Parking....
Someone, I forget now who, asked me what the bike parking arrangements will be at the various hotels. So, here goes:
(1) Ibis St Omer. I have used this hotel several times. It’s a popular overnight stop, so the small car park (gated) does get crowded and you cannot reserve a space. I usually have some degree of luck persuading the girl on the desk to cordon off an area for us under cover, not least as it makes more room for other guests’ cars. She promised to see what they can do; I can only take her at her word. Wessie is arriving ahead of us; if he could see what the form is and / or use his manly charms on the front desk we may be in luck.
One tip. If we get in first, take a bit of care how we park up. It’s not unknown for bods to get boxed in by other guests’ bikes, who then sleep until about noon the next day! Bikers, ya gotta luv ‘em. Seven bikes will probably occupy two car spaces, so that’s EUR 16, whuch we can pay out of the kitty.
(2) Avallon. I have never been to the hotel but I understand from the receptionist that they have a gated car park.
(3) Doussard. Never been there. The owner will make a lock-up garage available. I am not sure if there is a charge (I didn’t ask) but again, we can meet it out of the kitty. Again, it may be a communal garage, so try to make sure you are not boxed-in by a snoring HD rider from Dusseldorf when it comes to setting-off.
(4) Ibis Dijon. I have stayed here. The hotel does not have an integral car park, though (from memory) there is a municipal underground car park right outside. I recall it was fine.
(5) Ch-Mez. I have not stayed at the hotel, though it seems to have a car park / garage. Usual, ‘Don’t get boxed-in’ rules apply.
I will bring a very simple cable lock. Good enough to lock two bikes together and / or the bike to something. Will it survive an attack? Not any better than I would survive the over active attentions of a Great White shark! Sensibly, France is not full of bike thieves, any more than the UK is, so basic will probably do. If anyone really, really, really wants to have a 300 kg 1600 GT away they will, not matter what.
It’s this one:
http://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Security/Bike-safety-and-security/Locks/Coil-cable-locks/Numero-1300
It’s combination lock, which save having a key to lose, reasonably strong and not bulky.
One of the most useful things I have ever bought is one of these:
http://www.abus.com/eng/Mobile-Secu...ecurity/Locks/Special-locks/Combiflex-Pro-202
It is excellent for just looping through a helmet, running through a jacket sleeve or whatever, then through somewhere on the bike. As it’s a combination lock and above all simple to use, you DO use it. How many times do bods wander off leaving their helmet ‘in sight’ when having a coffee and then don’t keep it in sight while they natter to their mates? Lots, is the answer. How many get nicked? Not a lot, I admit but I don’t want to be the one if I can avoid it.