General Cycling Discussion - Hotel Strategy

We're going to go to a 3-4 star hotel in a city (Portland, OR), and we'll have three bikes on the car.

My question is what should we do with the bikes at night?

1. Bring them into the room.
2. Leave them locked onto the car (thick cable with Kryptonite lock, locked to Yakima rack).
3. Take them off the car and lock them to something with Kryptonite locks.
4. Lock them in a storage room in the hotel.

Thanks.

Talk to the hotel to see how they feel about option 1. If the bikes are reasonably clean they won't track any more dirt into the room than a baby buggy/stroller/pram would. If the bikes are filthy mountain bikes then look for option 4 perhaps.

I've done all 4 plus, my current favorite, lock the bikes inside the car.

First ask at the front desk if they have a place for locking valuables. Then ask them where they suggest you store your valuable bike overnight. I've been provided a locked office for storing my tandem bike and I've been allowed to lock my tandem within sight of the front desk.

It's always best to make hotel reservations based upon this question....

At any rate, I would just pick my bike up and walk to my room. I would NOT under any circumstances leave my bike unattended and attached to my car or some fixed object, overnight, anywhere. Portland included!

If thieves have a truck or a van, they can easily make off with your bikes, that have been placed inside of your locked car, but unlocked to one another. Loose bikes, placed inside of cars, at night, are not safe. They must be locked additionally, inside of the car. That's locked too each other and onto the steering wheel or something. Most modern cars have some type of alarm system. Expert thieves, know how to by pass these alarms. If and when they do, they can then just saw through your steering wheel, and again, make off with all of your bikes, within one minute.

You can't win against expert thieves in most cases...

That said..Most lifetime thieves get caught a multiple number of times and earn themselves felony records. After which they can't find decent jobs for the rest of their lives.

I've never had a problem with taking them in our room ... Certainly lets me sleep a lot better ...

I wouldn't worry about it. People in Portland are pretty honest.

don't ask anybody anything. just bring them in. it's your property.

"It's easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to get permission". Grace Hopper referring to the U.S. Navy

I've just walked them up to my hotel room and have only had an issue in one place - Las Vegas. There many of the hotel lobbies are deliberately designed so that you have to walk past rather crowded areas with slot machines in order to reach the elevators to the hotel rooms. As a result they do have concerns about safety issues with bikes being taken through, but they always provided secure and convenient storage near the front desk and would retrieve the bike(s) quickly if I wanted to use them during my stay.

I'd suggest going ahead and taking the bikes to your room under the assumption that it's allowed unless told otherwise - you can always request alternative safe and secure storage if someone objects.

We have walked our tandem with BOB trailer thought the lobby to our room!

I walk my clean bike right through the lobby of a 3 star hotel in Portland all the time. I often book a room there just for the hell of it when I can get one for $50.

OTOH, I went to an absolute dive hotel once that had a sign hung stating "No bikes in rooms". I assume they've had some folks come back from rain rides and let their bikes drip dry on the carpet. Those stains can be difficult to remove!

I wouldn't worry about it. People in Portland are pretty honest. :lol: :roflmao2: :lol:

I take my bikes in, I rented the room, it's mine for the night. If they complain, I'll use their sheets to wipe my chain before I leave. :D

Make sure the hotel has an automatic door it makes getting the bikes in through the lobby easier...

Aaron :)

This is a roof rack?

Beware the parking garage...

Thanks for the advice.


I've just walked them up to my hotel room and have only had an issue in one place - Las Vegas.

Funny you mention that -- here are our bikes in our room in the Sahara in Vegas. I took them down the elevator from the parking garage, across the lobby and up the elevator to our room. The "walk with a purpose, act like you know what you're doing, no eye contact" trick works well.

I guess I'll try for this, but it's a bit of a bother, and on this trip we'll have three bikes.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CR4yNJ2gHAo/SgHynERSRVI/AAAAAAAAAyM/LLWDrNt1A-I/s1600/TehachapiToVegas+017.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CR4yNJ2gHAo/SgIE-wPy8TI/AAAAAAAAA08/Dy0VGi0rqjM/s400/VegasToZion+005.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CR4yNJ2gHAo/SgHym6MPZgI/AAAAAAAAAx8/kAYwb9ECfCU/s1600/TehachapiToVegas+019.jpg

5) ask nearest bike shop if you can park them there for those nights?

PDX, has 1 or 2 bike shops per block..

5) ask nearest bike shop if you can park them there for those nights?

PDX, has 1 or 2 bike shops per block..

Oh, that's a neat idea.

I just called the downtown Hilton in Portland, and they have a complimentary bike valet.

Bring them into your room, I've never had a problem anywhere with that approach. ( please ensure the bikes are clean however )

Bring them into your room, I've never had a problem anywhere with that approach. ( please ensure the bikes are clean however )

I'd take a wild guess that if you make a spectacular mess in the room then the hotel would charge you for cleaning over and above what would be considered the normal daily cleaning routine. That said even a filthy MTB can be kept off the carpet with a simple tarpaulin.

Most lifetime thieves get caught a multiple number of times and earn themselves felony records. After which they can't find decent jobs for the rest of their lives.

Unfortunately, that means theivery remains their only potential source of income. A rather vicious cycle.

Most lifetime thieves get caught a multiple number of times and earn themselves felony records. After which they can't find decent jobs for the rest of their lives.

Unfortunately, that means theivery remains their only potential source of income. A rather vicious cycle.

Admittedly, it's not a very good system, but it's the only one we've got!

And thank God we've got one...

PS.

It is what it is, until we make it better! :thumb:

I wouldn't worry about it. People in Portland are pretty honest.

The bike theft rate in Portland is totally ridiculous. Horribly high. I would NOT leave them on or in the car.

I always bring my bikes into my hotel rooms. I never ask permission, just wheel them in and I've never been questioned about it. I try to be very careful, however, and not get any grease on the walls, etc.

Oh, that's a neat idea.

I just called the downtown Hilton in Portland, and they have a complimentary bike valet.

I was just in Minneapolis.St. Paul and the hotel I stayed in had a bike valet. It was way cool. I would call down for my bike and they would deliver it to the front door. And they filled my water bottles! Weirdly decadent.

I always bring my bikes into my hotel rooms. I never ask permission, just wheel them in and I've never been questioned about it. I try to be very careful, however, and not get any grease on the walls, etc.
I've been questioned about it and finally had to lock my bike in another area when the security guy insisted. Luckily, this happened on the last day of a week long stay.

Thanks for the advice.



Funny you mention that -- here are our bikes in our room in the Sahara in Vegas. I took them down the elevator from the parking garage, across the lobby and up the elevator to our room. The "walk with a purpose, act like you know what you're doing, no eye contact" trick works well.

I guess I'll try for this, but it's a bit of a bother, and on this trip we'll have three bikes.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CR4yNJ2gHAo/SgHynERSRVI/AAAAAAAAAyM/LLWDrNt1A-I/s1600/TehachapiToVegas+017.jpg





That's exactly what I did in Vegas when I stayed at Bally's in March. I'm sorry, there are too many "park at your own risk" and "hotel not responsible" signs, so I wheeled my bike right through the casino, on to the elevator, up to my room and I tucked it in bed. No really, I did, I need to find the pictures.

Sometimes I go whole hog. (don't worry. bike was cleaner than most humans when pic was taken)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7062/7092701337_6ed602f073_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lesterofpuppets/7092701337/)
2012-04-18_23-35-54_429.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lesterofpuppets/7092701337/) by Lester Of Puppets (http://www.flickr.com/people/lesterofpuppets/), on Flickr

Take it inside the hotel room like most people are suggesting. NO CITY is safe from thieves. If it's on the rack, you are just asking for someone to steal them. If they are inside the car, someone knowledgeable about bikes will quickly access their worth and break in if they want them (much like they would if you left your IPOD or wallet on the seat).

Don't ask to bring them in, just do it. If you are stopped by hotel staff and told no, explain that you didn't know as you were renting the whole room for the night and considered the bike as part of your personal belongings and luggage. Ask instead for a locked room to store the valuable bike with a receipt of proof.

I always take my bikes inside my hotel room. Many times though I sleep in the back of my truck with my bikes on the rack. I sleep with my loaded .357 next to me so I pitty the fool who would try to steal my bikes.

Sometimes I go whole hog. (don't worry. bike was cleaner than most humans when pic was taken)

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7062/7092701337_6ed602f073_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lesterofpuppets/7092701337/)
2012-04-18_23-35-54_429.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lesterofpuppets/7092701337/) by Lester Of Puppets (http://www.flickr.com/people/lesterofpuppets/), on Flickr

That's not whole hog.

I love my bike enough to take the time to tuck it in.

I always take my bikes inside my hotel room. Many times though I sleep in the back of my truck with my bikes on the rack. I sleep with my loaded .357 next to me so I pitty the fool who would try to steal my bikes.

Don't ever drink and try that trick...
You just might wake up, only to find your bikes and the .357 gone! :lol: :roflmao2: :lol:

My wife and I have high-end road bikes. Most often I take the bikes into the room. Never had an issue doing that, including in Midtown Manhattan. I might leave them locked inside the vehicle overnight depending on the area. I would not leave them outside locked to the vehicle or something else.

Which Minneapolis hotel was that?