Tibike is a self-service bicycle rental and e-bike rental business located at Achensee, Tyrol. The founder of Tibike, Gerhard, wanted to build a fully automated bike rental experience to provide a great and flexible service while saving his own time, as Tibike is a side business he runs alongside his day job as a teacher.
As a "born and raised Tyrolean," Gerhard has always been deeply connected to nature. Inspired by his passion for mountain biking and the breathtaking landscapes of Tyrol, he decided to create something that would allow him to share this love with others. With the Achensee region as his playground, Tibike is a project that blends his passion for the outdoors with the opportunity to create a secondary source of income.
The mission of Tibike is simple yet profound: to offer people the chance to experience adventure and freedom in the great outdoors. By providing top-quality bikes for unforgettable tours, Tibike allows customers to explore the beauty of Tyrol.
Gerhard’s vision for Tibike goes beyond conventional rentals. He wanted to create a business emphasizing convenience through self-service pick-up and return stations. This setup enables people to rent bikes every day of the week, from early morning to late evening, without a single employee. We're not making this up. In addition to the two hours he puts in a day, Gerhard doesn't have any paid staff.
Gerhard’s business model aligns perfectly with the principles of the circular economy. He aims to reach a wider audience with less personal effort, focusing on efficiency and convenience. This approach not only makes business sense but also resonates with Gerhard’s personal values, as he seeks to create a sustainable, efficient service that minimizes waste.
For Gerhard, the rewards of running Tibike are multifaceted. His office is nestled among the mountains, close to the serene Achensee lake, and the smart booking system gives him the flexibility and freedom he enjoys.
On beautiful days, the high number of bookings is satisfying, but what brings Gerhard the most joy is receiving positive reviews from customers who’ve enjoyed their experience. Tibike currently boasts a Google review rating of 5.0 out of 123 reviews, a testament to the positive impact the service has had on its customers. These moments remind him why he started Tibike in the first place.
Like many entrepreneurs, Gerhard finds balancing work and personal life challenging. He believes that the concept of work-life balance is becoming outdated, especially when these areas intersect.
However, using automation tools helps him manage these overlaps, giving him more freedom to enjoy his passions. Despite having a full-time job, Gerhard manages Tibike with minimal manual work, averaging around 2 hours per day depending on the season and weather conditions.
Gerhard’s goal is to ensure that everything runs seamlessly so that his customers can focus on the adventure, not the logistics. Tibike’s typical customers are those who know what they want—they appreciate the convenience of online booking, informative tutorials, and the easy self-service pick-up process, as you can read from the many reviews the company has received on Google:
“This rental station is a great idea. No waiting, no chatting, book and pay online, and simply pick up and return the bikes. The price is also unbeatable…”
“Booked online the evening before, picked up very easily the next morning. E-bikes are in great shape. Clear recommendation for a wonderful e-bike tour in the area”
“The concept is very simple and understandable at the same time."
"The day before the bike rental, we reserved the e-bikes online and picked them up the following day after receiving a short email/SMS message with all the important information.”
While searching for automation solutions, Gerhard stumbled upon Click&Bike, developed by Thomas Dickhoff, the founder of Click&Share. Immediately, he knew this was the way forward for Tibike.
TWICE + Click&Share gave him the tools and integrations he needed to build an automated and efficient rental process. Gerhard had tried other rental software before, but it wasn’t until he partnered with TWICE + Click&Share that he found the perfect all-in-one solution for Tibike—covering everything from product management to smart lock integrations and payments.
The TWICE platform’s clean user interface allowed Gerhard to set up an online shop, build a product catalog, and implement a streamlined payment process with ease. The software's intuitive design makes it simple to keep track of orders and maintain an overview of the business. The automated rental stations have been key to minimizing the need for staff—allowing Tibike to operate as a one-man show without any major issues.
Thanks to TWICE + Click&Share, Gerhard can manage Tibike wherever he is. Whether he’s on the trails himself or handling other responsibilities, he always has control over his business operations. The sense of security and peace of mind that comes with this level of automation is invaluable.
On average, Gerhard spends about 15 minutes per bike per order on maintenance and checks. For order processing, including responding to emails and inquiries, the net time is minimal due to the efficiency of automation, and many of the orders are bulk bookings of 2-4 products.
Gerhard currently manages a fleet of 10 bikes, processing up to 10 daily orders. He acknowledges that expanding to multiple stations would require hiring staff, but for now, the automated approach perfectly fits his needs.
Moreover, Tibike has gained a higher level of acceptance within the local tourism association (TVB) largely due to its long opening hours, further boosting Tibike's reputation in the community. Long opening hours are driven by, what else, automation.
Gerhard’s vision for Tibike is rooted in quality. He focuses on offering excellent bikes at fair prices and continuously evaluating how to improve the service. It’s about making small, meaningful changes to ensure customers have the best possible experience. Tibike has seen a revenue increase of 20% per year, which motivates Gerhard to continue refining his service and expanding its offerings.
Gerhard’s advice to those looking to start their own business is simple: “Work with the right people.” Building a successful business can be done on your own but requires the right partners.
To anyone dreaming of starting their own business, Gerhard has one message: “Just do it. No matter how negatively others view your project.” His journey with Tibike is proof that with passion and persistence, it’s possible to build a successful company that brings joy to both you and your customers.