Question about motels and touring

Smokey said:

I plan to do my first overnight tour this fall and will be staying in
motels. My question: will motels normally let you bring your bike into
your room for protection from theft? I wouldn't be comfortable leaving
it outside overnight. Thanks for any replies.

This came up recently on rec.bicycles.misc or rec.bicycles.rides, so you
might want to Google it. Net: normally they do. Best not to ask and just
do it.

If you show up in bike clothes, they can tell. On a recent tour involving
two motels, both asked me, without prompting, whether I'd prefer a
non-smoking room on the ground floor. (Yes!)

Smokey said:

I plan to do my first overnight tour this fall and will be staying in
motels. My question: will motels normally let you bring your bike into
your room for protection from theft? I wouldn't be comfortable leaving
it outside overnight. Thanks for any replies.

I've never had a problem taking my bike to my room - even if it was in a
high-rise on the 5th floor. Normally with a motel I will try to find one with
outside doors and ask for a 1st floor room, rarely do I tell them it is a bike
I'm concerned with.

Just don't leave chain grease stains on the rug or they won't be tolerated
next time.

--
Mike Vore
http://www.OhMyWoodness.com
http://www.OhMyWoodness.com/blog (new - update your Bookmarks)

Smokey said:

I plan to do my first overnight tour this fall and will be staying in
motels. My question: will motels normally let you bring your bike into
your room for protection from theft? I wouldn't be comfortable leaving
it outside overnight. Thanks for any replies.

My experience is that mostly they don't think to ask. So, you can get
away with bringing it inside. Just be careful not to leave grease spots
or other damage, and no one will know or care. I have also had motels
suggest that I bring the bike into my room, since they don't want to
deal with the liability if it is left outside.

For a fancy hotel, or a bed & breakfast, it pays to ask, but for most
places it should be OK.

--

David L. Johnson

Let's be straight here. If we find something we can't understand we
like to call it something you can't understand, or indeed even
pronounce.
-- Douglas Adams

On my last 3 bike trips I have brought my bike into my room. I find that
Motels or Express Hotels are definitely easier as you can just pull your
bike in from the parking lot. If it's a nicer hotel, I usually bag both the
wheels and wrap the frame in plastic. So far so good. I had one Inn around
VT tell me that they have to draw the line because the last folks got chain
grease everywhere and nicked some vanities. The suggestion of being careful
is a very good one as it will protect all of us by giving cyclists a good
name and putting the property owners at ease. I was in VT, CO, and in and
around Ontario in both motels and hotels with no issue. One place in CO
said that I needed to upgrade my room to a larger size so that there would
be enough room for the bike without damaging anything. I said fair enough
and took the bribe...

I hope this helps?
Andrew.

On 8/16/07 10:16 PM, in article [email hidden],

David L. Johnson said:

Smokey said:

I plan to do my first overnight tour this fall and will be staying in
motels. My question: will motels normally let you bring your bike into
your room for protection from theft? I wouldn't be comfortable leaving
it outside overnight. Thanks for any replies.

My experience is that mostly they don't think to ask. So, you can get
away with bringing it inside. Just be careful not to leave grease spots
or other damage, and no one will know or care. I have also had motels
suggest that I bring the bike into my room, since they don't want to
deal with the liability if it is left outside.

For a fancy hotel, or a bed & breakfast, it pays to ask, but for most
places it should be OK.

Mike Kruger said:

This came up recently on rec.bicycles.misc or rec.bicycles.rides, so you
might want to Google it. Net: normally they do. Best not to ask and just
do it.

I think I was the one who asked. The general consesus (I can never spell
that right) seemed to be you'd be fine.

I have since taken that trip and indeed had no problems.

Smokey said:

I plan to do my first overnight tour this fall and will be staying in
motels. My question: will motels normally let you bring your bike into
your room for protection from theft? I wouldn't be comfortable leaving
it outside overnight. Thanks for any replies.

Smokey

For me, after riding 10 hours without a shower, I'd think it'd be
prudent to ask first if you can park your bike inside the room. In
europe the owner would usually have a lockable secure area to keep the
bike.

Smokey said:

I plan to do my first overnight tour this fall and will be staying in
motels. My question: will motels normally let you bring your bike into
your room for protection from theft? I wouldn't be comfortable leaving
it outside overnight. Thanks for any replies.

Smokey

Hey Smokey, I would say that 98% of them will not have a problem with
bringing the bike inside. But I think it's a good idea to ask, but they
will probably be able to tell from the way you look / smell after a day
of riding. I did 39 days on the road and can't remember having any say "no".

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 22:05:57 -0700, Kenny <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

For me, after riding 10 hours without a shower, I'd think it'd be
prudent to ask first if you can park your bike inside the room. In
europe the owner would usually have a lockable secure area to keep the
bike.

That's been my experience. But to be sure, I always phone them before
making the booking and explicitly ask them *where* I can store my bike
safely overnight in their hotel.

If their answer is satisfactory (e.g. "your room"/bike cellar/lockable
storage room) I book, otherwise, I look elsewhere.

Smokey said:

I plan to do my first overnight tour this fall and will be staying in
motels. My question: will motels normally let you bring your bike into
your room for protection from theft? I wouldn't be comfortable leaving
it outside overnight. Thanks for any replies.

The smaller ones seem to not have any problems with it.

I stayed at a (rather pricey for me) Holiday Inn a couple
weeks ago in Cumberland, MD where I was on the 3rd floor
and the person at the desk expressly told me I could bring
my bike into the room, even before I asked.

In most cases, I don't ask! Just bring the bike in the
room and let someone tell you it's not allowed instead.

Be a responsible renter of the room. No chain grease on
the bed covers, discarded bike parts on the floor, or muddy
tire tracks down the hallway carpeting.

In that way, other bicyclists will likely be more welcome
at that location as well.

SMH

Smokey said:

I plan to do my first overnight tour this fall and will be staying in
motels. My question: will motels normally let you bring your bike into
your room for protection from theft? I wouldn't be comfortable leaving
it outside overnight. Thanks for any replies.

Smokey

On a trip last week across PA (BicyclePA South route) I stayed in a
Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, Fairfield Inn and Courtyard (Marriott)
without issue (from bringing the bike into the room). When possible, I
didn't bring the bike in through the lobby.

When I mentioned that I would have a bike with me in the description
field of the booking form, I was typically given a room on the first
floor.

I did mention on the Hampton Inn that I viewed their ads on Versus
during the TdF, but it was the hot tub, location and room rate that
got my attention.

I think that hotels have larger issues to deal with as far as smokers
fouling non-smoking rooms than cyclotourists not being careful about
dirt and grease.

-bdbafh