Personal decision - I'll take my bike

G. has provided me with feedback on the route for the second day and I will heed his advice.  From San Miniato to Empoli I'll choose a slightly longer but considerably quieter route. It is all pretty flat on the Arno plain. I only noticed yesterday that just before we get to Empoli the route crosses the Elsa river. Last time we rode in Toscana we crossed the river in Colle Di Val D'Elsa. Another arm flows through Poggibonsi.

So I've been thinking... rent or carry? I've decided on carry. Given that it would cost around E400 to rent something decent it makes more sense to take my touring bike which  I know is perfectly set up for the task. The only downside is the cheap Torpedo 7 bike bag which provides OK protection but which sucks for wheeling the bike in bag from airport to train or train to hotel. So for less money than hiring a bike I can buy one of the Evoc bags from Wiggle which will be much easier to handle. Based on the design of the Evoc I may make some modifications to the Torpedo 7 bag to make it more rigid and easier to wheel. So I'll pack the Evoc to close to 30Kg and take only a backpack and handlebar bag as other luggage. Of course I've still got plenty of time to change my mind again before then.

Update

My Evoc bag has arrived and looks very good. Now I'll have to test it on a domestic trip somewhere!

More lessons in listening to the customer

So I've been trying to have an email conversation with another potential provider of hire bikes. An initial email ignored, a followup ignored, another followup... then this conversation:

I still have not had a reply to my email below. I sent a followup via Google+ but still nothing. Are you still in this business?

We are in business but honestly is too early talk about September 2014.
I suggest to contact me again in december or when you have detailed list of cyclists and rental dates (from/to).

The dates are pick up on 8th September, return on 19th September, both Firenze. There are three adult male riders.

Do you kjow their height please ?

Sorry, does that affect the price? Or whether you have drop bar touring bikes with racks?
I don't want to make a booking, just to understand what sorts of bikes you have at what rough charges.

Yes, because every model have different features.
I sugget to contact me again in december when we use to make rates for new season.

Mi dispiace I didn't mean to cause you any problems, I'll find a company that is better set up to answer le mie domande. Forse Florence By Bike? You obviously have your way of doing business that is not set up to handle customers like me.

No Patrick. The problem is that we don't have rates for the 2014.
For me in this moment is impossibile give you an answer, is our corporate policy. I'm sorry. Feel free to ride with florece by bike. (Corporate policy, this from the CEO).

Well that's probably about enough for this conversation, but for the future, for other customers, maybe an answer like... "Well we don't set our rates for next year until around December, but to give you some idea, the rates for this year are...xxx. We don't specifically have touring bikes like you seem interested in, but perhaps we will for next year. If you contact us again in December I will know for sure. I'd love to be able to offer you exactly what you need."...would be worth thinking about?
I know, most potential customers would have just walked away but I find it difficult. For my job I am a coach of businesses about delivery of good customer service, it is 8pm on a Friday and still I am working. For you. For free :-)

I wilk make discount for this.
This afternoon italian time i will send you categories and 2013 rates, 

So do you think I should persist? I'm thinking no.