Lion Steve

My wife and I, in our mid 50's, are both getting back to cycling. We are currently planning our first mini-tour. It will just be a three night trip along some rail trails. We are planning to stay at some motels along the way.
I was wondering, if motels, generally speaking, have any concerns with allowing bikes to be brought inside your room overnight. Thanks for any input.

stokell

I used to credit card tour for many years. I never had a problem putting the bike inside a motel room. Several times I put newspapers under it when it had been raining, or the tires were dirty.

At B&Bs, the landlord will usually put the bikes in a garage for you, or in the backyard. In a case like that I would lock the bikes together to an unmovable object (if available).

Enjoy yourselves! Touring can be so much fun!

shaharidan

i've only ever hit one hotel that wouldn't allow my bike in the room. other than that no problem at all. if you know where you're going to be staying maybe call them before your trip to be safe. also if a desk clerk says no ask to talk to the manager. generally people are helpful and as long as the bike looks clean they'll probaly let you in even if the rules say no.

ctyler

Never had a problem with taking my bike into a motel/hotel room.

And my guess is that if you're staying near the trail, the motels get a lot of cyclists staying there so it should be no problem.

Tug

Usually the motel people are pretty sympathetic to cyclists and their bikes. At one fairly upscale motel I stopped at, the motel personnel let me roll the bike through the lobby and put it on the elevator to go up to my room. I thought that was more than kind.

SadieKate

I've never had a problem except at B&Bs. I've literally had hotel staff hold the elevator door for me. Most of my vacations are spent fishing or biking so we have lots of equipment and run weird hours so hotels are usually the better option. I have found very few B&Bs understand an active outdoor schedule. They seem shocked that anyone would want breakfast before 8 am even when the temp will hit 100 degrees by then. The few that do actively market to us outdoor riff-raff.

Lion Steve

Thanks to everyone for the info. Yes, the trail runs right by the motels that we are going to be going to, so it should be fine. I will call ahead to make sure. Thanks again.

kbabin

I didn't have any problem when I toured on the Katy Trail in MO. The hotels and B&Bs were use to having bikes because the are on the Trail. One of the hotels offered a free shuttle to the trail or train. And the also owned the movie theater next door so we go free tickets to a movie!!

stokell

I agree. Getting a breakfast before 8 at a B&B is unusual. I'm unsure if that was a concern of the thread originator, but if it is, it is a point well taken.

The main reason I started unsupported touring was just that. I prefer to follow my own schedule. I camp at sundown, get up with the sun, do some serious km's early and then chill in the heat of the afternoon.

100 sounds hot! In Celsius water boils.

jwa

8 years ago, my then-12 y.o. daighter & I rode the C&O Canal Towpath W -> E, ending in D.C. We had planned our last night in a *ritzy* hotel in Georgetown close to the trailhead.

As luck would have it, we had pouring rain our whole last day on the trail. The rain, mixed thoroughly with the Georgia-red clay recently dumped to fill extended stretches of the towpath, made a gawdawful mess of us & our bikes. We walked the last 4 miles or so, dragging our loaded bikes through the slop. At the trails' end, we were physically beat and looked worse.

So, we rode up to the fancy-schmancy hotel - I'll have to check my journal to remember the name - with this thick red mud embedded in our knobby tires, our panniers, shoes, hair, everywhere. The doorman came out to hold the door for us. I asked, did they have an outside garage or loading area or something where we could lock our bikes? No, he said, bring them in. But they're filthy, dripping oozy clay. He smiled politely, shrugged his shoulders a bit, and said, "You are our guests." He had us lock them in a 1st-floor laundry storage room, where he left a message with the laundry staff to hose them off for us!

For years since I've used this anecdote on my office staff as a lesson in customer service!

SadieKate

We've stayed at two different B&Bs near Juneau that supposedly cater to fisherfolk. We were there for the silvers in September which meant getting up at the crack off stupid. The first one we had to bring in our own frozen food to nuke for breakfast because they didn't serve early enough. The 2nd would make us quiche and similar items we could nuke ourselves, but at least it was homemade and they tried. The latter B&B had several rooms surrounding ours and we found out at the end of the week that our fellow B&B-ers thought the room was empty. Hotels just seem more willing to cope with odd hours and activities.