-
• #477
do we take it that you have been knocked back from them on occasion then?
-
• #478
I've tried to use the east coast site a few times and have had errors either telling me there are no bike spaces when there are, or it just wont let you go any further with the booking. This tends to be with the smaller trains that run at the weekend. It worked fine for last Saturday back from Bournemouth though, so worth trying.
I'm not sure what happens if you've got the bike booked on and the spaces are already taken, kick someone off??
-
• #479
if people are booking bikes on trains, it may be of some help for you to know the following.
all the different online companies, S/W etc etc go into the national rail booking system, this provides tickets
several of these sites however do not allow booking a bike space on the train you book the ticket for, South Eastern though(for one) definately have a button to click to book a bike space, which means that you should be covered when turning up to get trains.
note- not all trains have bike space on them, specially the more rural routes,
and to be a true bike rail integrator you need a foldy bike,
but this ^ should at least help when faced with jobsworthy staffThe lack of clarity from train companies re: train spaces really puts me off. I'd love to do a day-trip down to the New Forest this week, but the hassle if my bike gets refused at Brockenhurst puts me off too much.
-
• #480
this is the mental thing about it,
you can book tickets for any region or train, from any site, regardless of what is going on locally.
the guards on S/W are really relaxed about numbers, but that may just reflect S/W attitudes,
no chucking anyone off, theres always a way to get round it, were all brothers and sisters in the magical kingdom remember -
• #481
The lack of clarity from train companies re: train spaces really puts me off. I'd love to do a day-trip down to the New Forest this week, but the hassle if my bike gets refused at Brockenhurst puts me off too much.
I would be seriously seriously surprised if you had any difficulty with this at Brock,
the trains are 5 car units, with 2 carriages containing 3 x bike spaces each, (class444's) -
• #482
I would be seriously seriously surprised if you had any difficulty with this at Brock,
the trains are 5 car units, with 2 carriages containing 3 x bike spaces each, (class444's)That's a bit more reassuring. Why can''t the train company just put that on their website? :)
-
• #483
must be because like every system in modern life, there are 25 fuckwits between you and what you want to do
for ref:-
"We run a busy service and have limited space for cycles on our trains. If you are travelling Monday to Friday, we are unable to carry cycles at certain times of day.Cycles cannot be carried on any service bounded by Waterloo and Hook, Alton, Guildford, Reading and Dorking at the following times:
- Trains arriving into Waterloo from 0715 to 1000 inclusive
- Leaving Waterloo from 1645 to 1900 inclusive
- In addition, they cannot be carried on any service bounded by Clapham Junction and Feltham and Strawberry Hill (via Richmond) from 0745 to 0900.
These services are shown in red text in any of our timetables. We also have a map showing where and when cycles are restricted.
Outside this area, cycles can be carried at any time, subject to available space.
If you are travelling on our Waterloo to Salisbury/Exeter/Bristol services you will need a cycle reservation as space for is very limited. You can reserve a cycle space at any staffed station or through our Customer Service Centre at least 24 hours in advance of travel.
For the comfort and safety of our passengers, our staff have the right to refuse a cycle onto our trains if there is insufficient space."
-
• #484
I wouldnt want to call 'service centre'.............
quick story, then I ve gotta do some work,booked a 'bargain berth' ticket to Scotland,
called to reserve bike space (not possible online)
"no mate, sorry only 3 , and theyre booked,"
me-- o.k will find a way,
borrowed a heavy bike bag, chucked the bike in it,
turned up at Euston, there was 6 spaces in each section of the train!!!
guard was like "ah, nae bother pal, hic"
and 2 bikes in the one I put the bike bag into- didnt even need to take the bag, that fucked me right off, ah, can laugh about it now. -
• #485
All trains stop at Brockenhurst so there are fairly frequent services to Southampton for a connection to London. The SW trains have a decent amount of space, but the XC ones only fit 3 (bikes have to hang up so not v easy to get 3 in, let alone more) but you can fit bikes in the luggage rack behind the hanging bike spaces. I've used this when I had panniers that I couldn't be arsed to remove with no problems.
Most train staff are alright and understand you're just trying to get from A to B, and will help you if they can. It seems to be the people who work at the stations that are the arseholes.
-
• #486
Managed about 39 miles over about 4-5 hours around the Chilterns and then down to Henley and back to High Wycombe. This is good for me, furthest I've gone since getting the roadie, probablly the furthest I've ever gone on a bike.
-
• #487
Managed about 39 miles over about 4-5 hours around the Chilterns and then down to Henley and back to High Wycombe. This is good for me, furthest I've gone since getting the roadie, probablly the furthest I've ever gone on a bike.
Fantastic work, busseynova! Some tricky terrain around there.
Should be proud of yourself.
-
• #488
Cheers GL :D
-
• #489
I just got back from London to Paris, very well organised by Discover Adventure. I'd recommend them to everyone and the ride was fantastic. Full report here
http://londontoparis2010.wordpress.com/2010/09/06/london-to-paris-2010/
-
• #490
went out on the mtb with a couple of mates. was a bit sandy/dusty but a little light rain damped things down and made the trails even faster with loads of grip. took an hour to blow the cobwebs away then the mojo returned and the singletrack was ripped, berms were railed, cheese straws and cake eaten.
some overenthusiastic pumping over some bombholes resulted in sphincter tightening unplanned airtime but a soft landing was to be had and all was good with the world.
a local brewery owned beer shop was spotted on the way home but to stop and buy beer would have been too perfect so had to make do with catching the train back with 2 mins to spare.
the day was full of win. -
• #491
MrSmyth happy. Does not compute.
-
• #492
urban myth. my demeanor is usually jovial.
-
• #493
The cheese straws in Peaslake are very nice. We all wonded if we would see your jovial.
-
• #494
The cheese straws in Peaslake are very nice. We all wonded if we would see your jovial.
Is that a line from a cryptic crossword?
-
• #495
A gloomy commute this morning reminded me how nice my weekend ride was. I left central London at 4 on Friday afternoon and after a quick schlep through Bromley and a right turn before the M25, I was blissfully lost in Kent. Headed over Ide Hill and through Bough Beech towards Tonbridge and then to Paddock Wood. A beautiful perspective on commuter country (though diminished by a shitty phone-pic)
-
• #496
Nice shot from the top of Ide Hill looking at Bough Beech reservoir.
-
• #497
Imagine going to nursery near there.
-
• #498
midweekrides included here now too.
as the going gets tough the tough get going as Billy O would say,
doing weekly MTB rides in the Purbecks, Wareham, now to consolidate CTC qualifications and work towards next step,
fun couple of hours out tonight, riding the ridge above Corfe Castle,
dropping down a locally famous trail called Franks Tank, all sand and shale, rear end swishing about like a fish,keeping enough speed to get you through the beachy bits, all good. -
• #499
Lucky dog, Jason! I was on holiday around those part a couple of years back andkicked myself for not bringing bike. A dreamy beautiful place.
-
• #500
The lack of clarity from train companies re: train spaces really puts me off. I'd love to do a day-trip down to the New Forest this week, but the hassle if my bike gets refused at Brockenhurst puts me off too much.
you should have come with us on saturday. it was a really nice day.
On that note, East Coast trains will only allow you to take a bike if it has been booked on. The only good thing that they do is allow you to make a booking right up until the train pulls into the station. Make sure you get one because the jobsworths will refuse you your bike, even if there are unbooked spaces available.