newbie question - sorry!

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Pikey

Waiting for the turbo to kick in...
Location
Wiltshire
I've been thinking of a bit of a tour from wilts into Somerset / devon, but I have one nagging newbie question.
When u are touring solo are campsites / b and b's generally very helpful when it comes to locking up ur bike?
What do u lock ur bike to when ur in one of those one man tents, particularly if ur in the middle of a field, or do u just ask for a pitch near some railings or something?

Probably a muppet question, but the thought of a local scrote nicking my bike and leaving me stranded is a worry...
 
I've been thinking of a bit of a tour from wilts into Somerset / devon, but I have one nagging newbie question.
When u are touring solo are campsites / b and b's generally very helpful when it comes to locking up ur bike?
What do u lock ur bike to when ur in one of those one man tents, particularly if ur in the middle of a field, or do u just ask for a pitch near some railings or something?

Probably a muppet question, but the thought of a local scrote nicking my bike and leaving me stranded is a worry...
I normally carry a decent cable lock and have a wheel lock on the bike already. If i'm in an official campsite I just lock it to the nearest fence/post and forget about it, if in a B&B then they normally have somewhere they can lock the bike up and are usually very helpful. If wild camping I lock the wheel up but doubt anyone will even know I am there!

Good luck
 

doog

....
I've been thinking of a bit of a tour from wilts into Somerset / devon, but I have one nagging newbie question.
When u are touring solo are campsites / b and b's generally very helpful when it comes to locking up ur bike?
What do u lock ur bike to when ur in one of those one man tents, particularly if ur in the middle of a field, or do u just ask for a pitch near some railings or something?

Probably a muppet question, but the thought of a local scrote nicking my bike and leaving me stranded is a worry...

Bikes rarely get stolen from camp sites and when they do its usually a flash mountain bike that is left unlocked outside overnight at a large site type scenario. I tend to stick to small sites where crime doesn't exist.


However as you never know
biggrin.gif
I always pick a pitch next to something solid that the bike can be locked to, ie a fence post, tree etc...i have a large cable thing that winds around both wheels etc. Leaving your panniers on it makes it look even less attractive as well and if you can run a line to the tent (washing line etc ) it just makes the whole thing a nightmare for a crook.
 

Crankarm

Guru
Location
Nr Cambridge
Never had a problem. I Just leave my bike laying down adjacent to my tent. I do wild camp though so I guess no one or only one or two people, if any know, I am there. If on a busy campsite I would try and lock my bike up as usual ie as if in a town as people mean a possibility of some undesireable taking a fancy to it. You could use a couple of fine fishing lines tied to each wheel the other ends tied to the tent so if moved it will likely move the tent causing you to wake up ............. one would hope. But honestly it's not as a big a problem as you imagine it to be. If visiting supermarkets on tour it is worth carrying a lock just in case but invariably I have never needed it being able to park my bike in full view of everyone at the front and some one will always keep a friendly eye on it for you or allow you to wheel it in somewhere.
 

Brains

Legendary Member
Location
Greenwich
... and for those paranoid about having bike nicked in the middle of a field the answer is the "dog spike"
A large corkscrew device that will stop large dogs (and bikes)
 

vernon

Harder than Ronnie Pickering
Location
Meanwood, Leeds
... and for those paranoid about having bike nicked in the middle of a field the answer is the "dog spike"
A large corkscrew device that will stop large dogs (and bikes)


Strictly speaking, a single dog spike is not enough. It can always be unwound.

Securing your bike to two dog spikes makes unwinding next to impossible.

On the whole, theft of bieks from camp sites is not common. There's plenty of immovable objects around e.g. trees, fences and railings. I've even used caravan tow bars with the permission of the caravan owner.
 
On my last tour i had the same 'fear' but my bike was fine :thumbsup:. I stayed in a farmers barn and locked it to a fence near the tent; If you are staying in rural locations then the chance of theft would be very low. I 'wild camped' just three days ago and i was sure nobody would stumble across me but i still locked the back wheel and i put the bike on its side next to the tent but i tucked the front wheel slightly under the tent and could feel the wheel with my feet when i went to sleep; Do that and tie string to the front wheel and run it under the tent and then inside and tie other end to your bags or something 'noisy?'. If anything you will have 'peace of mind':thumbsup:. Most B&B's should have storage but you could ring before hand. Good luck with the tour.
 
OP
OP
Pikey

Pikey

Waiting for the turbo to kick in...
Location
Wiltshire
Thanks for the advice people, seems with a little prep and some manning up it will all be fine (hopefully)...
Superbadger - read about that barn camping on ur blog, that tale was one of the factors that has put this crazy tour idea in my head!
 
Thanks for the advice people, seems with a little prep and some manning up it will all be fine (hopefully)...
Superbadger - read about that barn camping on ur blog, that tale was one of the factors that has put this crazy tour idea in my head!

:laugh:.... Glad to be of service! I can't fully describe the 1st stay at that place; It went absolutly dark with the clouds and i flew down his lane like a 'BMX Bandit!!' Even pulled a skid! 10 seconds later a bloody Monsoon....:ohmy:. Honestly it was just one of those 'flukes'. I think you need a bit of luck on a tour.:thumbsup:
 

JamieRegan

Well-Known Member
Someone needs to invent a sleeping bag that you can sleep in, whilst still on your bike.

Dear Dragon's Den.....
 
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