Travel Advice from Cyclers

[Blinder]

This is a question for my fellow cyclers whether you be road bikers, cruiser bikers, mountain bikers or anything in between. In a few weeks my wife and I are traveling from central Pennsylvania to Grand Rapids, Michigan to visit her family and attend a pig roast on the big lake. While we are there we plan to cycle quite a bit on several of the nice trails in the area including the 92 mile long White Pine Trail ( http://www.whitepinetrail.com/ ) that stretches from Grand Rapids to Cadillac. We plan on taking her 5-speed Corolla to save on gas and use her Allen trunk mounted bike rack to transport her Trek and my Diamondback 29er mountain bikes. They are both rather expensive so I bought additional one inch ratchet straps for extra tie down piece of mind and a ten foot locking cable chain for security while we are at rest stops.

Is there anything else I am forgetting before we leave that can make the trip more secure for our bikes? And advice from you seasoned traveling cyclers would be greatly appreciated. 

[Widewing]

Just keep in mind that locking the bikes to the rack is not enough. A friend came out of a rest stop in Ohio, only to find the entire bike rack with two bikes missing. A witness said two guys just tossed the bikes, cabled to the rack, into the back of a pickup and took off.

Always prepare for what the bad guys CAN do, not just what you think they'll do......

[Blinder]

Thanks. I plan on running the cable lock through both bikes and then down under the frame of the car. 

[Groth]

 If you stop at hotel..bring bikes inside. Make sure you've record of serial #'s..with you. If these 'trails' go on road be sure to have 'blinky' lites tacked on, cheap insurance. There will be pedestrians, having even a cheap bell(ding,ding) will alert them to your presence. Even daftest pedestrian seems to instinctively know 'ding, ding' means bike behind. Most 'knowledgeable' (read 'think they know it all) bikers figure just hollering 'On your left(right)' covers all, it doesn't. You can holler same in addition to 'ding, ding'..bells run as cheap as $5.95. If you see a dog, and he approaches, get off bike, put bike between you and it, don't be afraid to pick bike up, dogs recognize humans w/anything in their hands are dangerous. There is great air horn on market you can pump up w/bike pump and holds lotsa honks, under $25, and it's LOUD, up side, scares dogs and people in cars WILL hear you, downside, some people in cars may try woopin yer behind for loud honking. Bring tire/floor pump, patch kit, tire levers AND tubes. If tire gets cut bad you can 'boot' it w/bar wrapper, or $ bill(that means putting something substantial between tube and cut in tire).If there's local 'Rangers' put their phone # on speed dial.
 Above all, you kids have fun.
   JGroth

[Cthulhu]

Thanks. I plan on running the cable lock through both bikes and then down under the frame of the car. 

Keep in mind that a knowledgeable thief can cut that cable in no time at all with a grinder. I've seen it done. You can't stop them, only slow them down enough to make them think twice.

[Blinder]

Keep in mind that a knowledgeable thief can cut that cable in no time at all with a grinder. I've seen it done. You can't stop them, only slow them down enough to make them think twice. n

I know. All the cable will do is eliminate the high speed grab n dash. We have actually talked about one of us staying with the car while the other goes into the rest stop to use the bathroom then switch off. I also plan on having my loaded M1911 under the passenger seat. Ya know. .... Just in case. 

[morfiend]

 A cool tip a friend told me was to put a piece of paper with serial# and your name on it,inside the handle bars!

  He owned several expensive racing bikes and did that to all his bikes,he said it often will go unnoticed and even theives who grind the serial numbers off to make identification almost impossible over look checking inside the bars.


   He told me he recovered his colnoga{sp} that way,a hand built Italian beauty!



   

[Groth]

 Or business cards, also down seat tube in case they change handlebars or strip it to frame to sell....\
         JGroth

[morfiend]

Or business cards, also down seat tube in case they change handlebars or strip it to frame to sell....\
         JGroth

  Now that you mention that yes,he also put the imfo into the frame,as you said under seat post!   I had forgotten about that!!!

   This buddy of mine did all kinds of silly things to make his bikes lighter,using a diegrinder to remove bits and pieces!