Some bicycle travel tips

[jowzia]

Thanks for sharing this list, it’s really useful!

Mini Militia App Lock​

 

[BurroBabe]

You can usually buy a 3 pack or so of basic white T shirts or so. They are flat and pack easily. As they get dirty just throw them away, sometimes you don’t find a laundromat and are just hauling around dirty clothes.

I know you are not the only one who has suggested it, but I find it really depressing that some cyclists, while they enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, can be so unaware of the effects of wastefulness on the environment. Textiles fill more than 30% of our landfills and growing cotton uses massive amounts of ground water and pesticides. If you are rich enough to afford "throwing away" usable clothing, how about just leaving your dirty t-shirts or whatever at a laudromat, draped over the back of a chair or folded on a seat. Someone needy will pick it up and wash it and use it.

 

[Sparky731]

It's also a good idea to check if there is an in room lithium battery charging ban at the hotel you book. I have already run afoul of that one.

Just completed a bike tour where one of our tour company’s leaders hauled all 10 bike batteries into their hotel room each night for charging. We discussed the myriad risks but so far they have not alerted the hoteliers or been observed carrying the batteries in or out.

The lithium battery risk just recently and dramatically increased per the new Mercedes that burst into flames, incinerated 40 cars near it and scorched another 100 — as reported in the news. Now any building owner with underground parking is considering banning EVs as well as e-bikes in their garages.

 

[BikeOn]

Good list!! I use disposable clothes!! Just old clothes you don’t care about. Wear them, get them dirty, throw them away. Makes for more pannier room as you go.

I've also done that on air travel. For long flights, I hate arriving with dirty clothes that I have spent the last 8-10 hours in, so I head to the airport restroom, put on something clean and dump the transfer wardrobe in the trash. I should also add I fly in clothes that are already ready for trash, I don't throw away useable clothes.

 

[harryS]

Just completed a bike tour where one of our tour company’s leaders hauled all 10 bike batteries into their hotel room each night for charging. We discussed the myriad risks but so far they have not alerted the hoteliers or been observed carrying the batteries in or out.

Last Spring. after we checked into our AIr BnB and read the rules book, we learned no bicycles at all in the rooms. It was about dirt from tires, grease on carpet? Fortunately, we had a nice screened porch on the 1st floor. I put our two bikes there. AC wasn't working and managers and workmen were going in and out of our room on day 1. No one complained. Don't think I'll be so lucky next time.

In July, we had another trip, and with above in mind, I brought our folders to keep in the car. Turned out the hotel was hosting a bike club event. Bikes everywhere, including ebikes, but mine stayed in the car. I didn't mind an excuse to ride our e-folders, Been neglecting them all year.

The risks of batteries in hotel rooms always bothered me. I was charging them in the bathroom in the first hotel, and noticed the charger for one was really hot, Turned out the internal fan wasn't running. Opened it up, found a connector off and fixed. If I hadn't noticed, would it have powered off thermally or caught fire, Who knows,

 

[BurroBabe]

I've also done that on air travel. For long flights, I hate arriving with dirty clothes that I have spent the last 8-10 hours in, so I head to the airport restroom, put on something clean and dump the transfer wardrobe in the trash. I should also add I fly in clothes that are already ready for trash, I don't throw away useable clothes.

Not to be pedantic; just sharing some Old Crone life experience (I'm 72). If you are not too ashamed to fly in those old clothes, they have enough life in them for someone less well off than you. I personally rescue clothing my son (and others) are tossing. Much of what I wear every day on the farm has tattered cuffs, worn out collars, tears. When even I can't wear them they become rags for cleaning. Good clothes will just get stained or torn and can't be worn to town. May I suggest that you just leave those clothes hanging on a hook behind a stall door. Likely, someone will bless you for them. The worst that could happen is someone else will toss them.

 

[6zfshdb]

The risks of batteries in hotel rooms always bothered me. I was charging them in the bathroom in the first hotel, and noticed the charger for one was really hot, Turned out the internal fan wasn't running. Opened it up, found a connector off and fixed. If I hadn't noticed, would it have powered off thermally or caught fire, Who knows,

In room charging also bothers me in hotels. I travel all over the eastern US riding trails, and I do it a lot. Unless it's specifically prohibited, I use a don't ask, don't tell policy.

Here are a couple of my tips:
I use fanless chargers, specifically, Grin Satiators and try to do it during waking hours instead of when I'm asleep. I don't rely on the smoke alarms in most hotel rooms and use this portable alarm, which I place next to the charging setup:

Amazon.com

I also set the batteries in a metal can on this cart, which can easily be moved on short notice should a problem occur:

Amazon.com

The cart is also useful for moving several heavy batteries between the room and vehicle.

 

[BikeOn]

Not to be pedantic; just sharing some Old Crone life experience (I'm 72). If you are not too ashamed to fly in those old clothes, they have enough life in them for someone less well off than you. I personally rescue clothing my son (and others) are tossing. Much of what I wear every day on the farm has tattered cuffs, worn out collars, tears. When even I can't wear them they become rags for cleaning. Good clothes will just get stained or torn and can't be worn to town. May I suggest that you just leave those clothes hanging on a hook behind a stall door. Likely, someone will bless you for them. The worst that could happen is someone else will toss them.

You are right and that's actually what I usually do. Leave them on the sink counter with a note that say's "free" or somthing similiar. I also do the same with "Goodwill" clothes, that I leave in hotel rooms, or airport restrooms. I definetly donate when they meet donatable standards.