Pre-book or take a punt?

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Thu Apr 02, 2015 7:44 pm

If there is a group of you, say 4 or 6 - then getting accommodation in the same hotel/B&B is preferential.

Also - if it's lashing down and you don't have accommodation booked - I always feel that you become less and less welcome, as you trip from hotel to hotel - searching for rooms.

Al

Motocod · Post by **Motocod** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 10:22 am

Reading this thread with interest, as we have a few trips planned for this year. We tend to book ahead, so as to avoid the stress/hassle of having to find somewhere. Also, I'm a bit paranoid about security, so like to find a hotel with a garage - I'm curious to know what people's experiences are so far as keeping their bikes safe while traveling?

popsky · Post by **popsky** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 11:03 am

Motocod wrote:I'm curious to know what people's experiences are so far as keeping their bikes safe while traveling?

As it's always me and the wife (she rides) we chain our bikes front wheel to back wheel, it's a quality Kryptonite lock/chain, then the front bike has a disc lock to front disc and the rear bike has a disk lock to rear wheel, both steering locks as well. The chain on the main lock is just long enough to pass around both wheels without the lock touching the floor. If travelling solo I'd always try to lock to something immovable, if you do this at a race meeting don't forget which lamp post it's locked too

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 11:13 am

The beauty of Booking.com and Google Streetview - is that you can have a look at the parking arrangements prior to booking.

I must admit to checking that out first. But - when travelling in France, we tend to book a hotel in a small town off the beaten track, where you have to assume there should be no problem.

That said - there are more and more organised thefts of bikes in France - Usually, I think - ending up in Lithuania where they are broken for parts - sold on Ebay. Lots of GS models seem to go that route.

So - if you park carefully, out of sight of a main thoroughfare - the most I would ever fit - is a good quality alarmed disc-lock. (I say "good quality" - meaning - not prone to false alarms).

We have been to hotels with secure parking (usually costs a couple of €€) which is usually behind a locked gate in a courtyard - that's just a plus.

I think Dorsetboy and I took a security chain between us last year, and chained the rear wheels together at the overnight stop - but that was just that we could afford the weight.

Al

popsky · Post by **popsky** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 11:33 am

Blackal wrote:the most I would ever fit - is a good quality alarmed disc-lock. (I say "good quality" - meaning - not prone to false alarms).
Al

The flaw with this is they will just pick the bike up a dump it in a van, the alarms going off but by the time your in the street the bike is down the road. I have personal experience of this and it ain't nice, 3 bike disappeared this way on one trip.

We make it as difficult as we can, the sheer hassle of organising other modes of transport, let alone the financial implications, and if your bike goes walkies are you gonna want to carry on your holiday ?

Blackal · Post by **Blackal** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 11:38 am

You omitted the caveat of "parking out of sight........."

It's all about the extent to which you want to mitigate the risk............

If I was parking overnight at a Formula 1 - I'd have nothing short of a Wolverine, guarding the bike.

Al

popsky · Post by **popsky** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 11:42 am

Blackal wrote:You omitted the caveat of "parking out of sight........."

It's all about the extent to which you want to mitigate the risk............

If I was parking overnight at a Formula 1 - I'd have nothing short of a Wolverine, guarding the bike.

Al

It was a locked underground hotel garage Al

Motocod · Post by **Motocod** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 2:22 pm

We tend to book places with a secure garage. My chain weighs a tonne so it usually stays at home and I make do with two locks on the discs.