Biker friendly bollox

[(RIP) Shenzi]

There are many posts referring to places being 'biker friendly' in France and although I'm sure they were posted with the best of intentions it can give the wrong impression that maybe some places are not biker friendly. There are in fact some posts asking for biker friendly accommodation which proves my point to a degree.
Having lived here a good few years now and toured extensively in the warmer bits my experience is that France is a biker friendly nation! Hotels etc do not discriminate and tend to fall over backwards to put the bikes somewhere safe, though my insurance company assures me that nobody nicks GSs here
Car drivers taking to the gutter to let us through is the norm. The relationship between bikers and other road users is about as good as it could be so please ignore the idiots that suggest slowing things up at the peage.
Of course there are going to be exceptions as in all things but overall this is a great place to ride a bike

 

[Deleted account W]

I stopped in a very high class Châteaux in Burgundy. We pulled up to the huge front door on our bikes, passed an immaculate garden on a gravel drive. The car park was a good way away and we wanted to drop the bags off. After checking in we asked where they wanted us to put the bikes.

Please leave them where they are, our doorman and concierge will keep an eye on them for you the lady told us

Couldn't see a National trust property letting you do that here.

 

[bowser]

There are many posts referring to places being 'biker friendly' in France and although I'm sure they were posted with the best of intentions it can give the wrong impression that maybe some places are not biker friendly. There are in fact some posts asking for biker friendly accommodation which proves my point to a degree.
Having lived here a good few years now and toured extensively in the warmer bits my experience is that France is a biker friendly nation! Hotels etc do not discriminate and tend to fall over backwards to put the bikes somewhere safe, though my insurance company assures me that nobody nicks GSs here
Car drivers taking to the gutter to let us through is the norm. The relationship between bikers and other road users is about as good as it could be so please ignore the idiots that suggest slowing things up at the peage.
Of course there are going to be exceptions as in all things but overall this is a great place to ride a bike

Have to agree with this, been to France a good few times on the bikes and never once had a problem, in fact the continent in general is much more bike friendly

 

[mr badger]

I agree too. In fact, everywhere I've been in Europe on a bike I've been treated with a respect that's rare in Britain, possibly with the exception of the Highlands.

Once in Arnhem we asked if we could have a corner of the car park. 'Sure, come round the back'. We entered the park and were worried to find it full. A figuere appeared and waved us through some double doors at the back of the hotel. Our corner was an unused bit of the kitchen stores, inside and secure.

Can't see that happening in a UK equivalent establishment!

(I actually hate the idea of 'biker friendly'. Sounds like somewhere Ogri would be at home. Greasy, tinned beer and dubious hygeine)

 

[earthmover]

Have to agree, we've had hoteliers move stuff out of their garage to let us park the bikes, trucks pulling so far to the side of the road they're endangering pedestrians, all sorts of courtesies afforded to you that serve to emphasise how little we are thought of over here.
Don't let your guard down on the road though, there are still knobs over there, just to catch you out.
Mark

 

[madman]

After nearly five years of living here, I tend to forget how friendly people and car drivers are. In all of those five years, I have only ever sworn at a few car drivers and they were mostly Belgian visitors.

 

[Wapping]

There are many posts referring to places being 'biker friendly' in France a........exceptions as in all things but overall this is a great place to ride a bike

Bother! You have beaten me to it, though it is perhaps more of a topic for the Beakchat pub than the Travel section.

I have never understood the 'Biker friendly' adjective, whether it is applied to French hotels, British motorways, a Scottish ferry or any public service for that matter. I have never struggled anywhere because I arrived on a motorbike or in the car, finding most people polite and helpful more often than not. Is the north London pub where Greg Masters and chums gather each month any more 'Biker friendly' than an Ibis hotel in Lyon or a gasthus in the German alps or a simple pension on the plains of Spain? Of course it isn't, nor should it be.

I can only assume that some people who happen to ride a motorcycle see themselves as something different, worthy of 'special' attention, when - more often than not - they are not. Indeed, 'bikers' as a breed sometimes seem to go out of their way to be as awkward as possible, treating Joe Public's front and back yards as their personal domain to be used and abused as they see fit.......and then moan when Joe Public does not quite see it the same way. Whatton (who is a perfectly nice fellow) starts to hint at it with the reference to the National Trust not being accommodating. Of course I do not believe Kevin is being serious and of course I am pulling one line out of an off the cuff post but what he says is a possible part of the problem.... People read it and go "Huh, the bloody National Trust...." when of course few if any have ever had any problem with the organisation or anything like it.

 

[Wapping]

After nearly five years of living here, I tend to forget how friendly people and car drivers are. In all of those five years, I have only ever sworn at a few car drivers and they were mostly Belgian visitors.

.... Belgian driving (and Belgium as a whole) worthy of a rant section special

 

[Our Gee]

We booked a one night stay with the Tourist Info. Office in Freiburg making a point to ask if the Hotel had secure Bike parking which they said it had. When we arrived the Hotel was in the middle of a long row of Terraced Houses with no obvious access to the rear. We asked the clerk at check in where the secure parking was and he replies "we have a shed in the rear garden". "You may bring the Moto through the Hotel". As there was a three step up into the lobby I told him I would have to start the Engine. "No Problem" he said. Thats the first time I had rode a fully loaded K1200LT through a Hotel. Brilliant !!.

 

[mr badger]

Thats the first time I had rode a fully loaded K1200LT through a Hotel. Brilliant !!.

SO cool.

Especially 'the first time'.

 

[Gaulois]

.... Belgian driving (and Belgium as a whole) worthy of a rant section special

I can't remember exactly when it changed but I do know that up until 1960(ish) it wasn't necessary to take a test in Belgium. You just applied for a license.

Same as here during WW2.

 

[Martyn B]

I've only visited NT properties twice...

Whatton (who is a perfectly nice fellow) starts to hint at it with the reference to the National Trust not being accommodating. Of course I do not believe Kevin is being serious and of course I am pulling one line out of an off the cuff post but what he says is a possible part of the problem.... People read it and go "Huh, the bloody National Trust...." when of course few if any have ever had any problem with the organisation or anything like it.

... on a bike. Kingston Lacy and Montacute (Dorset & Somerset). Both allowed me to park v.close to the Entrance/Ticket Booth, took in our kit so we didn't have to walk round with helmets etc and were generally very friendly. We now live about 800 yds from Great Chafield NT property and again they are very accommodating so, darn sarf, in my experience, no probs! All the properties are staffed by volunteers so if you get someone who has a cob-on for bikers, I guess you're stuffed, but that goes for anywhere.

Anyway, this is all a bit

As for France, I had my own place out there for several years in South East Brittany and found everyone was interested in bikes - even the very ancient Madame who "ruled" our hamlet (every village has one)! I think it's something to do with a state of mind and an admiration for "l'esprit de vie!".

Anyway, I have to put a plug in here for Route 66 http://www.route66hotel.com/default.htm

A great place for a short break or just a stopover - located between Poitiers and Limoges (central France). Even has it's own Biker Den/bar. B&B or camping. Stayed there on the way down to the GP at Barcelona - brill!

 

[Deleted account W]

Anyway, I have to put a plug in here for Route 66 http://www.route66hotel.com/default.htm

A great place for a short break or just a stopover - located between Poitiers and Limoges. Even has it's own Biker Den/bar. B&B or camping. Stayed there on the way down to the GP at Barcelona - brill!

I'm stopping there on the 1st of August

p.s I wish I'd never mentioned the feckin National Trust now

 

[Wapping]

I'm stopping there on the 1st of August

p.s I wish I'd never mentioned the feckin National Trust now

Don't be glum, your joking reference illustrated quite a good point.

There is a perception of 'Biker friendly' that is either incorrect or, at best, deliberately over used and misunderstood, whether it is here at home or abroad.

 

[Martyn B]

Enjoy!

I'm stopping there on the 1st of August

p.s I wish I'd never mentioned the feckin National Trust now

Have a great time and don't plan an early getaway unless you are TT.

Ask Harry to "show you his Buick"! No, don't worry, he's not

Camping or B&B?

 

[Deleted account W]

Have a great time and don't plan an early getaway unless you are TT.

Ask Harry to "show you his Buick"! No, don't worry, he's not

Camping or B&B?

B&B, Henry was really helpful, told him I'd be turning up late and he said he'd put me some food to one side so I'd have somthing to eat whatever time I got there

 

[Martyn B]

Yup! Very helpful...

B&B, Henry was really helpful, told him I'd be turning up late and he said he'd put me some food to one side so I'd have somthing to eat whatever time I got there

There were ten of us and we'd got there v late as we'd left one of our Group in Angers Hospital (one for another thread) and got there 20:30 instead of 17:30!

We rode straight past the hotel as we were expecting it to be in town (it's just outside). Stopped on the western edge of the town as we knew we'd probably missed it. I volunteered to recce another couple of miles up the road on my own. Although I found a great bit of road I didn't come across anything so turned round and made my way back to the main group.

As I rode back, some nutter on a Harley without a lid came the other way, waving and waggling his bars. "Nice & friendly round here" I thought. later it transpired that it was Harry who's seen us ride by - so he jumped on his bike and came after us. Although we'd booked dinner for a much earlier arrival, it wasn't a problem and we all got stuck into the contents of his well stocked bar before launching into the four course meal. Leave room for the desert!

Ya don't get that kind of service at the Campanile!

 

[Mr K]

I think there's a difference between places showing expected levels of hospitality and places and people that go out of their way to accomodate you and the foibles that motorbikes have.

This place was great: www.touring-relaxing.de

 

[Martyn B]

Why don't you?

I think there's a difference between places showing expected levels of hospitality and places and people that go out of their way to accomodate you and the foibles that motorbikes have.

This place was great: www.touring-relaxing.de

Post it in the "Alps..." section?

I'm off that way in September so might give it a crack. Ta!

 

[MikeP]

It's possibly more to do with the fact that some places in the UK are distinctly "unfriendly" towards motorcyclists, especially when in groups of more than three or four.

I've stopped in camp-sites in this country where bikes are segregated and usually as far as possible from the amenities.

I've only come across the same once when abroad, that was in Germany (that might have been due to Clive being with me. Rough looking bugger that he is).