I am off on my first tour soon and will be visiting the cities of Copenhagen, Berlin and Amsterdam along the way. I would like to be able to find somewhere in these cities where I can just lock my bike up and leave it for a few days while I explore the city. I obviously want somewhere that is secure and not just a railing to lock my bike to. If I stay in a hostel I guess they might have a shed I could leave my bike in but I be everyone else at the hostel would be able to gain access. Can bike lockers at stations etc be used to lock a bike up for several days and if so are they safe?
If anyone can help I would really appreciate it. I am looking for info for Berlin more than the other two cities but all info is appreciated.
Amsterdam has a couple of massive secure bike parks one near the station which I visited (sans velo) is like a multi storey parking job with thousands of bikes. It is awesome when you first see it. Copehagen is also a very cycle friendly city as is Berlin. I should imagine that bike facilities there are on a par if not better than Holland and Amsterdam. The Scandanavians and Germans take cycling very seriously as well and the facilities are far better than we are used to in the UK or could ever dream of. I'm sure leaving your bike won't be a problem just take a suitably secure D-lock. Why don't you do a search on google?
"Zat is ze reel prowoking qwestion Mr Paxman." - Peer Steinbruck, German Finance Minister 31/03/2009.
Copenhagen station does have some secure bike parking/lockers, though I'm not sure far these are taken up by regular commuters. Berlin Hauptbahnhof has (or had, this time last year) only a couple of hundred Sheffield stands, outside the station, which are usually pretty jam-packed with bikes. My feeling is that you'd be better off leaving your bike at your hostel -- I'd be amazed if they didn't have somewhere where you could lock it up, and it's very likely that they'd have a dedicated (and secure) bike store. (For bike-friendly accommodation in Germany, try http://www.bettundbike.de/)
Are you dead-set against using your bicycle to explore these cities, though? As Ivor says, they're all extremely bike-friendly -- Copenhagen in particular is a brilliant city to get around by bike.
Tis many years since I visited Copenhagen. Am not sure of the situation now but at the time there were 2 hostels one out near the airport and one more centrally located. I used the first on my arrival, it was after dark on arrival, I let earlish the next day, however my bike had Saddle/seat pin and front wheel stolen (fortunately plenty of bike shops in the city). My last night I used the other hostel, I do not recall the bike lock facilities, a covered store I think. I certainly used my bike to get around sight seeing the next day, before leaving for the airport and had no problems with security or getting around.
Amsterdam, as previously said they do have bike storage facilities at various locations. We stayed 4 nights at a hotel about 10 mins out of the centre by train and we were right by the (underground) station. When we enquired about storing the bikes at the hotel we were directed to the bike shop on the same concourse, it had a huge underground bike storage facility and you could only enter it to take a bike out via a token. Many locals clearly used it to park their bikes whilst commuting into the centre. We just left bikes there on the times we were visiting the centre (and over night), the train was frequent, fast, efficient and clean, everything is so close together in the centre there is no need to be constantly moving a bike around and re-locking it everytime you stop somewhere, it was far easier to walk. Indeed all the bike lock facilities were extremely over crowded and you could end up with a heavy dutch commuter leant up against your precious bike.
Can't comment on Berlin.
What I do know is that there have been times when I feel my bike is safer locked up in busy town centre/shopping facilities (Trafford Centre) etc than when I have locked it up outside a village cafe.
I stand and rejoice everytime I see a woman ride by on a wheel the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood. HG Wells
Ivor - I did a google search and didn't really come up with anything useful. That's why I posted here.
pal - I wasn't really thinking of using the bike around the main towns because I would have panniers etc on it and also the need to lock it up each time I went into a museum/shop etc. I might use it though if it looks like being an easy option.
Looking at bikes in Amsterdam they all had a quality lock.size of a a ships anchor chain attached to something solid enough so that tells you cant be naive about these things so a decent U lock is something you need.Maybe additional smaller cable locks for the wheels and removable bits....then if goes it goes and its then an insurance clainm.You cant live in fear of these things or you will never go anywhere....Not sure about Amsterdam/Berlin but some places like museums or parks may just have an official bike park..in some countries Police might take your bike if you chain where you shouldnt but you usually see a no bike parking sign warning you..or an overzealous security guard will stop you,..Berlin is best seen by bike simply cos the walking tour from any backpacker hostel is over 12 hours none stop..Its so spread out but there is a good metro rail network too. In Berlin Paris & Amsderdam I have been on Guided Bike tours with bike provided(look up Fat tyre) and these were great.Maybe do one of this as a taster then do your own thing.They let you hire the bike for longer if you wish..
I am looking for info for Berlin more than the other two cities but all info is appreciated. 
