bike/board safely.

You must not use our equipment in the dark.

We provide a bike helmet with every bike hire which must be used when cycling.

We provide a buoyancy aid and an ankle leash with every board hire which must be used whilst paddle boarding.  Please hire additional buoyancy aids for any ‘passengers’ on the boards.  If you intend on taking your pets on the boards, please additionally obtain life jackets for them (not available from Marra).

1. Returning equipment

All equipment must be returned by the agreed time.  If equipment is returned late, we will charge you for the next hire period/s with an additional 20%.

Equipment will be checked by Marra on return and you will be asked to confirm its return in full, good condition.  You will be asked to confirm you have had no accidents, and generally about the condition of the equipment.

1. Accidents

As a responsible hirer of sports equipment, we hold our own public liability insurance.  This means that if hirers have an accident on our bikes/boards and/or damage someone else’s equipment, our insurance can pay up to £5,000,000 in costs whilst the equipment is under hire.

1. General safety

It is up to you where you choose to use our equipment during your period of hire.  We provide some recommendations on our website and are always happy to advise in person when you come to collect equipment.  Please note that the shores of Wast Water have sharp rocks: you must not drag the SUPs over these, or put body weight on a board (flat or inflated) which is on land.

Wherever you use our equipment, please follow local rules and advice.

Please tell someone where you are going and take a charged mobile phone.

Consider what spare clothing you may need.

Ideally, pedal and paddle in pairs (or more).

There are inherent risks involved in biking both off-road and on road, and in using paddle boards out on the water, such as damage or loss to personal property, harm, injury or even death to self or others.  By accepting these terms and conditions, you state you understand these risks and take personal responsibility for yourself and the equipment.

1. Environment

We live in a beautiful part of the world and we look forward to sharing it with you.  Please take only memories and leave only footprints (board prints, tyre tracks!).  Many of our local places have no bins so you must take all rubbish with you.  There are good recycling points in the Gosforth and Seascale car parks.  Always clean up after your dog.  Thank you.