Tandem Cycling - Tandem-Hotel-Elevator

We're thinking of taking our Tandem along on a visit to DC and I'm wondering where to stow it when we're not using it. I figure my choices are to leave it in the van in the parking deck, bring it into the room, or see if the hotel has storage at street level. Bringing into the room seems like the most secure place, I think an 8 foot tandem ought to fit diagonally inside a modern elevator, but I've never tried it has anyone else?

Our Comotion Speedster fits with other passengers...
Vertically

Most hotels will have a large freight elevator somewhere. You just have to ask.

Our Santana fits fine, front wheel in the air. Don't forget, it is often easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission.

Jack

I watch folks do it all the time... but am not a fan of the co-mingled passenger car technique.

Something about watching those grimy chains moved in close proximity to the street clothes and belongings of other hotel guests and staff and, well... just other 'stuff'.

It's kinda like how I also react when non-sight impaired folks bring their large dogs into elevators and hotels: hey, glad you love your furry friend but I'd rather not have his fury or slobber on me thank you very much.

Therefore, I usually go with an alternative strategy of either:

1. Asking for a ground floor room, or
2. Making sure we're not put in the penthouse and finding the almost always unused stairway and simply carrying the tandem up hoisted by the top tube just behind the captain's seat tube (CG on most upright road tandems).

All that said, unless we're travelling without our tandem-hauler (Toyota Tundra with enclosed, locked and darkly-tinted windows = somewhat secure), I just store our tandem in the truck before heading in to the hotel.

They will usually fit diagonally in most elevators. I agree that it would be best done in an otherwise empty elevator.

We stayed in DC in May (Hyatt Rosslyn actually). I locked the bike to a railing in the underground garage. No problems.

+1 on trying to get a ground floor room or if that's not possible to seek the freight elevator (or back stairwell).


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Stoker carries the front wheel while I hold the bike verticle. Never had a problem. Had to send stoker in to get a towel when we got caught in the rain. Did not want to drip all over the carpet and leave tire tracks accross the lobby floor.

We always leave it in the van, but as others have said, it fits in most elevators.

Pull a 'wheelie' and bring tandem in elevator vertically. Works fine.
Was told in one hotel with a small elevator: 'it won't fit'.
Asked the desk clerk 'want to watch? He did and . . . smiled.

I have seen many tandems and even a triple in elevators.
May want to rethink the just leave it in the car plan. A friend just had his truck which had a camper shell stolen with two singles locked in back. To add more injury to injury he was out riding the following Saturday got cut off by someone turning left in front of him, the resulting crash broke the frame on his steel cross bike. While there is no good news on this one there is some interesting news, steel frame was broken front wheeel destroyed......Ritchey Carbon Cross fork showed know visable signs of damage. The fork will be replaced regardless.

I've become a fan of "leave it in the van".

I usually try to park it someplace very conspicuous. Look around the parking lot or garage & in most places these days, you'll be able to find the cameras or the Plexiglas bubbles that might be fake camera housings. Thieves are looking for the same thing as places to avoid.

So far, it's always been there the next morning.