2011-06-20 - Rolling to the Stones - Destination Avebury

Just thinking about dicks... and maybe possibly coming on this ride.

Means he wants to cone along, and we're meant to encourage him.

Sam only come if you bring body paint.

I just got the Tuesday off, booked on the Pewsey 0625 and got a bike reservation. Maiden ride for the new build as well, can't fricking wait!

Bike has ticket as well now; I like.

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On the peak trains they only allow 6 bikes on apparently, so gotta get in there quick.

Or just go back later... yawn

^^ Think this may be an issue for me. I would need to be on the 06:25 Pewsey for work, but fear jobsworth involvement even with a bike res.

I will contemplate and revert.

just ride back big man.

Or come with me on the 0628 from swindon. I promise not to touch you

i'm out. not allowed to cycle "full throttle" for another 2 weeks... still on gears at the moment too. having a little love affair with my colnago - i had been neglecting her...

1. skive
   
2. bobbydazzle
   
3. 
   
4. fussballclub
   
5. laner
   
6. 105champ
   
7. Skully
   
8. Stonehedge
   
9. Drop the Druid
   
10. richoking
    
11. ashleyisdabest
    
12. jedininja
    
13. youramericanpagan
    
14. blue fleet
    
15. danns
    
16. Branwen
    
17. CTML
    
18. spybot
    
19. Fox
    

shame joe.

catch you soon.

lets knock heads together on a date for that night run.

oh shitbags. Being a edit-mouse-for-hire has it's disadvantages...

Got a job just booked on Tuesday, looks like I'm gonna miss this... Shame! What A Fucking Pisser.

1. skive
   
2. bobbydazzle
   
3. 
   
4. 
   
5. laner
   
6. 105champ
   
7. 
   
8. Stonehedge
   
9. Drop the Druid
   
10. richoking
    
11. ashleyisdabest
    
12. jedininja
    
13. youramericanpagan
    
14. blue fleet
    
15. danns
    
16. Branwen
    
17. CTML
    
18. spybot
    
19. Fox
    

checks weather forecast

Urgh. Must. Resist. Urge. To. Fill. #3. Slot...

1. skive
   
2. bobbydazzle
   
3. Rod Munch
   
4. 
   
5. laner
   
6. 105champ
   
7. 
   
8. Stonehedge
   
9. Drop the Druid
   
10. richoking
    
11. ashleyisdabest
    
12. jedininja
    
13. youramericanpagan
    
14. blue fleet
    
15. danns
    
16. Branwen
    
17. CTML
    
18. spybot
    
19. Fox
    
    

On the peak trains they only allow 6 bikes on apparently, so gotta get in there quick.

This could be an issue, as when I booked the tickets for superjoe, spybot and me it never asked me about bike bookings. I did wonder why. Our advance tickets are booked now though, so we'll just have to hope (and make a fuss when we get there if necessary, because it never even asked me about bikes).

I didnt ask me about bikes either, you have to phone ahead.

I've been able to book bike spaces online before, you should be able to do this as the facility exists within the national reservation system. I've just called and there are no spaces left on the 6.25 train.

FGW's website says 'We suggest that you reserve your bike space when you buy your train ticket'. So I am about to call their web sales support and ask them what exactly I'm meant to do now. FFS...

I'm writing this down here because I need to make notes somewhere so I might as well share/rant...

FGW told me I'd need to amend my tickets to a different train with bike spaces available, fine, let's do it. So I call 08445565605 which is the number you ring to do that. But they can't tell you if a given train has bike spaces.

Instead you have to ring a different department (the 'after sales' department) to do this. But they say, ring our customer relations team on 08456 024 304 and press option 4 and they'll sort it out for you. This puts me through to the (UK based) customer services team, who say we can't book cycle spaces, you need to call the after sales department to do that, then the web support team to change the tickets you bought online. So they put me through to the after sales department, who, like the web support team are very far away - no problem with this at all but they tend to have less authority. And the bike reservation system is down - please ring us back in a few hours Sir.

Yes, because it's not like I want to do anything with my Saturday afternoon except go round in circles talking to different departments of FGW is it?

FML.

The other point I have been consistently making is why should I pay £10 to amend the booking when it doesn't say anywhere in your online booking process not to book if you're travelling with bikes. Plus their own advice on travelling with a bike doesn't say this either. Also the reason you have to ring up (on an 084X number, which is making them money) to book a space is because FGW don't do online cycle reservations, despite the fact other train operators can.

GRRR.

Bunch of tools.

I'm gutted I'm not coming. Again. New client, that I'm keen to work for - there's no way I'm going to be back in time. Come to that I wouldn't lock the bike outside all day anyway, I have no idea what the racks are like at White City. Fail.

^ I'll do it. Say I'm you. ; )

really?!? ha!

It's a promo, you could do it in your sleep...

you can always take the wheels off your bike.
take a black bin bag.
bag it all up, board train.

a hassle but its no longer a bike.

we had to dismantle a couple of bikes last year and got on no trouble.

I think this may have to happen. At least we know in advance.

Fuckers want £30 for amending the booking. I got the train up down and up again from Penzance the other week (I managed to get a booking for that one) and at intermediate stations you only have a minute to get your bike in the space and on the train. So I am wondering if they'd actually stop you. The space easily takes more than six bikes. CTC Cornwall say:

First Great Western runs Class 43 (also known as HST and formerly Intercity 125) trains from London to Penzance. Some services run through Bristol but most take the shorter route from Reading to Taunton. There are reservations for six cycle spaces on these trains and more can be accommodated if the train manager is especially cooperative and the space isn’t filled with other things.

This is also worth knowing:

There are also cycle racks in at least one of the two power cars on First Great Western HST trains. These were fitted a few years ago to be used regularly in certain circumstances but are now only used at the discretion of the train manager. You can’t load a bike into these spaces without help from train staff as the door to the powercar is locked.

1. skive
   
2. bobbydazzle
   
3. Rod Munch
   
4. FixedCheese
   
5. laner
   
6. 105champ
   
7. 
   
8. Stonehedge
   
9. Drop the Druid
   
10. richoking
    
11. ashleyisdabest
    
12. jedininja
    
13. youramericanpagan
    
14. blue fleet
    
15. danns
    
16. Branwen
    
17. CTML
    
18. spybot
    
19. Fox
    
    

Fuck it, I'm in at number 4. I'll be riding fixed on 69", sound ok for this? Longest ride I've done to date was a few weeks ago to Mersea Island, about 64 miles, so I've gotta do this if I'm riding the Dynamo this year. I've made no plans for travel back, just gonna wing it and let the Gods decide. Only thing I could do with is a waterproof jacket, anyone got a spare?