Camping in Europe and Bike Security

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krakatoa

Active Member
Hello, I am about to embark on a tour along the EuroVelo 6 route (France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Romania)

My insurance states that I need to lock my bike to an immovable object.... do people have experience with European camp sites at all? What level of safety do they offer?

Thank you, Mark.
 

jay clock

Massive member
Location
Hampshire UK
Never had a problem. A tree is immovable and these are a common feature in campsites
 

snorri

Legendary Member
My insurance states that I need to lock my bike to an immovable object.... do people have experience with European camp sites at all? What level of safety do they offer?.
Few offer any security whatsoever, there may be some strong points around, lamp-posts, fences, trees etc., but these may not be conveniently situated near to where your tent is pitched. The perception of security also varies from country to country, the campsite clientele can vary from place to place, on some sites you will feel quite relaxed, in others you will want to have a secure connection between your bike and your big toe overnight.
I doubt the value of theft insurance cover for touring cyclists, the conditions protect the insurance company to such an extent that the customer has little cover in reality..
Like jay clock, I have never had a problem, just go, take the normal precautions and enjoy:smile:.
 

yello

Guest
A simple cable lock should suffice.

It is a risk, no doubt about it and one you have to decide for yourself on, but imho taking anything heftier becomes a weight issue. Generally speaking, you're never too far from your bike and your really important stuff (passport/id, money, cards, phone) should never be left on an unattended bike anyway. In truth, your stuff is probably more at risk when you're on a camp site than on the road.

Imo, you're really only looking to thwart the opportunist thief. Anyone that's hell bent on taking your bike & stuff is going to pretty much regardless of the level of security you use.
 
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krakatoa

krakatoa

Active Member
@snorri - thanks for this.... so I am considering insurance but, since the bike (despite being 10 years old) would cost £2k to replace today, this means I need a gold standard lock (not a cable lock!) - so this basically means that I'm not covered when camping if I can't use my d-lock with an immovable object.

Maybe insurance (which would cost £150!) is pretty much useless if I camp?

Out of interest, which camp sites have you found to be unsafe? I am a bit concerned about spending too much time worrying about things :sad: maybe better just to get cheap hotels instead :/
 

snorri

Legendary Member
Maybe insurance (which would cost £150!) is pretty much useless if I camp?
Out of interest, which camp sites have you found to be unsafe? I am a bit concerned about spending too much time worrying about things :sad: maybe better just to get cheap hotels instead :/
Several points there.
Before committing to theft insurance cover, read the small print, if you feel you can comply with the conditions of the policy and find the price reasonable then go ahead. I only read the small print after my first insured tour and realised any claim lodged would have been laughed out of court due to my failure to comply with the ludicrous conditions.
I haven't found any campsites to be unsafe, just felt more relaxed in some than others, but that is just gut reaction and may have little relation to reality. Cheap hotels don't provide the answer, I've felt distinctly uneasy in some cheap hotels/hostels, but again never had anything stolen.
I think you may be suffering from pre-tour nerves, a common condition, just take sensible precautions with or without theft insurance and enjoy your tour:smile:.
 

Yellow7

Über Member
Location
Milton Keynes
. So I don't bother with insurance.
With all the small-print you almost need an insurance policy to insure the the very insurance itself. I beleive I've said this on here before but I cycled to Cape Town with out any what-so-ever. Some people are 'but what if?', whereas I'm 'what if it don't?'

When I go into shops I use a basic 3 digit Abus curly combi lock, camping (wild or campsite) I just lock my bike to a tent-pole, if someone were to try to wheel it away i'd be out the tent in a shot, that said I've never encountered a problem in any country. There's more good in the world than bad. :smile:
 
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krakatoa

krakatoa

Active Member
With all the small-print you almost need an insurance policy to insure the the very insurance itself. I beleive I've said this on here before but I cycled to Cape Town with out any what-so-ever. Some people are 'but what if?', whereas I'm 'what if it don't?'

When I go into shops I use a basic 3 digit Abus curly combi lock, camping (wild or campsite) I just lock my bike to a tent-pole, if someone were to try to wheel it away i'd be out the tent in a shot, that said I've never encountered a problem in any country. There's more good in the world than bad. :smile:

Admirable sentiment. I guess it's the 0.1% of bad that I don't want to f*ck up my trip - or if they do, at least if they do, for me not to be too badly out of pocket :/

Haha. The irony is that I purchased this nice Roberts bike over 10 years ago to do a tour without any insurance... now 10 years later, I'm worried about insuring it.

Age definitely makes one more risk adverse!
 

steveindenmark

Legendary Member
I have used 2 of these in the past

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DOG-ANCHO...ervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item4d135da2f4

I had the loop ends welded so they could not be forces open.

You then screw them into the floor as far as they will go about a metre apart and use 2 cables around the frame and wheels as tight as you can get them after running the cables through the eyes. It secured the bike firmely to the floor.

The anchors are cheap and light.

I still prefer a tree or post but sometimes they are not available.

Steve
 

jay clock

Massive member
Location
Hampshire UK
In a few dozen nights I have never been in a position where I was stuck for somewhere adequate to attach the bike (bearing in mind how dodgy the place was - in that a less risky venue needs a smaller tree/post)
 
The only place I have found a need to secure the bike has been here in Britain, when I have been on my trips through Europe, Africa and Asia I have in most cases just parked the bike and gone shopping, maybe I am too trusting, but here in the UK I treat it differently, so many times I have found people have tried to or have Nicked the bike or stuff off the bike, parts like lights pumps and bike computers they even nicked my SPD pedals from outside the hostel in Winchester once, all seem fair game to the toe-rags we seem to breed here in the UK. Personally I don't have much faith in Bike insurance, however both of mine are covered for worldwide use on the household insurance, but whether it is worth the extra cost I do not know. I am a great believer in specialist care Insurance whilst expensive if you don't need it, it only takes one accident, and it becomes a worthwhile investment
 
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