Bikes in Hotels

[lette]

Planning on doing a test bike trip this weekend along the Erie Canal, Rochester,Ny to Lockport, Ny, approx 150 miles. Just a change of clothes (and lots of tools, spares etc) and the trustee creditcard. This being a test, to see how the bike and I would stand up to the trip eastward along the Erie to Albany.

Will spend the nite in Lockport, and my question is..do your pre-call the hotels and ask if bikes are allowed in the rooms, or do you just show up, and roll the bike up to reception? Will most likely end up at the Choice Hotel chain, Quality Inn's, Comfort Inn's, and Econolodge's as they seem to be in every town along the canal.

Has anyone ever been rejected by the hotel for having a bike?

Thanks,
Lette

[Nanci]

I would pre-call. A lot of the hotels here, in cities that host large triathlons, do not allow bikes in the rooms, because people get bike grease all over everything and use the towels to clean their bikes. Thanks a lot for ruining it for everyone. In fact, I heard that the hotel I plan on staying at for Six Gap does not allow bikes inside. The hotel we use for the brevet series in Clermont, FL has a formal "no bikes" policy, but allows just our group to bring them in, on the condition that we never cause any damage, or they won't let us any more.

[tprevost]

I would pre-call. A lot of the hotels here, in cities that host large triathlons, do not allow bikes in the rooms, because people get bike grease all over everything and use the towels to clean their bikes. Thanks a lot for ruining it for everyone. In fact, I heard that the hotel I plan on staying at for Six Gap does not allow bikes inside. The hotel we use for the brevet series in Clermont, FL has a formal "no bikes" policy, but allows just our group to bring them in, on the condition that we never cause any damage, or they won't let us any more.

Wow! I've never heard of a no bikes policy! What a bummer! I've always just rolled mine right in and no one has ever said a thing. In fact, if they wouldn't allow my bike in the room, I wouldn't stay there because I'd want it where I could keep an eye on it (I know, probably a little overboard, but that's me )

T~

[fatbottomedgurl]

I always find it easier in life to ask for forgiveness rather than ask for permission...

[bike4ever]

I've never asked about taking my bike into a room. This weekend I was in Madison, WI. I stayed in a Sheraton - just rolled my bike right onto the elevator up the the 4th floor. Usually on an elevator I will stand the bike upright - takes up less space.

[brok]

My bike and I stayed in the Mariott in downtown Milwaukee a couple of weeks ago. No questions, no problems. I even had people who were walking by on the sidewalk and stop to help with the door. I either looked pathetic getting through the door, or they were extremely nice - I prefer to think they were nice

[DeniseGoldberg]

I never ask at hotels - I just roll my bike into the hotel and into the room. I've never had a problem with that in the level of hotel you are considering, and I've also never had a problem with that at more expensive hotels. If the hotel doesn't want a bike in the room then I usually will opt to stay someplace else. In fact, I've stayed at hotels where the only room available was on an upper floor, and there wasn't an elevator - and the hotel staff always apologizes for my needing to carry my bike up the stairs!

The funny thing is the only time I was ever questioned was at a funky mom & pop hotel in the Adirondacks on a very very rainy day. When I went in to ask if there was a room available, the owners very pointedly asked what I planned to do with my bike. I said that I would like to take it into the room, that my first task would be to clean it up and dry it (using my own cloths), and I asked if they had an old newspaper I could put underneath the bike. At that point they decided I was OK, rented a room to me, and handed me the requested newspapers.

On the other hand, if I'm staying at a B&B, I ask if they have a safe place for the bike. It usually can't go in the room there.

Have fun on your trip.

--- Denise

[bcipam]

I'm like Denise... I just came in bike and gear in tow. Years ago a good friend I use to tour with was an employee for Hyatt Hotels. She got free rooms so we would ride from hotel to hotel. We rolled into some really fancy places looking like heck but the hotels were always gracious and I never had a problem taking my bike up to my room with me. But it doesn't hurt to call and ask especially for piece of mind. Now cleaning my bike int he room was another matter. Here where I live since touring is common, alot of hotel have signs poste "Please don't use hotel towels to clean your bike". I guess there was a reason they have to do that. I was always good about cleaning the bike outside and I carried my own rags.

[mimitabby]

We also roll our bikes into the hotel. Sometimes we can keep the bike in our room, sometimes they provide a place for it. (at the last tandem rally they gave us the ball room for all our bikes! it was quite surreal to step into the ball room and see it filled with all those tandems!)

[velogirl]

On my tour last summer, I didn't always know where I'd be staying night to night, so I didn't call the hotels -- just rolled in with the loaded bike. Most hotel staff were just fascinated with the bike and didn't blink an eye about me keeping it in my room.

When we race, we always bring our bikes in the hotel rooms. I've never had anyone question it.

Have a blast. I rode a few little bits of the Erie Canal last summer on my tour.

[Pedal Wench]

We've done two week-long tours in Colorado, each with 2,000 of our closest friends. In each town along the way, the hotels were completely sold out with cyclists. Every single one let us bring the bikes inside. We always thought it was funny riding through town and seeing all these motels and hotels with 'no vacancy' signs lit up, but the parking lots were completely empty!