It's not likely to be an individual professor who doesn't like it. Rather, it might be about "policy" regarding bicycles. I've been to a couple of cycling events in the summer where the participants stayed in residence rooms. At one university (this is in Canada) they allowed us to take the bikes into designated hallways, but not the residence rooms. At another, bicycles weren't allowed in any building whatsoever -- the organizers rented large trailers for the bikes to be locked up at night.

However, in your case, a cheap cover ought to make it acceptable. If the prof even notices, tell him/her it's your physics project.