Where to put bike when camping?

[J-Lo]

Hi all,

When my sleeping bag comes I have all my kit needed so will probably go for a weekend tour next week or week after.

Ive been worrying slightly about what to do with my bike at night on campsites etc? Its not an overly expensive bike but I would like to keep it all the same!

Having only been on a couple of campsites before and never with a bike (always had car for valuables!) I was wondering what all you guys do?

My tent is a small one - ive heard of some people stuffing there bike in the porch, but thats not going to happen!!

Does there tend to be somewhere to chain it up on most campsites? If there wasen't I thought about just covering it with tarp etc and put pegs in 4 sides, even though that would only really keep it dry and do nothing else!

Appreciate the help Thanks

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Hi all,

When my sleeping bag comes I have all my kit needed so will probably go for a weekend tour next week or week after.

Ive been worrying slightly about what to do with my bike at night on campsites etc? Its not an overly expensive bike but I would like to keep it all the same!

Having only been on a couple of campsites before and never with a bike (always had car for valuables!) I was wondering what all you guys do?

My tent is a small one - ive heard of some people stuffing there bike in the porch, but thats not going to happen!!

Does there tend to be somewhere to chain it up on most campsites? If there wasen't I thought about just covering it with tarp etc and put pegs in 4 sides, even though that would only really keep it dry and do nothing else!

Appreciate the help Thanks

Best suggestion have read is using two ground anchors (the type used to tether dogs to) and lock the bike to them.

 

[skudupnorth]

Camping is usually a safe place to park the bike.I rode to Cornwall last year and used various types of camp site from little field types to large caravan sharing jobby with swimming pool.I just locked the bike to either a tree,fence or on my last site,just laid the bike down by the tent and locked it as usual but with some of the guy ropes pegged through the frame.Some sites might have a secure lock-up or garage,but i never needed such a thing
Hope that puts your mind at rest

 

[J-Lo]

Im not too keen on lugging them around with me.. I suppose on most campsites it might be fine to leave your bike un-chained next to your tent? Obviously thats a last resort..

Thanks skud, when you say you 'locked it as usual' when laid on the ground next to tent what do you use?

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Im not too keen on lugging them around with me.. I suppose on most campsites it might be fine to leave your bike un-chained next to your tent? Obviously thats a last resort..

Lugging what around with you?

 

[J-Lo]

Them big ground anchors.. Although I suppose they could just sit on top of your rack with tent etc

 

[MontyVeda]

edit, j-lo got there first. I don't fancy lugging two ground anchors either. There's always (usually) going to be a fence or something to chain it to instead.


I went camping in the lakes years ago. Two bikes were chained together around a small tree trunk and fairly secure. It rained that night and it's amazing how much the rain can sound like some bloke with a hacksaw when you're paranoid.

another edit...

bike lock cannot be moved without cutting or digging... or by simply bending the cheap metal of those anchors because they're not welded.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Them big ground anchors.. Although I suppose they could just sit on top of your rack with tent etc

They are pretty light as I recall.

 

[J-Lo]

Thats the thing that I thought too monty, the 'hook' on them anchors aren't welded and look like they could easily be bent.

I dont suppose it matters even if the object you chain your bike too isn't immediately next to your tent, aslong as its on the campsite lol?!

 

[MontyVeda]

Thats the thing that I thought too monty, the 'hook' on them anchors aren't welded and look like they could easily be bent.

I dont suppose it matters even if the object you chain your bike too isn't immediately next to your tent, aslong as its on the campsite lol?!

The more secure alternative are caravan ground anchors like...

...but again, it's just more luggage and not necessarily needed

 

[YahudaMoon]

Put your bike in the tent and sleep outside

Or fishing wire connected to your bike / tent. So when you wake up not only is your bike missing, your tent has gone as well

 

[YahudaMoon]

Take some rope, climbing rope is best. Set up your tent near a tall tree . Tie the rope onto bike, throw rope round the highest branch possible and pull bike to the top of the tree. Achor rope to your tent. No one will see your bike 60ft up a tree at night.

Wake up in the morning with fantastic views of your camp site.

 

[rich p]

I've never done any more than lock it, with a cable lock, to a tree or fence etc. I've rarely ever worried about the bike's safety but most of my touring has been abroad which may make a difference!

 

[MontyVeda]

Take a wheel off aswell and take the wheel inside the tent. This way, a drunk opportunist wouldn't just want to ride off with it over night.

like this bloke?

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT1TjEgSEAI[/media]

 

[J-Lo]

That sounds like a plan put my mind at rest!

Surely most sites have trees and/or fence, if so chain to that. If not, just leave next to tent cover with tarp and put 1 wheel in tent

Thanks for the help everyone!