Yeah this tends to be my approach too. I don't think I've ever asked to take the bike in the room with me - I'm just far too clumsy (and lax with bike cleaning) not to make a horrendous mess of everything.

It's pretty common for there to be a courtyard or storeroom to leave the bike in, or at the very least a cleaning cupboard, and I've never been turned down. I usually lock it with a basic cable lock, just to deter anyone opportunistically walking off with it - but apart from that I even leave all the panniers on.

Heck, I've even just left my bike locked on the street a few times (in the centre of Brussels, even). Definitely one for those that live dangerously, though.

I agree most whole heartedly about not abusing the hotel’s towels.  The only time I have ever had a motel not let me take my bike into a room was because the motel lady said she has had other cyclists destroy their towels cleaning their chains.  In other words, somebody else wrecked it for me.

I saw a really innovative idea at a motel a couple of years ago.  They obviously had a lot of outdoor workers staying at their motel, and had a problem with workers ruining towels by using them to clean mud off their boots etc.  What the motel did was offer a few ruined, but clean towels as cleaning rags in addition to the regular complement of towels.  That way workers could clean their boots without damaging the towels.  

This motel had the ruined towels right in the room.  I am surprised more places don’t at least have a sign up inviting guests to ask for them.

Motels that cater to traveling motorcyclists ALWAYS have old towels for guests to use on their motorcycles. Bicyclists appreciate it, too.

One motel owner told me they don't like cyclists because a cyclist once cleaned his bike chain in the shower. I always leave my motel room clean and tidy, hoping to give cyclists a good reputation. To avoid staining walls, I put a washcloth between the handlebar and wall.

I always state that I/we will be travelling by bicycle and require secure storage (overnight or for the duration of our stay) when booking.  It's rare that the accommodation does not have a place to put bikes other than in the room.  Of course, I travel with a decent lock and always lock my bike if it's at all iffy.

When getting ready to fly home from Paris in 2019, I asked at the desk if there was a place where I could disassemble and pack my bike, expecting to be directed to a storage room.  "Down at that end of the lobby," he said.  Air-conditioned comfort in the early days of the heat wave!

Similar to you Jacquie, I always send a message in the booking form that I'll be traveling by bike and need secure bike storage. Rarely is there a problem, but today I got a response informing me it would be 3€/night/bike.  I cancelled the reservation and easily found another option that would accommodate my bike.

Yeah, I had one like that too, once, and had the same response.  On the other hand, if I notice that an accommodation specifies they welcome cyclists, I'll choose that one (unless out of my price range).