Bikes on trains in the UK

Is it easy to get bike reservations on the sleepers nowadays? That was an issue last time I looked but may be easier now.

Have only used since the big refurb in 2019, each train holds, I think, 6 bikes on wheel hangers and easy to book along with the ticket - though last time I looked, there was no filter for trains with bike spaces.

Staff on there are great, and super hot on checking that bikes have been booked.

Only downside is that for some destinations you have to move your bike when the train splits at Edinburgh at 5am.

I'm a big fan of the seated sleeper train - generally around 70ish both ways, bike bookings very easy via their website. Trade off is a night of intermittent sleep /back pain, but anyone who has audaxed should be able to cope.
It's also fully refundable up until something like a week before, so worth booking anyway while looking for cheaper options.
I would love to be able to afford the actual compartments with beds, but think the days of any bargain ones being available are long gone.
I wish they had some sort of no-frills bed option like sleeper class in India with triple decker bunk beds with no bedding supplied.

France
And the food

I'm going to have to disagree with you on that one. There is no food in France. I mean, there was, but unless you were there between 18:20 and 18:22 on the 380th Sunday since the death of Christ, you missed out. You can have coffee though, bad coffee.

Oh don't worry, we've been smashing the Two Together for a couple of years now. The trains to Scotland are still the price of an S-Works.

Back in the 80s - when the overnight train was called Nightrider - there were reports of people improvising bunks out of the overhead luggage racks.
Never tried it myself - not sure what weight they would take. And how to get up / there

I can certainly see how you would be disappointed if you only look for food in petrol stations, but my experience was different...

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Why does it let you pick Sat when they don't run services on a Sat?
(I hate software engineers)

It's full this weekend so it's no use anyway.

£173 to Inverness for both of us some time in the future, for seats. I'm not sure starting a long audax/adventure already sleep-deprived is the best move. £705 for the same trip with beds though is just stupid.

See, even the French have realised there's no food and have just resorted to cooking rocks they've gathered on the beach.

I think they're too narrow on the new ones, the thought has definitely crossed my mind in the past.
I just take a sleeping pill and can generally manage enough rest to function the next day. It's not ideal, but for getting an efficient long weekend of riding in it works well.

ouch, sleeper room prices have gone up quicker than inner tubes in a year

Could you do overnight train to Glasgow and then a morning train to Inverness?

I just take a sleeping pill

That's how I got DVT. I hope you've got some sexy compression socks on.

Even with a sleeping pill I don't think I ever stay asleep for more than 30 mins at a time, so assume I'm moving enough to avoid risk.

700 bucks for the sleeper is truly crackers. Think I took the one to Penzance two years ago for something like 150. We booked about 6 months in advance though.

£705

I knew they were expensive but I'm still shocked at that. I guess the market is city boys going for grouse shooting.

Tbh I would never expect a great night's sleep on one so, to avoid sleep dep from the start, I'd get the last train up in the evening and do the Premier Inn in Inverness.

Given I planned to ride a 1200 the other week after 1 hours sleep max on the Dover-Dunkirk ferry, I have realised I am much better at giving advice to others than formulating sensible plans myself!

I'm alright at being "ok" before most events (excluding my obvious problem of doing too many) but I will pay extra to get a good sleep and/or less stressful arrival... but not THAT much! £700 better be a train to Australia or they can get tae fuck.