Bikes on Eurostar?

i paid 25 pounds; i took my bike as it is, no bags, nothing. it arrived on a different train because of reservations but just like it was.

no you paid £50 - you pay both ways.

Lets not pretend its a good deal.

@ fruit, do you have pics of the sail / wheel bags? I'd like to see.

yes i havehttp://www.londonfgss.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=12511&stc=1&d=1247964875

1 Attachment

Interesting solution.

Am taking my bike on the Eurostar next month, shopped about and thought this might be the best option for carrying it: http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=21308

Although the DIY bag job above is very intriguing, although probably easier if there is two of you.

Will be on my tod.

Will also be documenting my rides / other people's bikes with my Holga camera, will post them once developed!

the cinelli bag looks good, but i dont think it will fold up and fit easy in a backpack after you take your bike out and you still have to bike to your destination, its very hard to do that with the big cineli bag, also i paid 2,89 euro per bag :)

Eurostar was fine with rjs's bag up on the top rack. The tgv's are shit tho with no place to fit the bike bag without up-ending it and having half of france load their shit on top of it. The little beaureau area thing is a bit better if youv are early enough to get it.

hey chunks, you back in the country?

Not yet. Just left bourdeax or however you spell it

Not out tonight. Don't get in until later anyway.

Bordeaux.

Lovely place!

Friends and I are using the Eurostar in August to get to and from Brussels with bikes. I was planning to take off the wheels (both on QR skewers), stick a bungee round it and put a bin bag over it to stop oil getting everywhere.

A big laundry bag seems like a sound Idea but, I don't fancy riding through europe with it as luggage.

if it fits in a sleepingbag it will be fine too

wot... my bike?

:/

as so simple as a giant laundry bag...thx for the tip

I'm going to use one of these. I'll let you all know how it goes.

Isn't that a bit large?

i just caught the train to Marseille and back, with my bike in one of these: http://www.parker-international.co.uk/5/Ambrosio-Padded-Bike-Bag.html

just took the pedals and wheels off, and rotated the handlebars so I could turn them side-on, dropped the saddle down a bit.

getting it on the eurostar outbound was a bit of a pain, they had to put it in a little side room bit, but the return trip was easier (slightly different carriage configuration with more luggage space). had no trouble on the TGV either, there was plenty of room for it.

the real pain in the arse was having to carry a hiking pack with tent, clothes, sleeping bag etc and the bike bag on a connecting Paris RER train from Gare de Nord to Gare de Lyon (where the train to Marseille departs). I had about 20 minutes to do so and was basically running through the stations and up and down stairs/escalators carrying all this heavy and bulky stuff, which wasn't much fun, but I HTFUed. if not for this little connection hassle it would've been absolutely fine.

just a thought- ferry?

ferry is a bit slow, innit. also not as easy to get to as King's Cross.

'suppose- I am in Cornwall anyway so its all boats round here

@badtmy - next time change at Lille. You go up an escalator, wait a few minutes, then down another escalator. It really does cut out the hassle of dashing across Paris.

There's regular trains from Lille to Marseille, using the TGV Mediteranée line (spelt wrong I'm sure).

Paris Metro sucks when you're carrying a shitload of bike and related kit.. a bike bag with wheels is definitely recommended.. and they had no luggage gates and no one watching them to open the locked gate. My bike with pedals still on only just fit. Don't get your courier bag stick in the auto closing gates - take it off and carry it in front of you! Also, getting on at Paris and heading to Toulouse on TGV, people will put their crap on top of your bike if it's in the racks. Basically carrying a bike around sounds but riding it around makes up for the hassle. Eurostar top rack = fine.

@ tommy (a while ago) i paid 25, i rode to paris and came back on the train smart ass.

Taking my bike on the eurostar and tgv down to lille then onto montbard next weekend. Then a brisk 30miles to the lovely village of missary over hill and dale. At night :)
Tickets sorted with bike going whole, sod saving 20 to have to take it apart and bag it up. That and a royal mail bag should do me proud i reckon. Apparently the change at lille only involves crossing from one side of the platform to the other so no escalator madness hopefully.
Will hopefully be a fairly hassle-free undertaking despite my lack of french, will report back on the off chance anyone cares ;)

Isn't that a bit large?

I was planning to take both wheels off and throw a bungee round it.

But... I lied. And I'm now borrowing one of these instead.

:0

Taking my bike on the eurostar and tgv down to lille then onto montbard next weekend. Then a brisk 30miles to the lovely village of missary over hill and dale. At night :)
Tickets sorted with bike going whole, sod saving 20 to have to take it apart and bag it up. That and a royal mail bag should do me proud i reckon. Apparently the change at lille only involves crossing from one side of the platform to the other so no escalator madness hopefully.
Will hopefully be a fairly hassle-free undertaking despite my lack of french, will report back on the off chance anyone cares ;)

You booked your bike on the 2nd leg also?