Bikes on Eurostar?

Hi has anyone struggled with 85cm dimension luggage limit stated on the Eurostar website? I did the Paris Roubaix cyclosportive 2 years ago and had no problem with bikes in bags but on checking this year this 85cm rule seems to have crept in and there is no way a full size bike can be collapsed down to this size. Don't fancy getting it all booked up and finding Mr Jobsworth stopping me.

Nope, never had any problems taking a bike on the Eurostar.

Travelled to Paris last w/end and had no problems with bike being taken through or dimensions measured

Definitely suggest a folding bag rather than a hard case..

Not trying to commandeer the thread - but would you say the same air travel? I need to take my back on a plane soonish and I was pretty worried about the baggage handlers getting all handly with my goods. Though maybe a hard case or an extremely padded one might be best. Any others survived with a soft case?

Does anyone have any experience with storage at Gare de Nord. I was thinking of a day trip using a padded bag, If there was somewhere to store said bag in Paris it would be pretty sweet

I've stored luggage at GdN and it was pretty straight forward -- just a big room with lockers that take tokens. I don't know how big the lockers getm but I assume that they should be big enough for a bike bag, given that some need to accommodate larger suitcases.

I had a nightmare of a time taking a bike on the eurostar on my last trip. The first time I did it, it was totally fine. I booked ahead, dropped the bike off before my train, and got on the train just fine. The second time I tried to do the same, they told me I didnt need to book, so I just showed up at GdN with my bike. They didnt let me it the train and I missed my train as a result. In the end, they stamped my ticket so I could take the next train, but they made me put my bike in bags, through the xray machine, on a trolley (they wouldnt let it through without being on the trolly), and inside the packed train, where it ended up being tied to the railing blocking the footpath and everyone's luggage. The conductor was cool about it as it was a crowded train, but hell, I would have much rather paid the 20 euros on that one. Next time...

other than eurostar what are the options for coming back to london with a bike besides HTFU and riding back?
Might ride with weekend and eurostar is £120 one way , I'm feeling to cheap for that.

eurolines coach?

Would anyone have a light bike bag that I can borrow. One that folds up like the Cinelli one. I would need it from the 21st till the 1st of this month.

I will buy you a pint and give you a hug and I will send you a postcard.

what happened to your Pinnacle Bike Bag?

I need something I can fold up when I get off the train, put in my bag and go cycling. The pinnacle bike bag does not do this. It is a very stubborn bag.

I might just buy an enormous gypsie bag and just put the bike in there.

Some people have recommended a couple of bin bags. Might work.

I did it with the under bed storage bags from Argos, you get two and they're cheap.

what do you need a bag for anyway?

If youre taking a bike on the eurostar your meant to book it into the luggage van
No bag required.

Theres a risk they won't let you take it on as 'hand' luggage if its busy or they're in a bad mood.

But then I have to pay them 20 pounds each way.

Get a plastic laundry bag (the checkered goppo bags) from a pound shop. I got one for a jorney down to Bourdoux on the train in the summer. If you get a large one you can take the wheels off and fit it all in the bag. Get some pipe lagging for the sholder straps though otherwise it cuts a bit. I did that and no one said anything. If anything it helped. At St Pancras I joined the que for the security skan and someone came over and told me the bag wouldnt fit through the scanner so he took me to the front of the que for the large scanner and it made me have time for a coffee.

The bag was £6 I think.

what do you need a bag for anyway?
If youre taking a bike on the eurostar your meant to book it into the luggage van
No bag required.
Theres a risk they won't let you take it on as 'hand' luggage if its busy or they're in a bad mood.

Has this ever happened?

I'd rather save the money and bag my bike.

It makes more sense to bag it if you're travelling onwards to the mountains on TGV services anyway, since they require it.

Get a plastic laundry bag (the checkered goppo bags) from a pound shop. I got one for a jorney down to Bourdoux on the train in the summer. If you get a large one you can take the wheels off and fit it all in the bag. Get some pipe lagging for the sholder straps though otherwise it cuts a bit. I did that and no one said anything. If anything it helped. At St Pancras I joined the que for the security skan and someone came over and told me the bag wouldnt fit through the scanner so he took me to the front of the que for the large scanner and it made me have time for a coffee.

The bag was £6 I think.

Thanks for the advice, I will do exactly this.

Thats cool. It should work a treat. Have a good trip.

traveled on eurostar a year ago..it was really busy, asked the guard if I could put my bike in the luggage van - 'sure no problem'

traveled on eurostar this year.. the train was empty, asked the guard if could put my bike in the luggage van - 'no its full'

I think eurostar will be trying milk the bike riding cashcow as dry as possible.

Its a risk - id still probably take it though.

Has this ever happened?

I'd rather save the money and bag my bike.

It makes more sense to bag it if you're travelling onwards to the mountains on TGV services anyway, since they require it.

From eurostar site: "If you can fold or dismantle your bike and place it in a bike bag with the saddle, handlebars and wheels removed, you can carry it on board yourself as part of your luggage allowance, provided the overall size is no bigger than a normal suitcase."

Have travelled many times with bike in bag (just removed wheels) and no problems at all. Why are you asking the guard to put in the luggage van. Just carry it on board the coach you have your seat in.

One to watch out for - on my way back from a tour this summer I'd booked the bike into the van and paid my money. Got to Gare du Nord, finally found where to take the bike then got told I couldn't leave any luggage on it....I had 4 panniers and a pack on the rack......had to carry all the luggage on board by hand...real pita!

TGV's were good tho - had proper bike areas at the end of the end carriage. Local trains (TEN) also have bike areas....

www.groundeffect.co.nz check out the Tardis. My has done EuroStar once and been around the world 3 times ... I wouldnt put a fragile bike in it for a plane where the baggage throwers can destroy it, but for EuroStar when you're the only person touching it, then it's fine. It then folds up small so you can even cycle away from the station with it. I'll be using it to go watch Pari-Roubaix again in 2011.

kiwifyx, we're big fans of the ground effect tardis here, I'd have to ask though what your definition of a fragile bike is? As I took my travelling bike round the world in one, just ziptied pipe lagging to the frame, and didn't bother with a cardboard box, and the bike survived gloriously in one piece. Despite the best attentions of train and plane cargo handlers...

Girlfriend got on the Eurostar with 2 pound shop bags on each end of the bike with her two locks holing it all together this morning...no problems coming to London or getting back.

Just don't go, stay in London. Too much blooming hassle all this messing around removing a wheel and pedals.

When I get a puncture I buy a new bike. I hate getting brake residue and chain oil on my delicate hands.

Lol.