Locking bikes up at Centre Parcs?

[t84]

FFS, bought a d-lock and cable so I could bring my Rockhopper to Centre Parcs and the bike racks have no posts to lock to, only a metal 'V' that clamps the wheel of the bike and holds it in place... What's the best way of locking it with the equipment I've got? Anyone been? Thanks! This is stressing me out!

[pedantlewis]

D-lock through the 'V' thing, the rear wheel and one of the rear dropouts, cable through the front wheel and over the brace of the fork (assuming it's suspension) to prevent the wheel being stolen.

I have to admit I decided not to take my 'proper' bike with me and hired one there because I wasn't convinced the facilities would be up to much.

[ratbane]

The stands at Elvedon and Windsor I've seen. Locked up a 99 Kona Explosif with a combination of D Shackle and chain. Remove front wheel, chain through back wheel/front wheel/frame and bike stand, then shackle through back wheel/frame.

[t84]

Thanks for the info, there's a few 8-9 foot ish trees near the bike park that might be worth using instead?

[fadeaway]

Just a word of warning - there was someone on here who had their "proper" bike nicked from a Centre Parcs a month of two ago, so do take care.

Last time I went to a Centre Parcs I kept my proper bike locked up in the chalet, and hired one of theirs for use around the site. Just used mine for proper riding (was up in the Lake District).

[t84]

Well our villa reeked of cigarettes, so we've been moved right next to the main village, so we don't actually need to cycle to get anywhere now, result, I'll use mine for leisure only and maybe hire one too

[t84]

fadeaway said:

Just a word of warning - there was someone on here who had their "proper" bike nicked from a Centre Parcs a month of two ago, so do take care.

Last time I went to a Centre Parcs I kept my proper bike locked up in the chalet, and hired one of theirs for use around the site. Just used mine for proper riding (was up in the Lake District).

Thanks, surely a rockhopper isn't that desira though? It's bright red which doesn't help

[phil-sti]

is this really an issue ? ill be taking the orange 5 up in the summer so i can nip over to whinlatter for a morning but ill ride around the local stuff everyday too

[croyde]

I have taken my now stolen Univega to Center Parcs a few times and feeling that I was among like minded cyclists, I started to just leave it unlocked on my travels around the complex.

On one trip on the last day, it disappeared and I spent an hour walking around looking for it.

Came across a Dad with his chav family, riding it so I grabbed him and took the bike back off him. He was protesting that he thought that all the bikes were there for anyone to use.

Later I saw him, although he could not see me, and he was telling some folk how some bloke had came out of the bushes and had nicked his bike.

[fadeaway]

phil-sti said:

is this really an issue ? ill be taking the orange 5 up in the summer so i can nip over to whinlatter for a morning but ill ride around the local stuff everyday too

I don't know how serious the problem is, but I would personally worry about leaving a 5 about the centre.

My concern wasn't just leaving an expensive bike about the place, but also that you're there for several days, and tend to go to the same places within the centre quite regularly - so if someone spots your bike one day, and it's there the next day as well ... they may start to have bad thoughts...

Might just be me being paranoid though!

[t84]

Well

I didn't take mine out if I wasn't coming back to the villa

I hired one of their MTB's and it was st, tyre went flat after 5 minutes, same with the replacement, and the chain kept coming off every 10 minutes so got a refund anyway... I'd probably risk locking it up next time...

[Agoogy]

I think I may be the guy whon had his 'proper' bike taken from a centre parcs... Sherwood branch... I got my insurance through though and have a new bike but I miss mold one...2008 Lapierre 714..lovely thing...
I used decent locks on my and my girlfriend's bike (Lapierre 400L), locked them together and to the rack....left them at 8pm on the penultiate night, before we due to leave, and by midnight tye'd gone. Security were very apologetic, but also very laid back "..weeeeeellll..these things happen don't they..."
So I complained and got nowhere..these holidays are ALL about the bike, its a GREAT idea, but areas of 'security' that use dummy CCTV instead of actual cameras, no sign posts warning of the risks etc really fills me with hate for them..

..and IMO it was inside job, the website asks you what bike you're bringing...why? then those bikes will be associated with your lodge number...then they know when you're going to leave...and taking it the day before I left, left me no time to scout about, no time to really get to grips with them onsite... just makes my blood boil typing this!
One bloke had his Kona taken the same night...he found it the next day, with a new saddkle and pedals and other odds and sods...the same kit used on the hire bikes..

I'm not going back there...wkers.... would LOVE to get my message out more, and reduce the number of people that go there...

[t84]

Those bike racks are ridiculous, the metal loop just bolts on with some hex head bolts that haven't even been rounded off.

What's wrong with some metal posts I say...