London to Paris hotels query

[Godeskian]

Hi All,

So I'm looking to do London to Paris for charity with my first night in London itself. However even after reading the hotels thread I'm still not able to find any hotels that actually list having secured bike parking. Given that my bike costs about as much as the rest of the trip put together, this is proving to be something of a headache.

I've looked at the thread and called a few hotels, but they all tell me that there's a carpark outside and no secured parking, nor am I allowed in most cases to keep my bike with me in my room. I just have this horrible feeling if I leave it outdoors in a place like London I'm going to come out in the morning to find it missing both wheels and my back patteniere.

Is there something tremendously obvious I'm missing when it comes to hotels and bike parking? I'm travelling London-Dover-Abbeville-Beauvais-Paris

Many thanks,

 

[Ticktockmy]

Hi All,

So I'm looking to do London to Paris for charity with my first night in London itself. However even after reading the hotels thread I'm still not able to find any hotels that actually list having secured bike parking. Given that my bike costs about as much as the rest of the trip put together, this is proving to be something of a headache.

I've looked at the thread and called a few hotels, but they all tell me that there's a carpark outside and no secured parking, nor am I allowed in most cases to keep my bike with me in my room. I just have this horrible feeling if I leave it outdoors in a place like London I'm going to come out in the morning to find it missing both wheels and my back patteniere.

Is there something tremendously obvious I'm missing when it comes to hotels and bike parking? I'm travelling London-Dover-Abbeville-Beauvais-Paris

Many thanks,

Simple take the bike into your room.

 

[Godeskian]

I'll freely confess I'm new at this, but won't someone notice if I heff a bike through the lobby? I mean I'm kind of new at travelling with the bike, but don't most places have lobbies?

 

[snorri]

The County Hotel has always had a place for my bike, the first time I kept it in my room, on later visits they asked me to put it it in a locked room in the basement, both were fine for me.
This is a budget hotel, old fashioned, clean but no frills, handy for Euston and Kings Cross stations.

http://www.aboutbrit...ls/hotel657.asp

Edit..... Re Post 2, as Ticktockmy says, you have to have a bit of brass neck when cycle touring.

 

[Godeskian]

The County Hotel has always had a place for my bike, the first time I kept it in my room, on later visits they asked me to put it it in a locked room in the basement, both were fine for me.
This is a budget hotel, old fashioned, clean but no frills, handy for Euston and Kings Cross stations.

http://www.aboutbrit...ls/hotel657.asp

Edit..... Re Post 2, as Ticktockmy says, you have to have a bit of brass neck when cycle touring.

Thanks for the link. They don't have any rooms for the night I need it, but I'll keep the link saved for future use.

Brass neck eh? Why do I have a feeling I'm going to end up sleeping under a bridge at least one night on this trip.

 

[andym]

I'm trying to remember whether some youth hostels have secure bike parking (eg Rotherhithe).

Would it be possible to rejig your route so you could stay somewhere outside London that does have decent bike parking, or an underground garage, or will let you store your bike in your room. You'll probably save yourself money that way as well.

If you have a decent lock: take off the front wheel and lock it and the back wheel (through the rear triangle) to a sheffield stand. Take the seatpost and saddle into your room. Or alternatively take the front wheel and seatpost into your room.

Simple take the bike into your room.

I think you missed "nor am I allowed in most cases to keep my bike with me in my room" in the original post.

 

[Godeskian]

I'm trying to remember whether some youth hostels have secure bike parking (eg Rotherhithe).

Would it be possible to rejig your route so you could stay somewhere outside London that does have decent bike parking, or an underground garage, or will let you store your bike in your room. You'll probably save yourself money that way as well.

Sure, I'm swinging by London to visit the MSF office since they're the charity I'm donating to, but after that I've got no pressing need to be in London. It just seemed like a good stopping point. I hadn't actually considered youth hostels, even though I should given how often I've stayed in them over the years.

If you have a decent lock: take off the front wheel and lock it and the back wheel (through the rear triangle) to a sheffield stand. Take the seatpost and saddle into your room. Or alternatively take the front wheel and seatpost into your room.

I may well end up doing this, i had hoped to avoid having to dissasemble and reassemble my bike every day, but it beats having it nicked or trashed.

I think you missed "nor am I allowed in most cases to keep my bike with me in my room" in the original post.

Heh, I assumed it was a suggestion to ignore that point to be honest

 

[JackE]

Four of us stayed at a Campanile Hotel near Paris and we kept the bikes in our rooms. Don't remember any hassle from reception.

 

[andym]

I think I may have the solution:

secure bike parking at London Bridge


the opening hours are 7.30am to 7.30pm but the one-day price (£1.50 - although there's also a registration fee) is for 24 hours so I assume they allow overnight parking.

The other thought I had was that in all the hotels I've stayed at I can't think of one that had 'secured bike parking' as such, however, I always ask if there's somewhere to put my bike, and there is almost always a storeroom, or cupboard, or cellar, or courtyard, or balcony. However, I'm sure small hotels in the sticks are always going to be more helpful than large hotels in central London.

 

[Ticktockmy]

I'll freely confess I'm new at this, but won't someone notice if I heff a bike through the lobby? I mean I'm kind of new at travelling with the bike, but don't most places have lobbies?

I think it depends what level of hotel or B&B you are staying at, over the years I have found that even 4 star hotels will invite you to take your bike to the room or put it in the luggage storage room and yet a grubby old B&B will look in Horror at the very thought, but then again they often have a garage where you can keep it.

But it is safer in your room, stops staff from wondering “ What does this do” and “what happens if I press this” so before you start the next days ride you need to readjust everything.

The secret is simply ask at reception if it ok to take the bike to the room or have they a secure room when you can keep it. most Hotels either dont have room in the lobby to store it and being quite public, it can quite easly disappear, if the staff are not being very intentive.

 

[merlinmagic]

When I did the L2P on an organised trip in July 2009 we stayed at the following hotels (not sure if this helps much but they seemed to be helpful with secure bike parking etc):

Holiday Inn Coquelles
Calais

Hotel Ibis
Abbeville

Campanile
Beauvais

There was a preferred hotel just off Blackheath Common which a lot of people on the trip stayed in (think it was called the Clarendon). Hope that helps.

 

[mike1026]

Try the Albro House Hotel north of Hyde Park; basic and good value and they have a secure area for bikes but you have to carry the bike down a steep narrow set of stairs.