Mark W Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Right, at the end of June I'm going on a trip with 4 other people. We need to go by train, and as a result that means there's 5 bikes. However, this is complicated more by two people needing to take a mountain bike, a trailer, and a BMX, resulting in what's effectively a total of 9 bikes. We're booking the tickets more than 2 weeks in advance, and telling them about the bike situation, but I don't really know what they're going to say about it. Has anyone here got any experience with booking large groups of bikes onto a train? I know people have blagged just getting a shitload of bikes onto a train on the day, but we can't really afford to do that 'cos we really have to get on that particular train. Any help from anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duck Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 (edited) In my experience, they'll only let you have six bikes on a train at a time. For this its a good idea to reserve bike space, which you can do as long as you book tickets at least a day in advance. Only thing I can think of is putting a couple of the bikes in some bike bags (as seen on CRC) and sticking them in the normal luggage compartment? Edited June 3, 2008 by Quackers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BONGO Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 if you break the bikes down, they cease to be bikes and become luggage... Wheels off and zip tied to the side of the bike. Seat in bag. It's just a chunk of metal luggage. If you meet them half way by doing this, it's a slight ball ache but a problem solved. Bongo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simpson Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Fairly certain it depends on the individaul lines. I mean from here to london we have never had a problem with as many as 14 people with bikes, in 1 compartment without booking up. But as you know all the C2C trains have a bike compartment. What lines are you going to be traveling on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted June 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 It's from Euston to Liverpool going via Virgin (lol) trains. Then we've gotta do Hull to Kings Cross a few days later, which I'm pretty sure is NXEC (EDIT: National Express East Coast), whoever the f**k they are? I think the first train might be a gert big Intercity type, with the seperate van. IF that's the case, we're TNT. However, it might not be. We were thinking of taking bin bags with us and some tape and making ourselves shitty bike bags on the day. We can't take bike bags 'cos we've gotta ride 145 miles, so carrying our clothes, cameras, tools, etc. + a bike bag would be somewhat wanktabular. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbara Logan-Price Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 It's from Euston to Liverpool going via Virgin (lol) trains. Then we've gotta do Hull to Kings Cross a few days later, which I'm pretty sure is NXEC (EDIT: National Express East Coast), whoever the f**k they are? I think the first train might be a gert big Intercity type, with the seperate van. IF that's the case, we're TNT. However, it might not be. We were thinking of taking bin bags with us and some tape and making ourselves shitty bike bags on the day. We can't take bike bags 'cos we've gotta ride 145 miles, so carrying our clothes, cameras, tools, etc. + a bike bag would be somewhat wanktabular. take bike bag then post it home ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted June 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Key point being: We're coming back on a train, too. So posting it to my empty house, then having to come home and post it back to myself in Hull to get my bike back would be pretty awkward, not to mention expensive (Tickets are already over £30 for the whole journey, with a groupsave ticket + railcard)... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BONGO Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 so you're in liverpool for how long?? Where you going, who you meeting, what's your plans la?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted June 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Coming to Liverpool on the 25th of June, staying there for the day + night. Next day, riding to Manchester to do some street. Day after that, riding to Leeds to do some street. Day after that, riding to York to do some street. Day after that, riding to Hull to do a little bit of street (Time permitting), then getting the train home. I really wanna ride Hull, but the last train leaves at 5pm (SO GAY), so I'll probably not get to. Haven't really planned on meeting anyone other than Lorenzo Reid in Leeds and possibly Matty L and friends in Liverpool. You're welcome to bring yourself and whatever walking aid you need with you to come nibble some street/get loose though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thurston Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 It's from Euston to Liverpool going via Virgin (lol) trains. Then we've gotta do Hull to Kings Cross a few days later, which I'm pretty sure is NXEC (EDIT: National Express East Coast), whoever the f**k they are? I think the first train might be a gert big Intercity type, with the seperate van. IF that's the case, we're TNT. However, it might not be. We were thinking of taking bin bags with us and some tape and making ourselves shitty bike bags on the day. We can't take bike bags 'cos we've gotta ride 145 miles, so carrying our clothes, cameras, tools, etc. + a bike bag would be somewhat wanktabular. They have taken over from GNER which used to run that route and may others including one from where i live in Inverness all the way to London Kings Cross and back in one day, everyday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Harrison Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Ah yes, I remember you telling me about this plan, assuming it's the one for March, and you've put it back to June? Would be cool to see you, and Bongo in fact, as I haven't seen him for about a year. Maybe that's not a bad thing actually... Can't help with the trains, they suck. I used to get told I had to pre-book a slot for the bike, even when the train was empty. Back in the day they had (put on anorak) 'DVTs', or 'driving van trailers' on the trains, where I'm sure you could comfortably park two Triumph GT6's end to end (if they'd gone through the door), or many bikes and trailers and roadie bikes, drug stashes, clown suits, lobster pot collections, etc. You get the idea. That probably didn't help you much, thinking about it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basher Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 We squeezed 6 bikes into a 2 bike space. Just anoy and blag them as much as possible when your getting on but i think 9 might be abit of a push. Youd have to use all available space both ends of the train so split into 2 groups. But it can depend on the train. If its a train with like a shutter door thing then you may be able to get away with it. If its a train where you have to prop your bike by lifting a seat up then you will struggle i should think and id be suprised if you got 7 on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Manning Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Hi Mark, the Virgin train will only take 4 bikes, so you will need to take them apart, they will also need to be booked on. As for the NXEC, they have a compartment for the bikes at one end of the train, I'm not sure how many bikes they take, but you could easily get what you have on there. Again need to book all of the bikes on, as they wont let your bike on without it. With both trains, there isn't much if any space in the carriages for bikes as luggage, so will need to be put in the bike area. On both trains the bike compartment is at one end of the train. Help this has helped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny Kearns Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Well, when we went Leicester the other week. We had to change at Derby, We had reserved are bikes on the Derby to Leicester service/ By god, there really was no reason to. This bike comparment was absolutely massive, i would estimate, you'd EASILY get 30 bikes in it. Have no idea what kid of train/service it was. All i know is, it was the London St Pancrias train. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 I;m surprised no-one's put: I'm fed up of these motherf**king bikes on the train ^ I think they limit how many bikes you can take so that in the event of loads of people wanting to take bikes on a train on the same day to the same place (not likely) there's space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted June 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 I imagine the main cap of how many bikes they choose to put on is that, for example, with the trains where they have the fold-down seats in the bike bit, if they were permanent seats, then they could be filled with fee-paying passengers, rather than those freeloading bicycles. But yeah, we're gonna sort something out. I think I could get a BMX pretty small if it was packed up, my frame's frickin' tiny. If I took the forks 'n' stuff off too, it'd be really, really small, but easily assembled again. The joys of everything being sealed, press fit bearings, and only need a 6mm allenkey Cheers for all the answers from everyone, much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duck Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 Mph. Virgin tend to be wanktastic when it comes to bikes. Their trains are the ones where you have 3 hooks from the roof/ceiling at either end of the train. Got on one a few months ago with somebody running a pair of big arse maxxises, neither of which would fit over the hooks. The steward was giving us grief (i.e. I'm afraid you'll have to get off the train) but we just let the air out - job done. Point being, they are more strict than others about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*PHIL* Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 woahhh wait a second... you're gonna ride 145 miles on a trials bike? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted June 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 BMX* Quackers - yeah, I've had twats like that. One guy wasn't going to let me on 'cos I didn't have a seat or lights on my bike (It was 1pm, on a summers day), and that 'We don't allow competition bikes on our trains.' I basically stood in the doorway, waited for a second, then just said "So am I allowed on or not?". He seemed to sense from my agitated manner and "You're a f**k-knuckle" tone of voice that allowing me on would be the best bet, and so on I got. But yeah, we're gonna book 'em 'n' stuff, and hopefully be pretty smooth at the stations, so we'll see how it goes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.Wood Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 woahhh wait a second... you're gonna ride 145 miles on a trials bike? On a beeemexx. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*PHIL* Posted June 3, 2008 Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 thats still insane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted June 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2008 The longest straight bit of riding is 40.9 miles, and I've ridden 40 miles on my BMX in a day before, and stopped and rode a skatepark and 4 hours worth of street afterwards. It'll be coooooool. We're under virtually no pressure to be at any point at any time, apart from Liverpool on the first day and Hull before the last train leaves on the Sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Revolver Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 The longest straight bit of riding is 40.9 miles, and I've ridden 40 miles on my BMX in a day before Crazy guy. Well, have fun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bionic Balls Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 good luck! f**kin' nuts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ollie Histon Posted June 4, 2008 Report Share Posted June 4, 2008 I may let the local BMXers know of this visit to Hull, you can make new fwwwwieends! thats if you get to ride here at all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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