London->Dublin and the CMWC's

I'm coming from NYC for the Cycle Messenger World's. I'll be joining the group that rides from London->Dublin, leaving july 30th.
Is anyone participating in the Pre-events and/or housing people? I'm arriving july 28th and leaving the 30th. looking to crash on someone's floor/sofa/stoop . I'm a female messenger, 27, don't smell, and I'll clean up after myself.
let me know if u know where I could possibly stay. or if you are riding from london/dublin, say hi.

if she's coming to participate in the pre-event, doing the dynamo would make her miss what she's coming over here for!

ooer

yeah, I'm flying in a bit late to participate in LONDON CALLING but I wanna race the velodrome on Sunday if possible. problem is I'll be bringing my road bike. but if I'm not mistaken, I'll be able to ride my friend Izumi's bianchi at the track. hopefully he makes it.

Really, I just need a place to sleep on saturday and sunday before I'm off to Dublin.

and yes, austin is my roomate here in NYC.

Kym, get in touch with Stephanie: accomodation@londonscalling07.org.uk
If you're arriving on saturday things are going to be in full swing, have ye got a contact to find out where we all are going to be?
Also track places are limited so if you've not registered online say to Steph that you really want to do it or post a reply here so we can leave a space open for you.
If the worst comes to the worst me and my old lady have a wee couch, but we're satanists.

about te pre event...how does it work? i paid the entry fee and haven't heard or read anything yet...what's up?i should have been around but i'm into another working marathon, i'll be done by friday so..can anyone tell me what's going on?
I think i was supposed to receive something thru the mail but nothing yet..

Hey London, this is Ken from NYC. Kym and I are friends. Best friends. I'm going to ask a few questions here too, if you don't mind.

1) How much rain HAS england been getting this summer, and are we going to be drenched by the time we get to Dublin?
2) Does anybody know how to ride from Heathrow into the city? I'm arriving at 7am on Friday, and I'm assuming that getting on the Underground with a bike & luggage during rush hour.

It is WET. Very wet. Hasn't been this wet in 60 years. Biblical proportions of wetness. Bring a waterproof jacket, and you'll still be wet.

Heathrow to the city via the Tube? Don't do it.

Either do the Heathrow Express train which should be able to take the bike. Or if that doesn't work, ride to Feltham (1 mile away) and get the train from there to Waterloo.

My recommendation will be for the Heathrow Express. And I believe that they will take the bike.

Shit, I'll check for you.

summer? what summer...rain has been coming and going but by the looks of things it's here to stay this week temeprature hasn't reached 30 celcius yet.
about riding from heathrow you could get yourself on the A4 which would carry you in city centre pretty much on a straight line, or have a look on google maps for a parallel road.
And i strongly reccomend you purchase a copy of london's A to Z, the mini version will do, and fit in your pocket.

Just checked, bicycles are permitted on the Heathrow Express and you don't have to let them know in advance.

You can buy tickets in advance, or just roll up.

The entrance is in the subway system, I guess you'll come into Terminal 3, so it's on your left in the subway as you head towards the underground. You'll see the big blue signs for it.

Details here:
http://www.heathrowexpress.com/

heatrow xpress is pricey though

Much better than attempting to navigate London if you don't know it, and they're going to have to adjust to non-grid system, different side of the road, narrower roads, and head out straight into rush hour traffic on a dual carriageway littered with almost every type of strange junction we have (zebra crossings, pelican crossings, roundabouts, forks, traffic lights, contra-flow).

I dunno, but I value my bike too much to not drop £15 on the train into Paddington.

+1 on the AtoZ should be able to get one from the airport. I think the hardest part will be cycling out of LHR as it is not very bike friendly, but what large airports are, once your on the A4 all should be grand, maybe change to Chiswick high road for a quiter road when you get that far in. Good luck. Check out http://www.movingtargetzine.com/ they have some more info there.

P.S Don't worry about the rain your skin is water proof.

is it only 15? ops! i thought it was around 35...nevermind me, last time i had to use the xpress i was really late for my plane to Mumbay, got there 15 mins too late still, but somehow still made it on the plane ;p

David Casanova K
I dunno, but I value my bike too much to not drop £15 on the train into Paddington.

You should not drop money on a train people will steal it.

or ride into hayes then BR straight to paddington

Erm. Thinking about it you CAN'T cycle out of Heathrow. You're not allowed through the tunnel, and the side tunnels are now closed to pedestrians and cycles since they turned those into overflow lanes for the main tunnel.

If you do try to cycle out of Heathrow, do the side tunnel by keeping hard left on your approach to the tunnel, and pull over on the left before you enter the tunnel. The old overflow tunnels contain a raised and fenced off foot path that you could cycle down, but watch your head as the equipment mounted in the tunnel reduces headroom.

I used to work at the airport. I know a ton of useless crap about it. This is not a source of pride, but it is useful at times.

Great advice already. Thanks, London. Sucks about the weather. It's a rainy one in NYC today, and even though I had a change of clothes in my bag, my boxers were still drenched, and soaked through my pants as soon as I put them on. It looked like I had wet myself for the past hour or so.

Another question:
I'm packing the bike in a cardboard bike box. Ditch the box at Heathrow & assemble the bike for the train (or ill-advised ride), or bring the box on the train & assemble the bike in the city?

Instinct says build the bike as soon as possible and ditch the box.

Paranoia says don't even think about ditching that cardboard box and fiddling around with tools until you're clear of the terminal building. Security is not going to be impressed with you tinkering around with an array of potential weapons.

I think I'd lean towards getting the bike outside of the terminal building, preferably to the multi-storey car park opposite, and then build it in there before heading back downstairs to get to the Heathrow Express.

I don't know if you've been to Heathrow before, but it is comparatively small and crowded compared to most US airports.

I've been there....but a long time ago, with responsible adults...one of which I'm supposed to be by now. Thanks again.

scott not scot good point david.....last thing you want is a rubber gloved hand frisking ya jacksy...

No.

The last thing you want is a non rubber gloved hand...

Haaaa

You win!

David Casanova K
Heathrow to the city via the Tube? Don't do it.
My recommendation will be for the Heathrow Express. And I believe that they will take the bike.

Bikes on Tube? Forget it.

Nah, the Heathrow 'Express' is £25ish return.
Get the Heathrow 'Connect' which stops at a couple more stations, is still fast, will take bikes and is only £12ish return.

Stef heatrow xpress is pricey though

Heathrow Connect is CHEAPER.
http://www.heathrowconnect.com/

Can't you just carry your bike outside, build it and ride away?

When I got mine shipped over it arrived into one of the cargo areas. I got a lift from a white van man (who usually carries explosvies or radioavtive material - yay) to the station (Hatton Cross? I dunno, starts with H, I think) and carried it to South Ealing on the Tube. Built it at home in Eals. I'd carry box down, catch Heathrow Connect to Paddington, carry box outside around corner, build, ride..