Touring alone

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

tbh if you use maccy d's or similar sized outlets they'll let you take your bike in. i just walk in with it all confident and never had a problem. also don't forget weatherspoons do b/fasts now and you'll defo be able to take the bike in with you.

 

[Yellow7]

I'd say placing a bet at Graham Hill of someone turning up, in a van, with bolt-cutters, in the middle of Derbyshire to steel your bike to be a guaranteed loss, Infact, if it happens, i'll buy you a new bike.

You'll be stopping for only one breakfast and snack-wagon food along the way, as far as toilets i'm sure they'll be plenty of green-space and petrol stations. Don't let paranoia take lead.

 

[Scoosh]

I'd say placing a bet at Graham Hill of someone turning up, in a van, with bolt-cutters, in the middle of Derbyshire to steel your bike to be a guaranteed loss, Infact, if it happens, i'll buy you a new bike.
PM me for arrangements for your new bike .... ..... ....

You'll be stopping for only one breakfast and snack-wagon food along the way, as far as toilets i'm sure they'll be plenty of green-space and petrol stations. Don't let paranoia take lead.

Good advice.

 

[Fandango]

This thread sounds a bit paranoid to me. I have toured all over the UK and never had a problem. I bought a Kryptonite D lock but I never use it these days as it is too heavy and difficult to lock to most things. I have a £6 combination cable lock that nobody has ever tried to cut or break the combination, and my insurance that says my bike is covered providing it is locked to an immovable object such as a gate or fence etc. It doesn't say how good the lock has to be. It covers all my families bikes up to the value of £1250 each and costs about £25 per year from Barclays insurance.

As for food stops, McDonalds always have a nice heavy metal railing you can lock your bike to and see clearly while you are eating, no need to take it inside. Same with any stops really, pub gardens are good, you can lock your bike to the table while you get the drinks etc. If somebody wants your bike badly enough they will probably take it, insurance is lighter and better than heavy D locks IMO, and just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they are really out to steal your bike.

 

[alans]

I regard bike security as a damage limitation execercise in that I take reasonable measures to thwart casual theft & discourage a more determined thief.
I always use a cafe lock
Plus some other option as appropriate........
I park my tatty thing next to a bling thing.( I realise that on a solo ride this is perhaps not possible.So stop at a pub/cafe with a bling thing already in situ)
Take the bike indoors with you
Sit ouside with your bike
Sit indoors as close to the door as poss. with bike in view parked as close to doors as poss.
I also often use a not-too-heavy cable lock which is a compromise between weight & deterrent so the bike has two locks.

 

[WilliamNB]

I've left my fully laden bike locked (with a cable lock!) outside Tesco in Barnstaple while I filled up on breakfast, and everything was exactly the way I left it on my return. I can't speak for the rest of the country, but generally I try to keep my bike locked, and in sight, and I've never run into trouble before.
In fact, at one Morrisson's (Plymouth) I once didn't have a lock with me, and asked the security guard if he'd keep an eye on my bike, which he kindly did.
McD's should be no prob as they have plenty space to lock your bike to, and large widows through which to watch it. Again, I found that a friendly request to the table-cleaning staff to keep an eye on it while I pop to the bathroom is usually met with a smile.

Good luck!

 

[defy-one]

No disrespect but a fully laden touring bike isn't something your average thieving scum bag is looking to steal

 

[ianrauk]

No disrespect but a fully laden touring bike isn't something your average thieving scum bag is looking to steal

Well, I'm afraid that's were you are wrong.
An esteemed poster on this very forum had this laden touring bike stolen.
Scrotes will have anything away given half a chance.

 

[sabian92]

No disrespect but a fully laden touring bike isn't something your average thieving scum bag is looking to steal

I get the feeling that if it's fully loaded they're going to bet it's probably not a cheap supermarket bike and there's probably stuff worth nicking in the panniers, so it might actually attract more thieves.

 

[doog]

Well, I'm afraid that's were you are wrong.
An esteemed poster on this very forum had this laden touring bike stolen.
Scrotes will have anything away given half a chance.

Its not very common I can assure you, probably completely opportunist and certainly not anything to worry about. Want to prevent your bike getting stolen? Put some panniers on it and make sure it has some obscure name like Surly or Thorn on it..your average bike thief wont even look at it.

 

[rollinstok]

If a scumbag wants your bike and knows what he's doing, he will have your bike
No point in worrying unduly.
I used to tour a lot solo and I'm sure others on here will back me up that you get a sort of 6th sense when it comes to situations that could threaten either yourself or your bike.
Just use a little common sense and if something doesnt feel right move on and park it somewhere else.

 

[GlasgowGaryH]

I always leave my bike in the highest gear, so unless the scumbag has legs like Sir Chris they might have seconds thoughts of peddling away on it

 

[martint235]

There is the fact that unless he/she is exceptionally tall, getting on the saddle may be an issue.

Thanks for all the advice. I do have a tendency to let the little practicalities worry me far more than the more obvious ones like isn't that a stupid distance to cycle in a day. I'm now very much looking forward to it despite the weather forecast!

 

[martint235]

Well thanks for all the advice. I made it and in the end only had to lock Lelly once.

I didn't want to mention it before as my route, timings etc are public but Lelly is far from a fully laden touring bike more of a Ti sport bike which is why I was worried

 

[Scoosh]

Well thanks for all the advice. I made it and in the end only had to lock Lelly once.

I didn't want to mention it before as my route, timings etc are public but Lelly is far from a fully laden touring bike more of a Ti sport bike which is why I was worried

!

Hope you enjoyed the ride ... and can still walk now