Center Parcs and Road Bikes
Discussion
Sarkmeister said:
My biggest worry would be the bike getting stolen. I'd take a very good lock, as Centre Parcs is particularly bad for bikes getting nicked.
Good point, this has been a long running issue with Center Parcs. Not that my bike is worth much anyway! I think I'll just go ahead and rent.Sarkmeister said:
It's generally a mixture of the two. The roads are tarmac and the paths between the roads and chalets etc are gravel.
My biggest worry would be the bike getting stolen. I'd take a very good lock, as Centre Parcs is particularly bad for bikes getting nicked.
THIS...I lost my Lapierre 714 at one 5 years ago....I was so niaive....My biggest worry would be the bike getting stolen. I'd take a very good lock, as Centre Parcs is particularly bad for bikes getting nicked.
convinced it was done by employees too...
That aside I've ony ever been to the Notingham one and that for me was/would be no good for road bikes, leaves and speed bumps, crowds of walkers and wobbly cyclists...
For cycling about the Parc I wouldn't bother taking your road bike, you'll worry more about it when you've stopped for lunch/brew/activity and it's not in view, why tempt spoiling your holiday. Unless it's a CX bike with rugged tyres on you'll probably get punctures on the gravel paths anyway.
offspring86 said:
Sarkmeister said:
My biggest worry would be the bike getting stolen. I'd take a very good lock, as Centre Parcs is particularly bad for bikes getting nicked.
Good point, this has been a long running issue with Center Parcs. Not that my bike is worth much anyway! I think I'll just go ahead and rent.We had two go AWOL from right under the security cameras in the main bike park at the Thetford Forest site. 'Security' weren't interested, nor were management. At least not until I stood on a chair in main reception, and loudly warned anyone who'd listen that bike theft was rife on site.
A few days later, while walking back from the pool, I spotted our locks, in the stream on site. So I went down to recover them (for the insurance claim). Only it wasn't just our locks. There were about a dozen cut locks in that stream, some decent ones, but mostly the crappy CenterParcs wire locks supplied with the hire bikes.
I refuse to believe that such a high incidence of bike thefts can go unnoticed on such a small site without someone on staff knowing whats going on. Either it's an inside job, or insiders are turning a blind eye. Don't risk taking bikes to CenterParcs. Customer care fail, too. I refuse to holiday there again, because their attitude stinks.
I always regret the fact that I learn about such things after the event... the sooner I learn to ask the tricky questions before I act, the better, as the stories I see/read adfterwards only confirm the gut feeling I had at the time....and I only wish I had thought more and asked around before going there...
A great idea for a holiday ruined by a dark underbelly of 'organised' crime...sad really...
A great idea for a holiday ruined by a dark underbelly of 'organised' crime...sad really...
I've been to CP twice and despite having a very capable mountain bike I've always hired from there!
IMO there isn't a lot of ground to cover and most bike rides are a matter of 10mph over 2-4 miles. Then there is the theft risk.
If you are leaving the site and doing many many miles I'd maybe reconsider.
IMO there isn't a lot of ground to cover and most bike rides are a matter of 10mph over 2-4 miles. Then there is the theft risk.
If you are leaving the site and doing many many miles I'd maybe reconsider.
Don't do it, I very nearly took my brand new road bike to Elveden Forest last year as I wanted to try it out and get some miles in while the kids were swimming or whatever. I'm glad I didn't as it would have been completely pointless and probably dangerous as there are too many 'wobbly w
kers' and meandering pedestrians on the paths so travelling at road bike speeds would be a constant nightmare, there's also loads of little gate type things that wouldn't be much fun clipped in.
That said if you're planning to go outside the center then taking the road bike would be fine of course, but then why bother going there?
Instead you can just get some training in by mashing the 50lb cast iron creaky MTBs everywhere, even more so if you're towing a trailer with three kids in it, I got loads of exercise and the kids were having a great time overtaking everyone shouting 'Faster!'
I also spoke to a guy who was into mountain biking and he was on a hire bike too because he took his own a couple of years before and it was nicked! It was locked outside the main swimming pool with his own D-Lock. So if you do take it leave in inside your apartment out of sight and don't leave it anywhere.
kers' and meandering pedestrians on the paths so travelling at road bike speeds would be a constant nightmare, there's also loads of little gate type things that wouldn't be much fun clipped in.That said if you're planning to go outside the center then taking the road bike would be fine of course, but then why bother going there?
Instead you can just get some training in by mashing the 50lb cast iron creaky MTBs everywhere, even more so if you're towing a trailer with three kids in it, I got loads of exercise and the kids were having a great time overtaking everyone shouting 'Faster!'
I also spoke to a guy who was into mountain biking and he was on a hire bike too because he took his own a couple of years before and it was nicked! It was locked outside the main swimming pool with his own D-Lock. So if you do take it leave in inside your apartment out of sight and don't leave it anywhere.
Jayfish said:
Thank you all for this thread, booked in for later this year, the bikes will be in the chalet when not being ridden.
Be aware. Stuff in chalets goes missing too 
Just do a search of local news websites based near any CenterParcs site. Advice would be to make sure anything you leave 'indoors' is chained to something/together and left out of sight (eg: in the bathroom, NOT visible through the patio doors at the back of the chalet). It really is a den of thieves within the site, and management will take no responsibility for your bikes/gear. Typical chalet theft items are ipods, laptops, cash, cards and that sort of easily portable kit, but bikes have disappeared from behind locked doors too.I feel this thread is giving Center Parcs an unnecessary bad rep so feel I should give my opinion. I've been going to Center Parcs pretty much yearly with family since I was born. 28 years later and I've not had anything stolen out and about or from within the villas.
That said, just because Center Parcs gives the impression of being a secluded hide away where no harm can come of anyone or anything, it's still the real world with real people and real people are aholes. If you wouldn't be happy leaving your bike chained up in the street outside a busy train station (for example) then don't take it to Center Parcs. It's just as likely to get stolen at Center parcs as it is to get stolen anywhere else.
I've often taken my own bikes but usually find it easier to just hire one. They're good fun and it doesn't matter if you break it. Plus you wont be constantly worrying who's got their eyes on it whilst you're away from it feeding some ducks. You'll also very likely not get any use out of a road bike. Yes, the roads are tarmac around the sites but they are often twisty and you'll find yourself dodging little kids and old people wobbling all over the place that haven't been on a bike for 50 years. You'll not be able to make any use off the off road forest tracks either.
We went just a few months back for the weekend with my partners sister and her family. I intended to take my road bike as my plan was to head out on the Saturday morning off site do get in 30 miles. I changed my mind in the end and I'm glad I did. I found it far more enjoyable larking around with the kids and getting some family time rather than heading off on my own for a few hours. I wouldn't have used it at all around site as no one else was biking and it would have just ended up shut away in the utility closet all weekend.
Hire a bike and enjoy yourself.
That said, just because Center Parcs gives the impression of being a secluded hide away where no harm can come of anyone or anything, it's still the real world with real people and real people are a
holes. If you wouldn't be happy leaving your bike chained up in the street outside a busy train station (for example) then don't take it to Center Parcs. It's just as likely to get stolen at Center parcs as it is to get stolen anywhere else. I've often taken my own bikes but usually find it easier to just hire one. They're good fun and it doesn't matter if you break it. Plus you wont be constantly worrying who's got their eyes on it whilst you're away from it feeding some ducks. You'll also very likely not get any use out of a road bike. Yes, the roads are tarmac around the sites but they are often twisty and you'll find yourself dodging little kids and old people wobbling all over the place that haven't been on a bike for 50 years. You'll not be able to make any use off the off road forest tracks either.
We went just a few months back for the weekend with my partners sister and her family. I intended to take my road bike as my plan was to head out on the Saturday morning off site do get in 30 miles. I changed my mind in the end and I'm glad I did. I found it far more enjoyable larking around with the kids and getting some family time rather than heading off on my own for a few hours. I wouldn't have used it at all around site as no one else was biking and it would have just ended up shut away in the utility closet all weekend.
Hire a bike and enjoy yourself.
Edited by MysteryLemon on Thursday 1st May 09:57
MysteryLemon said:
I feel this thread is giving Center Parcs an unnecessary bad rep so feel I should give my opinion. I've been going to Center Parcs pretty much yearly with family since I was born. 28 years later and I've not had anything stolen out and about or from within the villas.
That said, just because Center Parcs gives the impression of being a secluded hide away where no harm can come of anyone or anything, it's still the real world with real people and real people are aholes. If you wouldn't be happy leaving your bike chained up in the street outside a busy train station (for example) then don't take it to Center Parcs. It's just as likely to get stolen at Center parcs as it is to get stolen anywhere else.
I've often taken my own bikes but usually find it easier to just hire one. They're good fun and it doesn't matter if you break it. Plus you wont be constantly worrying who's got their eyes on it whilst you're away from it feeding some ducks. You'll also very likely not get any use out of a road bike. Yes, the roads are tarmac around the sites but they are often twisty and you'll find yourself dodging little kids and old people wobbling all over the place that haven't been on a bike for 50 years. You'll not be able to make any use off the off road forest tracks either.
We went just a few months back for the weekend with my partners sister and her family. I intended to take my road bike as my plan was to head out on the Saturday morning off site do get in 30 miles. I changed my mind in the end and I'm glad I did. I found it far more enjoyable larking around with the kids and getting some family time rather than heading off on my own for a few hours. I wouldn't have used it at all around site as no one else was biking and it would have just ended up shut away in the utility closet all weekend.
Hire a bike and enjoy yourself.
^ this.That said, just because Center Parcs gives the impression of being a secluded hide away where no harm can come of anyone or anything, it's still the real world with real people and real people are a
holes. If you wouldn't be happy leaving your bike chained up in the street outside a busy train station (for example) then don't take it to Center Parcs. It's just as likely to get stolen at Center parcs as it is to get stolen anywhere else. I've often taken my own bikes but usually find it easier to just hire one. They're good fun and it doesn't matter if you break it. Plus you wont be constantly worrying who's got their eyes on it whilst you're away from it feeding some ducks. You'll also very likely not get any use out of a road bike. Yes, the roads are tarmac around the sites but they are often twisty and you'll find yourself dodging little kids and old people wobbling all over the place that haven't been on a bike for 50 years. You'll not be able to make any use off the off road forest tracks either.
We went just a few months back for the weekend with my partners sister and her family. I intended to take my road bike as my plan was to head out on the Saturday morning off site do get in 30 miles. I changed my mind in the end and I'm glad I did. I found it far more enjoyable larking around with the kids and getting some family time rather than heading off on my own for a few hours. I wouldn't have used it at all around site as no one else was biking and it would have just ended up shut away in the utility closet all weekend.
Hire a bike and enjoy yourself.
I really don't know why you'd want to take a road bike to centre parcs, so whether it's safe or not is slightly academic...
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff