Getting to Stansted Airport

I'm picking my parents car up from Stansted Airport on Friday, but you can't take a bike on the Stansted Express unless it's packed for Air Travel.

The alternative route is to Go from Liverpool Street>Audley End, then catch a different train company back to the Airport, although this seems like a bit of a bollocks route.

Does anyone know if it's possible to cycle from Bishops Stortford to the Airport? It's only a few miles, but the A120 is a pretty big fast road, and might even be designated as a Motorway.

The alternative would be to walk to Liverpool Street, and get the Stansted Express straight there, but I'm not sure I can be bothered with that.

You're right, the road from Stortford is fine to the M11 junction but then you will hit a huge motorway roundabout, then onto 2-3 lanes roads v v v fast all way to terminal but at least they are A roads, there is a through villages 'back road' way onto the other side of the airport but that plus the ride round the airport roads to the terminal will add about 3-4 miles onto the journey sorry

The ride from Audley End wouldn't be too far, I think. it's very pretty around there. I'd definitely do it.

I know that dt on here has ridden to lots of airports for travelling with his bike, maybe PM him and see if he knows a good route into Stanstead?

You could try a service to Stansted Mountfitchet and ride from there maybe?

That's what I was thinking, I know the back route into the airport, but like you say, will add unnecessary mileage onto the journey. Audley End is a bit too far for me to go (there's a number of stops inbetween Stortford and Audley End that I could get off at, although none serve the airport by train) and Stansted Mountfitchet is the same side of the motorway as Stortford so the same problem exists.

Cheers for the help though, but it looks like I'll be hot-footing it to Liverpool Street Friday morning.

I rode it once at 5 a.m. on a Saturday morning and it was fine. There's a nice wide verge/shoulder that you can ride along for most of it.

You could probably get away with it if you got on at Tottenham. Maybe take the wheels off and stick the whole shebang in one of those gardening bin bags.

big fuck off suitcase FTW

From Bishop's Stortford take the A1250 up to the A120. It's pretty wide with good visibility so you could just ride all the way over the motorway junction (which is light controlled) and to the airport if you're feeling confident. Otherwise, there's a pedestrian path upto and around the motorway roundabout. Come off onto the B1256 and take that to Takely. Turn left onto Parsonage Road and that will take you to the Airport.

Sorry to derail a little but have you had this confirmed?

you can't take a bike on the Stansted Express unless it's packed for Air Travel.

I am flying from Stansted on Friday and didn't think getting a bike to the airport would be a problem, having seen your message I checked the Stansted Express website and is says

Please note large non-folding bikes are not permitted.

Argh, I can pack my bike before I get on the train but I can't think of any other way of getting to airport with ease if I can't take it full stop.

Sorry this doesn't help you but if you could let me know where you heard that they would take packed bikes that would be great....

Thanks.

If it's packed for air travel it is luggage and no longer a bike.

Stansted Mountfitchet is the same side of the motorway as Stortford so the same problem exists.

It is but if you leave Mountfitchet by Church road is crosses over the top of the motorway, then turn right and it brings you round to the airport. Less traffic for sure.

It is but if you leave Mountfitchet by Church road is crosses over the top of the motorway, then turn right and it brings you round to the airport. Less traffic for sure.

This maybe seems a better option.

I've been told at Liverpool St before that bicycles aren't permitted on the Stansted Express, but the National Express East Anglia website here says that it's fine if they're packed.

Stansted Express (London Liverpool Street – Stansted Airport)

Only fully folded cycles and cycles that have been flat packed in preparation for air travel can be conveyed on Stansted Express services at any time.
Folding bicycles should be transported in a protective carrying case.
Free of charge.
Reservations not required.

I'm not actually going on holiday, just picking a car up at the drop-off point and then chucking the bike in the boot, so don't want to pack it up!

Anyone know if you can get bikes boxed at Barcelona airport?

The only airport that I've ever heard of this service is Schipol in the Netherlands. Best to contact a bike shop in Barcelona to ge them to hold onto one for you and pass them a few euro's for the pleasure or buy something from them.

Besides, better to support these businesses who can be very valuable in times of need.