profjmb

Just got a pocket rocket and love it so far. Obviously it's for travel, and thinking ahead, if I'm staying at a hotel and build the bike in my room, will it be a problem: (a) leaving it in my room (is it generally acceptable to hotels to have a bike in one's room), and (b) taking it from my room to the outside to ride (is it generally acceptable to be bringing a bike through the hotel)?

Still Pedaling

I don't see that as being a problem at all, especially if its a folding bike. If its folded and you're carrying it, there should be no objection. Do you have a cover for the bike? If you do, just put the cover on it and carry it out. Besides, folded up it isn't any bigger than most large suit cases. If there is a problem with management/staff, you're staying in the wrong establishment.

The only problem I see regarding leaving it your room is theft. Just put a sign on it -- "This bike has a GPS tracking devise installed. You steel it, I'll find you".

fietsbob

If they Bolt down the furniture to prevent people stealing it,
then there may be some concern over the culture of honesty in the place,.

2_i 

I had no problem, so far, in the US hotels. This included some more posh, Hilton or something. Most often I call them ahead of my visit and tell them that I would like to bring a bike and the best for me would be a room on the ground floor. On occasions I just ask upon arrival. I also kept bikes, both full-size and folded, in a hotel in Poland. I had some problems in China where a guard would not allow even to park a bike close to the hotel - the bikes were considered an overly lowly means of transportation. In China I brought my folders concealed (bag/suitcase) into the room, when I needed.

landhere

The sign is almost perfect. You need to add "If you scratch or ding it, I will hunt you down and key the bejeezus out of your car.".

Still Pedaling

DoubleDiamonDog

With the Bromptons, I just roll 'em into the elevator, usually folded at the time of checking-in. If its a high end hotel, I slip their jackets on them before coming thorough the front door. Later, when leaving the room or returning to the hotel, I'll usually just leave then unfolded as they roll better on the bike tires than on the little wheels and they still fit into the elevator even unfolded (except for a tiny elevator in San Sebastian where we had to fold to get them both in). I figure bike tires are no more dirty than shoes. We have done this while traveling up and down the west coast of the US and in Spain.

At various hotels in the Pacific Northwest, I have brought a full size tandem into the hotel without issue. We have carried it up the stairwell and have managed to fit it into an elevator a couple of times.

At some hotels staff will offer to store the bike for us in a store room. I just say "Oh thank you, that's very nice" and then take the bike to the room.

I take more of a "don't ask - don't tell" approach. Rather than say "I have bicycle is it okay if I keep it in the room?" I just proceed as if it is normal and no big deal and just conduct myself in a very friendly, smiling manner. I put the onus on them to tell a customer that he cannot do something. I have never been asked not to take a bicycle to our room.

Still Pedaling

I think that's the best approach. Tell them of the bike and they might just find ways to exercise their authority. I agree to just cover it. That will be my plan when travelling.

Joe Remi

It's usually more of an "exercising their liability" issue. If you ask about putting a specific not-very-large object in your room, you ostensibly are holding them liable for the answer if something goes wrong. The safe answer is "no".

darukhan

If I was staying at a hotel and had a Pocket Rocket in my room, I would have the "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on the door for my entire stay! I wouldn't want to risk losing a nice bike like that to any dishonest housekeeping staff with sticky fingers!

pacificcyclist

Awwwhhh, that's so sweet. Taking bike porn to the next step huh? Making love with your Rocket? Watch that chain ring -- it's sharp!

wahoonc

Depends on the hotel...

I have had up to four bikes in my hotel room in the past (I bought 3 while I was out of state working). The hotel actually moved me to a larger room to accommodate my insanity.

I do agree to keep the do not disturb sign on the door if you are leaving the bike in the room. Locking it isn't a bad idea either. I have rolled my fair share of bikes into my room. At one hotel I got bored and rode through the front door and down the hall to my room however I was a long term guest at that hotel and they were used to me by then.

Aaron

graycenphil

I have brought my Bike Friday into many hotels and never had a problem, though I often expected one. Other guests are either oblivious or curious. Employees never said a word. I do agree you might be best off not even asking. Worst case, they might make you check it in the lobby.

I would not be too concerned about leaving it in the room. Only the maid is likely to be in the room, and there are probably cameras in the hallway.

tourer78

During a recent stay at flamingos in vegas we had no trouble rolling the pocket sports in and out of the long lobby/shopping mall in the hotel entrance, even got some cheers from the bar flys upon our return from the bike vegas ride.

My thoughts are, if you are paying the bill its your business what you keep in the room providing you dont cause any damage of course. If you are worried about theft, lock it up or you could even pop it back in its case so it just looks like another piece of luggage, you can request that your room is not serviced if you dont want people in the room with your bike. Also a quick folded friday should also fit easily in the closet. See below.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/84448690@N06/9674479987/

Hope you enjoy the travels, I know you will enjoy the bike.

Boudicca

I think it's all about looking confident. When I arrive, I lug the heavy suitcase up to my room without saying anything. And when I go out to ride I walk the bike confidently through reception and smile. The receptionist just assumes that a predecessor gave the green light when I arrived and doesn't challenge me. And I leave the bike in a corner of the room when I'm not riding. I've never (yet) had a problem. You don't want to be packing and unpacking a Pocket Rocket every day.

The exception is the flouncy, frilly B+B type of place, where I fear I'll get the chain ring caught on a lace pillow and damage the pillow (or perhaps the chain ring), so I ask reception where I can store a bicycle. They usually find somewhere.

Bobby Boy

I travel quite a bit with my Giant Expressway and have never had any issues with the hotel staff. I just check in with a large suitcase, head to my room, and then, about 30 minutes later, come back through the lobby carrying my bike out on to the street for my first ride of the week. I carry it to keep dirt from the bike wheels off of the hotel carpeting (and also pack a few extra rags so I don't have to use hotel towels to wipe down my bike). After the second or third day, the staff just knows me as "the bike guy".

GlowBoy

I've never had a problem bringing a full sized bike into a US hotel. BTW, I always put the Do Not Disturb sign out regardless of whether I have a bike and would especially do so if I had a bike there. I would also consider locking the bike to a piece of furniture if I were leaving it in the room.

vogtro

You may already know this by now, but just be careful if and when you fold it that you be careful of the greasy chain, because it WILL fall off if the bike isn't folded carefully. As a new BF PR owner I've learned that the hard way, getting chain grease get on the carpet, only to experience the look on my fiancé's face :-)

DoubleDiamonDog

Not to worry vogtro - you are still in the grace period. You'll be fine until your fiance is upgraded to wife status...

vogtro

Yikes. I definitely fear that wrath more than any hotel incidentals bill! Shhhh.