whizkid

Hey all,

I recently moved to Paris with my new Brompton as my main mode of transport. However, I haven't had the guts to bring it into the Louvre or anything. Does anybody have any experience with bringing the bicycle into exhibits or other fancy places in Paris or in general?

All tips and tricks appreciated.

-Robert

NoReg

You could coat check it couldn't you? I don't know how likely it is to get stolen there. What is "homeland" security like in europe these days?

Mr_Super_Socks

I would recommend the coat check. I have done it with a full-size bike at the MoMA in NY with success. It feels a little weird, but that's your best bet. Very little chance of being allowed to roll it inside with you. Many museums and such even prohibit baby strollers. I have also left my dahon at a very swank restaurant in manhattan at the coat check.

just be glad yours is a folder. It doesn't hurt to look like you belong there, oh, and consider getting a slip cover so they dont have to deal with grease.

axolotl

I've had my Bike Friday with me twice in Paris and always just locked it up to a post outdoors, except at my hotel which was very accommodating. I've been to Paris many other times and in all of my visits, I can't recall ever seeing anyone bring any type of bike inside a museum or restaurant. One time I tried to bring my BF inside a covered passageway toward the entrance of a museum in Paris, but the guard wouldn't let me. I simply had wanted to lock it under cover since it had begun to rain. I would truly be shocked if the Louvre let you bring it inside. I imagine a few places might let you check it if it's folded up and you had a cover for it, as mentioned above.

The last time I checked, I was only aware of one train station in Paris (gare Montparnasse) which still had lockers where you could leave items for brief periods.

I get the feeling from reading other posts on this forum that I'm in the minority of BF owners, in that I regularly lock it up outside wherever I go.

Mr_Super_Socks

slightly off topic, but axolotl - I have not been able to figure out a good way to lock my BF since all the standard ways are compromised by the quick release which connects the seat tube/maintube/seat stays. Which part do you lock to keep it secure?

axolotl

I know it's not the most secure lock, but these days I use a cable lock which I slip through the frame where it splits to go toward each side of the rear wheel. (I need to get a replacement for my ballpoint pen-openable Kryptonite lock, which I don't use anymore.) But since you live in what I assume is a more theft-prone area, I'm not sure you'd want to use a cable lock like mine. I recall using the Kryptonite U-lock successfully, but only if I found somethink like a narrow street sign pole to use. I can no longer recall exactly which part of the bike I used.

v1nce

Bromptons fold so small that you can get a simple but sturdy bag for it and just take it inside/with you which is always the safest from a theft point of view. Some of those typically "shopper"/old granny bags have a wooden plank and little wheels at the bottom to boot so that way you don't have to lug the weight. If you are willing to spend a bit more money just buy a small (day pack?) decent small wheeled suitcase with extendable handle which you just carry around on the Brompton pannier untill you require it.

randya

My wife and I were turned away at the Picasso Museum in Barcelona with our Stridas, and we had to lock them outside in the street. I use a good armored cable lock, and didn't have any problems.

v1nce

That's weak! What bs, the Strida's BELONG in a museum.

randya

Yeah, a museum of inovative design and technology! They worked great in town, and we were very happy to have and use them. I was never interested in a folder for putting in long miles on the open road or up and down hills, and the Stridas worked great for what we needed them for. I have no complaints with the bikes, just with the rude museum guard that turned us away.

folder fanatic

For Vince, Randya, Axolotl, Mr. Super Socks, and Peterpan1: I use another approuch with my own bicycles. I simply plan my trips, whether short around the block or a major one to an exotic far-off region around whether my bike could stay with me in it's little soft bag or under a simple slip cover at all times or could be kept in a protected human guarded closet or other such areas. Museums, indoor-only restaurants, bars, Federal buildings, and other such places are not for toting large packages especially with the terrorist threats and actual attacks that keep popping up on the evening news.

I learn to separate my activities to bike or non-bike ones (or pet-nonpet as the case may be). I am always aware where my pets and bikes are welcomed or not. And I only leave them in safe, theft-proof places.

axolotl

That's fine if you're happy with that solution. For myself, I use my Bike Friday for all my cycling purposes (including as a beater) and am happy doing that. Personally, I wouldn't want to separate my activities the way you've chosen to, but that's just me. I'm willing to take the theft risk. (And yes, I've had bikes stolen in the past.)