So, the eyebrows were raised...

[Grog]

Now imagine not unloading your bike but your panniers off a touring bike, and giving the valet boy your bike to park! I'm sure you'd get a few more looks.



Yes, bike is the new golf. I know of a club that's spun out of a chamber of commerce. And the gib Livestrong fundraiser events look quite similar here in BC. LOTS of business folks.

I like the idea.

ETA: Are golf club memberships tax deductible if you're golfing on business in some US States? If so, that might be a way to write off one's new carbon machine for some people!!

[BabyBlueNTulsa]

ETA: Are golf club memberships tax deductible if you're golfing on business in some US States? If so, that might be a way to write off one's new carbon machine for some people!!

Meals and Entertainment are only 50% deductible...so I'd put Golf (or cycling-related fees - not the actual bike) in this expense category. I would think only professional riders could somehow list their bikes as a business expense...but I don't know for sure..it just makes sense.

[Miranda]

Yes, I don't think people realize what the bikes cost for sure. I know I was totally shocked when I went shopping for the first time.

I think a good question for the desk clerk would have been... "do you have safe storage space large enough to secure my 'valuables' (aka = bike) ? ".

My first roadie girl and now my mtb also, sleep in the formal dining room next to the victorian drapes. My new carbon girl sleeps two foot across from the footboard on my bed!

Now, on a serious note... I can see if the tires were filthy dirty etc. either cleaning them / wiping them down before trashing the hotel flooring. Or carrying the bike across the floor vs rolling. I try to make sure the girls tires are clean at home before I roll them across my own white carpet... so that's just common courtesy.

Btw, good for you, Mr. Silver, and taking your ride with you! Way more calories burned that golfing any ole day.

[TrekTheKaty]

In the end, the way I look at it, it is about respect. I treat the hotel like I would my house. If there is a side door, I use it, just like I use the side door of my house, not the entrance through the living room. I'll carry the bike over wood flooring and light colored carpeting.

This was the rejection I expected from the hotel--chain grease or dirty bike tires causing damage. The room had white comforters, but I left the bike just inside the door. There was a moment of--"let's practice taking the rear wheel off and on before I try to put it IN the car tomorrow," but no damage was done!

[TrekTheKaty]

Sorry! Repeat post.

[shootingstar]

Have made a couple of business deals on bike rides. Cycling is the new golf for alot of people.

Agree. I always found it a topic ice-breaker, especially among the guys in several organizations that were predominantly men --regardless of whether or not they were cyclists.

We always ask hotel front desk about bringing in our bikes. 95% of time we've been able to bring them indoors...if not in our rm., in a locked area. 1-2 hotels allowed us to store bikes in an unused conference rm. Several hotels would have the hotel valet park our bikes for us in locked area..that's the way how they wanted to handle it.

The trickier part is staying at some bed 'n breakfasts where just storing in the garage wasn't always a great idea unless we made sure bikes had the bike locks on also.

[Jiffer]

It's funny how whenever we make travel plans these days, there's usually a question of whether or not there will be an opportunity to ride and should we bring the bikes! Just had this discussion today about the "secret trip" dh has planned for my birthday. I was planning my training for some events coming up and didn't know if I was going to get ride time on that trip.

There's also a camping trip coming up, which I'm definitely bringing the bike to. One of the joys of cycling is doing it in new locations.

Sometimes the destination of the trip and "what are we going to do when we get there" is answered by, "Well, where do we want to ride our bike?!" "Or what event can ride in that we can go out of town and do?"

Cycling is the new golf. I like that!!!

[Aggie_Ama]

We have wandered into many a hotel with bikes in tow. The best was Red River, NM last year where the owner of the hotel was amused when we took our two mountain bikes and two road bikes in our room. We had a blast exploring the area by bike and he thought it was a great plan!

[Mr. Bloom]

They actually proved to be very cool about it and supporting me...constantly offering me water and storage for my stuff.

This was the rejection I expected from the hotel--chain grease or dirty bike tires causing damage. The room had white comforters, but I left the bike just inside the door. There was a moment of--"let's practice taking the rear wheel off and on before I try to put it IN the car tomorrow," but no damage was done!

My Response:
- to dirty bike tires? "Would you reject a wheel chair that just came in off the road?" (I know, it's not the same thing...but the similarity of tires in contact with the street would have the same impact) Besides, I carry my bike off the floor.
- to dirty issues? "Do you inspect the bottom of peoples shoes to see where they've been walking?" or "If I were a runner coming in from a rain storm, would you send me back outside?"
- to general issues? "But your sign in the parking lot says you're not responsible for stolen items...so, are you willing to guaranty the security of my bike?"
- to grease on the furniture? "haven't I just signed a check in contract that says I'm responsible for damage?" or "didn't you just get authorization on my credit card for MORE than just my lodging?"
- to space in the elevator (I'd probably take the stairs)? "if I weighed 350 pounds (I saw three people at the hotel that were beyond that...), would you say I took up too much space...plus, if I held the bike verticle on one wheel, it takes up the space of a large person...