Bike security whilst touring.

VisionSet <[email hidden]> wrote:

: you can probably even get it inside! But if I choose to go
: this route it'd be YHA or B&B for a 2 or 3 day stable dry
: spell. Thoughts?...

Most YHA's have a bike shed which is locked. B&Bs - ask.
Some will not want anything to do with you, some will be
very obliging.

--
Arthur Clune clune.orgclune.orgOpen ↗ "Technolibertarians make a
philosophy out of a personality defect"
- Paulina Borsook

On Mon, 5 Apr 2004 12:18:04 +0100, in <Egbcc.91$Xi.80@newsfe1-win>,

VisionSet said:

I have never done any touring and to be honest it doesn't
really appeal in the traditional sense, lugging loaded up
panniers. I prefer the lightweight approach, minimalist
road bike and 40 or 60 miles on a dry day. But I can see
the appeal, having done plenty of backpacking in my time.
The thing is - security. What do people do with the bike?
I'm afraid I'm paranoid and expect anything that can be
nicked, even if it requires dismantling, will be. I suppose
having a more desirable (road bike v tourer) bike doesn't
help (at leasrt MTB fashion has helped here). I suppose
with a proper tourer you can camp, and the bike is closer,
hell you can probably even get it inside! But if I choose
to go this route it'd be YHA or B&B for a 2 or 3 day stable
dry spell. Thoughts?...

A few techniques/situations

1) Camping: Keep majority of gear in tent. Keep bike
outside, immobilisied by locks. Cable lock around
fencepost/tree. If nothing to lock to then run double
ended cable lock (type that has loop for padlock at each
end) and fix one end to bike and other end to something
inside tent (pannier/saucepans/yourself)

Some campsites such as Forestry commision, Camping and
Caravanning club have sheffield stands or similar.

If tent space is an problem then load your panniers
selectively such that all valuable stuff is kept in one bag
inside with you. Other paniers can be locked to bike with
cable then apply above technique.

2) YHA - to my knowledge ALL YHA's have lockable bike sheds.
Equipment is only as safe as your fellow roommates. I
keep valuables in a bumbag which I sleep with (not
actually wearing it since it's not comfy but keeping it
inside my bed clothes).

In one hostel (Brighton) I feared for my belonging's safety
so I tied my panniers together with a long climbing sling
and then looped this around my wrist.

3) B&B - ask before confirming your custom if they can store
bike securely - garage/outhouse. If they can't then go
elsewhere. Don't be fobbed off with claims such as "this
is a quiet area - no crime here".

4) Hotels are usually quite accomodating - storage ranging
from owner's garage to freezer-room.

Basically if you take the same precautions you would if you
were locking up in a city then you shouldn't have any
additional worries.

Love and locks from Rich x

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VisionSet said:

But if I choose to go this route it'd be YHA or B&B for a
2 or 3 day stable dry spell. Thoughts?...

As others have said some B&Bs will be able to store bikes
securely. When I did the C2C last year I used one of the
associated websites to find B&Bs. Most of those listed
offered secure under cover storage, usually in a garage. We
were disappointed with one B&B that turned out to offer
external locking points but with three bikes locked together
in various combinations we were relatively happy but we
would avoid the place if we went that way again. As said
elsewhere check in advance about the exact nature of their
secure storage.

Colin
--

On 5/4/04 12:30 pm, in article [email hidden],

Richard Bates said:

In one hostel (Brighton) I feared for my belonging's
safety so I tied my panniers together with a long climbing
sling and then looped this around my wrist.

I bought one of those rucsac cages, basically a wire mesh
bag you can put over the rucksac to stop tealeaves from
going into it. It fits over two panniers on the back of the
bike quite happily but will add a little weight.

..d

One of these will help with wheels & seatpost:

cgi.ebay.co.ukeBayISAPI.dllOpen ↗
3669819193

~PB

"Arthur Clune" <[email hidden]>typed

Quoted message said:

VisionSet <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

: you can probably even get it inside! But if I choose to
: go this
route it'd
: be YHA or B&B for a 2 or 3 day stable dry spell.
: Thoughts?...

Quoted message said:

Most YHA's have a bike shed which is locked. B&Bs - ask.
Some will not want anything to do with you, some will be
very obliging.

One B&B in which I stayed let the cyclists bring machines
indoors. In the morning, we found a couple's tandem neatly
covered with a lace tablecloth...

--
Helen D. Vecht: [email hidden] Edgware.

"Richard Bates" wrote...

Quoted message said:

A few techniques/situations

2) YHA - to my knowledge ALL YHA's have lockable bike
sheds. Equipment is only as safe as your fellow
roommates. I keep valuables in a bumbag which I sleep
with (not actually wearing it since it's not comfy but
keeping it inside my bed clothes).

Not ALL YHA's have lockable bike sheds- the YHA website
lists which ones have secure bike storage, and which
ones do not.
--
mark

Richard Bates said:

3) B&B - ask before confirming your custom if they can
store bike securely - garage/outhouse. If they can't
then go elsewhere. Don't be fobbed off with claims such
as "this is a quiet area - no crime here".

I have found that B&B owners are often offended when I
insist on locking the bikes to something immovable. I
usually say that it is a condition of my insurance that I
lock the bike when it is unattended.

I have thought of printing out "claimer" forms which would
state that the B&B owner takes full responsibility for my
bike and would indemnify me for any loss, and asking them to
sign one. My wife reckons that this would come across as "me
being snotty", perish the thought!

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On Mon, 05 Apr 2004 14:40:21 +0100, in <[email hidden]>,

Mike K Smith said:

I have thought of printing out "claimer" forms which would
state that the B&B owner takes full responsibility for my
bike and would indemnify me for any loss, and asking them
to sign one. My wife reckons that this would come across as
"me being snotty", perish the thought!

I'm sure they would inform you upon which direction you
needed to cycle...
--
Isn't it annoying when cyclingforums.com publish messages
that they haven't been granted permission to archive. In my
opinion it is as bad as software piracy.

"VisionSet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:Egbcc.91$Xi.80@newsfe1-win...

Quoted message said:

I have never done any touring and to be honest it doesn't
really appeal in

.... .... But if I choose to go this route it'd be YHA or
B&B for a 2 or 3 day stable dry spell. Thoughts?...

Mike W

Lots of people have commented on night time storage/safety.
I worry more about leaving it fully loaded in the day time
at 'attractions'.

Cathedrals, museums etc. I get anxious for the gear and give
them a miss which is a shame as that's part of the reason
for touring.

Paul.

Paul Moss said:

Lots of people have commented on night time
storage/safety. I worry more about leaving it fully loaded
in the day time at 'attractions'.

Cathedrals, museums etc. I get anxious for the gear and
give them a miss which is a shame as that's part of the
reason for touring.

I bought a Packsafe which is a wire mesh net/bag with a
lock. I just spread this over the rear part of the bike,
thread the security cable through, and it should deter all
but the most determined theif. Noone can idly open and empty
a pannier, and even if they do manage to get it open, there
is a limit to the size of object they can extract.

Should be available from any decent outdoor store (link to
cotswolds cotswold-cotswold-Open ↗
outdoor.com/Cat/26642?history=search+results&x=56&y=11)

Works for me. I've used it when leaving the bike in a bothy
during a day hike.

..d

"David Martin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On 5/4/04 5:06 pm, in article etfcc.17$%o4.7@newsfe1-win,

Paul Moss said:

Lots of people have commented on night time
storage/safety. I worry more about leaving it fully
loaded in the day time at

'attractions'.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Cathedrals, museums etc. I get anxious for the gear and
give them a miss which is a shame as

that's

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

part of the reason for touring.

I bought a Packsafe which is a wire mesh net/bag with a
lock. I just

spread

Quoted message said:

this over the rear part of the bike, thread the security
cable through,

and

Quoted message said:

it should deter all but the most determined theif. Noone
can idly open and empty a pannier, and even if they do
manage to get it open, there is a

limit

Quoted message said:

to the size of object they can extract.

Should be available from any decent outdoor store (link to
cotswolds

cotswold-cotswold-Open ↗
outdoor.com/Cat/26642?history=search+results&x=56&y=11)

Quoted message said:

Works for me. I've used it when leaving the bike in a
bothy during a day hike.

..d

Thanks, I've seen them dozens of times at Blacks but the
penny has never dropped. Paul.

"VisionSet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<Egbcc.91$Xi.80@newsfe1-win>...

Quoted message said:

I have never done any touring and to be honest it doesn't
really appeal in the traditional sense, lugging loaded up
panniers. I prefer the lightweight approach, minimalist
road bike and 40 or 60 miles on a dry day. But I can see
the appeal, having done plenty of backpacking in my time.
The thing is - security. What do people do with the bike?
I'm afraid I'm paranoid and expect anything that can be
nicked, even if it requires dismantling, will be. I
suppose having a more desirable (road bike v tourer) bike
doesn't help (at leasrt MTB fashion has helped here). I
suppose with a proper tourer you can camp, and the bike is
closer, hell you can probably even get it inside! But if I
choose to go this route it'd be YHA or B&B for a 2 or 3
day stable dry spell. Thoughts?...

Carry cash/cards/valuables etc with you at all times even
when in a hostel/B&B. At night get the bike in a shed or
garage. When stopping during the day always lock the bike
to something when you leave it. Park in a busy place.
Having done the above enjoy your trip and don't worry.
That's why your bike is insured. And anyway a tourer with
a few days or weeks dirt on it is not a high risk and any
item lifted out a pannier would not be a major problem on
a B&B or hostel trip. More of a problem if any camping
gear was stolen from the bike on a camping trip. Iain C

iarocu said:

"VisionSet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<Egbcc.91$Xi.80@newsfe1-
win>...

Quoted message said:

I have never done any touring and to be honest it doesn't
really appeal in the traditional sense, lugging loaded up
panniers. I prefer the lightweight approach, minimalist
road bike and 40 or 60 miles on a dry day. But I can see
the appeal, having done plenty of backpacking in my time.
The thing is - security. What do people do with the bike?
I'm afraid I'm paranoid and expect anything that can be
nicked, even if it requires dismantling, will be. I
suppose having a more desirable (road bike v tourer) bike
doesn't help (at leasrt MTB fashion has helped here). I
suppose with a proper tourer you can camp, and the bike
is closer, hell you can probably even get it inside! But
if I choose to go this route it'd be YHA or B&B for a 2
or 3 day stable dry spell. Thoughts?...

Carry cash/cards/valuables etc with you at all times
even when in a hostel/B&B. At night get the bike in a
shed or garage. When stopping during the day always
lock the bike to something when you leave it. Park in a
busy place. Having done the above enjoy your trip and
don't worry. That's why your bike is insured.

It would still be an unwelcome and unexpected end to the
tour, though.

AC

anonymous coward said:

It would still be an unwelcome and unexpected end to the
tour, though.

Thats what always worried me most, suddenly you no longer an
albatros of the hills, the eptiome of freedom and self
powered speed, now your a dork in sweaty lycra who has
nothing but £3.27 and is 20 miles from home.

--
Andy Morris

AndyAtJinkasDotFreeserve.Co.UK

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