London to Lille (the same line as to Brussels)
Booked on Trainline, assumed I added my bike and checked with 9 days to go. Trainline said it's Eurostars problem, Eurostar said it's trainline's problem. Eurostar eventually says they will organise it
They say that folded bikes are fine, and I can break my bike down, but upon further checking refuse to allow the bike even fully disassembled in a bag - no bikes allowed to Lille at all.
Had to postpone the ticket for some rainy day and book a last minute (cheaper) budget flight
Brussels to London
I booked a £70 ticket 30 days ago and asked to book a bike for another £45 at the same time. They took 2 weeks to respond, saying that my specific timeslot and train does not take bikes and I would need to change - to a train now twice as expensive.
Bikes were supposed to be allowed fully assembled. I was forced to remove all my bikepacking bags including daisy chained/laced frame bag and handlebar roll and carry them and my rear pack around the terminal and train.
In summary - I'm not sure if I would overland to/from UK again. The cycling parts were relatively fun and worthwhile. But the necessary legs of public transport - costly, stressful, risky - I saw hordes of F1 fans in Barcelona wearing oil company merch, pissing any effect of mine in the wind
My experience of Eurostar -
https://www.eurostar.com/uk-en/travel-info/travel-planning/luggage/bikes
London to Lille (the same line as to Brussels)
Booked on Trainline, assumed I added my bike and checked with 9 days to go. Trainline said it's Eurostars problem, Eurostar said it's trainline's problem. Eurostar eventually says they will organise it
They say that folded bikes are fine, and I can break my bike down, but upon further checking refuse to allow the bike even fully disassembled in a bag - no bikes allowed to Lille at all.
Had to postpone the ticket for some rainy day and book a last minute (cheaper) budget flight
Brussels to London
I booked a £70 ticket 30 days ago and asked to book a bike for another £45 at the same time. They took 2 weeks to respond, saying that my specific timeslot and train does not take bikes and I would need to change - to a train now twice as expensive.
Bikes were supposed to be allowed fully assembled. I was forced to remove all my bikepacking bags including daisy chained/laced frame bag and handlebar roll and carry them and my rear pack around the terminal and train.
In summary - I'm not sure if I would overland to/from UK again. The cycling parts were relatively fun and worthwhile. But the necessary legs of public transport - costly, stressful, risky - I saw hordes of F1 fans in Barcelona wearing oil company merch, pissing any effect of mine in the wind