Looking for tips and recommendations for carrying a bicycle as compact luggage to meet train requirements to be able to ride to / from stations. Things to look out for when considering buying one – light and packable is the aim. Durability or protection not important.
Im in UK and just got back from France, not cycling. Compare to UK, train experience was excellent with lots of luggage space for our airline size carry on suitcases. Roads are excellent too.
You have to book to take a complete bike aboard and to avoid the fee and faff, one can simply pack the in bag no larger than 120cm x 90cm (r1) and your bike can be stoweed as normal luggage. On our train a cyclist did this and was putting both wheels back on at the platform. That bag is basically a whin nylon sack to be light and carried and put on a shelf on a train – no expectation of any protection, wheels to roll etc.
In UK the rules are bags must not exceed 100cm. I don't know how strict they are for being slightly over buy my road bike, with wheels off is just under 100cm. A bag would probably put me over 5cm ish.
I don't bike pack ! The longest I have ridden in a single ride is 110 miles. I'm in London and have friends in North Wales and Edinburgh and like the idea of cycling there with a a lightly packed frame and saddle bag and credit card BnB stops. (my bike is a road race bike, aggressive geometry and no rack mounts. While I can spend a day on it, Im of an age where I know I would appreciate a soft bed and hot shower over a tent, even on a campsite)
I'm quite sure I would want to get the train home. Then of course, London to Paris is a popular ride and easy home on Eurostar and opens up lots of France.
Some examples of what I googled below. I'm visiting China soon so will probably pick up some new kit there and possibly a bike bag so useful to have things in mind.
reference
1). https://www.freewheelingfrance.com/planning-a-trip/bikes-and-french-trains.html
2) pocket bike cover
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/SciCon/Pocket-Bike-Bag/1QMD
3) Decathlon train cover
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/light-compact-bikepacking-bike-bag/_/R-p-343214
by Oli99uk
2 Comments
Sorry – I see the group description is for off road and camping – two things I am not doing. I will post elsewhere now.
You really only need to book slots on TGV trains, Ter or similar trains you can usually just turn up with your bike and put it in the racks, no need to book in advance.
The only time you might run out of luck is absolute peak summer, so like the first 2 weeks of august, otherwise ive never had issues getting a spot on the train.