Paris - Barcelona... Train or Plane?

A freind & I are having a road trip round Europe, with the bikes, for the first two weeks in august. Mostly round northern France, and then to Amsterdam for a few days, and back on the ferry.

However, we would like to go to Barcelona for a few days, and I think driving there would take up too much of our time.

Does anyone have any experiance of travelling from Paris to Barcelona with bikes?
There doesn't seem to be much difference in price between planes and trains..... we would ideally like not to use bike boxes, as we on't have space in the car for them, which is why i'm leaning towards getting a train..... but i have also heard a rumour that Air France give you a large cardboard bike box when you travel with a bike.

any advice appreciated.

much love,
Hoops.

anyone?

you should be careful of what trains you get on in France. If you get a TGV (one of the fast trains) from Paris down south they don't have spaces for bikes. You can take your bike on but you have to dismantle it and put it in a bag (We put our wheels in plastic bags but they made it clear we should of had those special bags that you put the whole bike in). They are quite serious about it. In France ther're are loads of trains with special bike areas but they tend to be more local and provincial trains.
I'm not sure how it works once you get passed the border in too Spain.
Having said that this was two summers ago so maybe its changed but the SNCF website should have more info.

easyjet man, it's fast, cheap (if you book in advance) and lets u carry a bike for 18.5pounds each way

http://www.easyjet.com/en/book/regulations.html#baggage

www.voyages-sncf.com

has a good journey planner on it, which puts a bike symbol against the trains where you can take a bike.

Some TGVs you can take bikes on, but very few. Whatever train you get with your bikes assembled and unbagged, you'll have to reserve your space. It's likely to be busy in August, so you'll need to book early.

The French site's not too difficult to navigate just for info, rather than booking. If you are booking, then I'd try the English version - it redirected me to http://www.tgv-europe.com, which I didn't look at.

Also, maybe themaninseat61 or whatever that site's called. But I'd go to Rail Europe in Piccadilly and book in person, so that you're 100% you're getting the best advice.

thanks for the advice.... will look into both!
has anyone flown on Air France with bikes before?..... is the free bike box rumour true?... cant seem to find any info on their site.

ring*ring

"Flying with Air France means you get a neat free cardboard box for your bike:"

from here

Also, maybe themaninseat61 or whatever that site's called. But I'd go to Rail Europe in Piccadilly and book in person, so that you're 100% you're getting the best advice.

http://www.seat61.com/