Paul Barnard

I have never asked in advance. I pick it up and carry it in. Nobody has ever said anything. Why would a bike not be allowed in a room?

Maelochs

Ride it into the lobby. Track-stand while checking in. People will say a lot of things, but, "Don't take that in your room" won't be one of them.

dedhed

See above

Kedosto

Hell, I've asked for rooms specifically on the ground floor just so it would be easier to roll it in from the lot. As mentioned above, don't be using the towels as rags and be mindful of the carpet -- don't ruin it for the rest of us.


-Kedosto

TheDudeIsHere

Believe it or not, never had a problems with hotels in Arizona, Santa Barbara, California areas, but in Mexico, they did not allow us to bring our bikes through the lobby.

Koyote

I've not taken a bike into a hotel - never had reason to. But I have taken bikes into bars, stores, barbershops, etc, and I've been parking my commuter bike inside my office at three different jobs over many years. I just do it like it's the most normal, common thing in the world, and no one objects.

u235

+1

It may depend on the area but I've been to many areas in various states of terrible smell, sweat, and dirt. It is what it is. I try to get in and out of areas and I am aware of my own presence and state as bad as it may be. Pic below is in front of a Super8 after I took off my bags and about to use their hose on the bike and lower half of myself that was equally dirty. They allow bikes in the room. This was in Hancock MD off the C&O so maybe they are more flexible with that.

UniChris

It happens Leesburg, VA after crossing over from a ride out on the C&O is one of the ideas I'm pondering. Though for that I got a suggestion to pick a hotel willing to pick cyclists up at the ferry.

u235

I do that ride from C&O into Leesburg all the time, it's only 5 miles but I'm clueless about a uni so I can't judge that part. I live relatively close to there so I've never stayed there so I have no insight. I certainly have gone into some eateries there looking pretty bad.

cyccommute 

I rode lots of dirt trails from Detroit, MI to Bensalem, PA (Erie Canal ,and Delaware and Hudson). It wasn’t muddy but it was dusty. I was going to stay in a hotel in Bensalem but my bike look somewhat similar to yours. I stopped at a car wash and washed it before hand so that it would be cleaner. A couple of bucks, about 10 minutes and it was presentable.

TakingMyTime

I like to stay at places that include breakfast in the room price.

kaos joe

Many stays with no problems at all, both solo and with groups, and with a tandem to boot. Only had a problem once, with a group in New Hope PA, but the innkeeper there was a tool in just about every way it is possible to be a tool.

Machka 

Some places in Europe we weren't allowed to bring our bicycles into the hotel room, but that was because the lifts and rooms were so small, I'm not entirely sure it would have been possible! Instead they usually provided us space in one of the conference rooms for the bicycles.

Occasional hostels didn't allow us to bring the bicycles into the room, but that was because the room was shared with several other people. Instead they provided us with a shed or someplace to put the bicycles.

Otherwise we've almost always brought the bicycles inside. We travel somewhere with the bicycles about once every 6 weeks or so and have done for decades.

Jim from Boston

Personally, I would not trust a permission given in advance, since it will likely be from a different person than you encounter at check-in.

I just do it: "Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission." Never had a problem at motels, or even fine urban hotels; indeed the best ones were very accommodating. When I'm staying there, and leaving for early AM rides, I make acquaintances as I come and go.

I do try to be considerate of the room, and of other guests and staff when passing through public areas, especially elevators.

My only problem was at a rural campground where I was told cyclists can sneak away unnoticed. I complained that they were AAA-rated and I was an AAA member. The wife interceded and we stayed.

diphthong

stayed all over the western united states in hotels/motels with a bike. never had an issue related to bringing the bike into the room.

indyfabz

Same here when I have made reservations. I tell them I will be arriving by bike and thus would appreciate something on the ground floor.

Batstar

Never had to ask since I always lock the bike(s) inside the vehicle. Saves from having to remove them overnight from the rack/hitch and remounting them the following day. Mind you this might not work for all vehicles. That being said I don't think most establishments would take issue with bringing bikes into the room unless they are exceptionally grimy or mud caked.

NomarsGirl

I have done it a couple of times, but we had a car (weekend trip). We checked in went to our rooms, then brought the bikes inside through another door close to the room. No one knew (or probably cared). Touring in France on rented bikes, they were used to cyclists coming in off the bike path and were expecting us. They had a secured shed for bike storage. No one would have stolen those crappy bikes anyway.

livedarklions

I'd lock my bike in the vehicle, but in my case, the bicycle (or for the OP, the unicycle) is the vehicle.

Kenderbender

Aside from getting some weird looks occasionally, I’ve never had a problem staying in hotels.

veganbikes

I did it once in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia on tour once and was just fine but they see a lot of cyclists so it wasn't an odd site I was glad for it too, after that day I was hurting after a nasty crash left one side of my body in pain so a nice warm shower and some Chinese Take-Out where just what I needed. Granted riding to the spot while not far was painful luckily though the crash was about 10 miles from Harpers Ferry and there was a super helpful and friendly guy who we rode on and off with who helped me get my bike up to the bridge because I couldn't.

Generally I find if you are friendly and maybe look a little bedraggled or sympathetic you can generally get a bike in a good number of places. If you plead with them you have no lock and will keep it out of the way or will make sure to keep things clean you should be OK. Also talking about your trip can help out quite a bit, when people here how far you have ridden unless they are also serious cyclists might be fairly impressed. I was commuting on my road bike but happened to have a bike packing seat pack on it (which was great for my commute as I only needed work clothes and a few other small packable things) and stopped off at a favorite local dim sum restaurant and the Waitress was like "how far did you go...you can park in here no problem" I had gone around a mile from my work and then it was 6 miles home but because I looked the part...

flamencohead

In 2003 my wife and I rode from San Francisco to New York city staying in hotels the whole way. We never had a problem finding hotels. A number of places would not allow bicycles inside but we always had it someplace secure to lock them. If you do need to check out early you just pay had the night before then just get up and go. We were usually on the road by 6am to beat the summer heat.

yukiinu

I always stay at motel 6 and other low cost motels, never had a problem bringing bike in room other than sometimes a lack of elevator which means unloading bike and carry everything up and down to second floor (always prefer 2nd floor non smoking). Make reservation months in advance to check in Saturday early and leave Monday morning. Don't like to cycletour on Saturday and Sunday when roads are filled with drivers who start drinking early in the weekend mornings, and by out of town drivers who are not local and who are unfamiliar with the roads they are on, its just safer that way. I pay in advance, leave early am after puting key in office drop box. Motels are there to make money they don't care if you are sweaty etc. from cycling.

Duragrouch

A bike in the room means more vehicle parking available outside for others. That should be a plus. If they gripe about rolling the tires down the hall, tell them they are no dirtier than people's shoes coming in from outside.

Like mentioned above, my college dorm required bikes to be kept in a locked room downstairs, probably because the dorm rooms were small.

But always good to ask in advance and have something in writing**. I could see an upstairs AirBnB with tight stairs not wanting the walls bashed bring the bike up and down.

** I just rented a U-Haul trailer, asked things before on the phone, get there and asked the same pointed questions, was told the opposite and had no choice but to do the rental. Always get things in writing first.

travbikeman

I'm planning on a credit card camping ride this spring along the C&O/GAP to Meyersdale PA. That Super8 at Hancock was one of the planned stops. I see the reviews online of it, how did you like the hotel?