Touring - Bike safety in Hostels

I've been practice riding mornings and eves from Ft Lauderdale to Boca and back did Ft L to Palm Beach last saturday, all flat along the coast only hills(?) are the bridges over the intracoastal waterway, though I may have a chance to get out to Colorado for two weeks end of June for some hill work
Have ordered new bike and bags
SO.........
Am arriving in Frankfurt, then to Brussels, A-Dam. Germany, the Czech Repub, Austria, Italy, and France.
I plan to use campgrounds and hostels as much as possible
If I check into a hostel early in the day to do local sightseeing are bikes an bags placed in a secure location, while I am out and about?
Same question about campgrounds, althought it seems obvious to me there wouldn't much security at campgrounds, or am I mistaken?

hey, these are all great questions that I want to know too! Please, can anyone help?

I've only ever stayed in one Hostel while I was touring, that was in Melbourne. I brought my bike into my room. It was OK. I also brought my bike into my room when I stayed at a motel in Glen Innes a few years ago (at the invitation of the staff!).

Hostels in general make no promises about your gear. Lock like crazy, and take anything you can't live without with you. Some Hostels are better than others and will be continuously manned. You can lose your gear anywhere is what it comes down too.
Good luck, and have fun on your trip!

It really depends on the hostel, some are better equiped than others. Like said above, lock everything up. The funny thing about hostels is that thefts from them are probably more frequent than thefts away from them. A good place for such question is the Thorntree at www.lonelyplanet.com

Of the hostels I've used in Europe, they've always had a place for my bike. I lock my bike up (to something if possible) and usually keep my panniers in the room. I've never had anything stolen (not that there is anything to steal anyway). As for campgrounds, I have always kept my panniers in my tent when my tent is up. Even if I leave the day. They have never been disturbed. Any campground which offers security is a campground you should be weary of. If the area is that dangerous, pick a different part of town. Besides, it doesn't work. The only time I had something stolen off my bike, it happened in Finland in a campground which advertised security on premises! It was probably the security guard who stole my bike pump!
www.homestead.com/bicycletouring

Panniers you could check in with the front desk many either have lockers or will keep the paniers behind the desk. Not all will but a lot of them.

Hi seen you on the Uk cycling forum too..Having shared 100s of dormitories my own experience of theft is of thieves raiding the place from outside the hostel..as for your luggage you will probably observe everyones bags are the same..scattered on beds.. Other than money and traveller documents,the only thing likely to be of interest to other travelliers might be your guidebooks if in some remote location....no use risking anything if it destroys your peace of mind.. so I myself alawys lock my bike frame and wheels up to something immovable when leaving it

When you all are camping do you lock your bike to a tree or just lay it next to your tent? And what about when you go into a diner. Do you leave your panniers on the bike and just keep it in sight? I'm leaving for a tour in 10 days or so and this has been a question I haven't really found an answer to either. Thanks.

BeTheChange:

I usually lock my bike to the campground picnic table or to a tree. At a diner I often resist the urge to lock up, instead choosing a spot where I can unobtrusively keep an eye on it from inside. I feel that staying unlocked, especially in small towns, is a polite gesture to my hosts of trust and openness that is worth the slight risk. I leave the panniers on, but do take with me my pump and cyclometer along with the water bottles to be filled. Helmet and gloves stay outside--like the big guys (motorcyclists) do. I've never had a problem either here in NY state or on any of my long tours.

I do recommend dining and shopping in small towns, not only for better security but also because of the often-greater richness of the experience of human contact. It works both ways too--you can make someone's day in a small, off-the-beaten-path shop just because you're different. And they can use the business, too. The more we support small-town economies, the longer their demise will be postponed.

I locked my bike outside in the hostels, and they generally had lockers for me to lock my luggage into.

I also had a big backpack that I could consolidate a lot of my stuff into, then I got a big wire mesh thingie from pacsafe (www.pacsafe.com, I think) that would allow me to lock down my backpack to my bed if there weren't any lockers. It ALWAYS worked. I didn't have anything stolen and I was gone for 5 weeks. Of course, my passport got stolen at US CUSTOMS after I went through Immigration and while I was getting my luggage and before I checked through Customs, so that was the only thing that made my luggage a bit lighter. I still can't believe some commie bastard walked off with my passport. It's going to cause me nightmares forever. God.

Koffee

Info is mixed but informative and greatly appreciated

I'll report back to the forum as I travel and can hit an I-net cafe

Miami to Paris via Air France 19July and will be there to watch the finish of the TOUR

Can hardly believe I'm doing it, and the trip should be a great 8 weeks

Have pared down what I'm taking twice so far, damn those guide books add weight

without realizing it


04 TREK 1000c
04 MTB make unknown given me by a good bud

Whoa 8 weeks! And I thought MY trips were the stuff legends are made of! I usually go 5- 6 weeks, but for 8 weeks... I know I'm probably going to sound like a spoiled brat, but I would be in heaven if I could do 8 weeks! Keep a journal and let us know what you're up to if you get the chance to stop into an internet cafe. Where are you going besides the tour anyway?

And PS, as you finish up with the countries and you've accumulated a few books you're not using, mail them back. And mail back things as you feel that you've finished with them. Get rid of the dead weight!

Koffee