'Cycle-train commuters share their rail tales', from the Guardian (27/10/2009)

[whole diary]

[tramway]

Either 'fold' or 'book' end of.

It isn't that difficult.

Held up a train at Trowbridge many years ago as I cycle tour in Brittany, always booked when you had to, guard tried to prevent me from boarding having let too many casual bikes on. He wasn't moving the train with my bike halfway through the door and I would have liked to have seen the outcome if I had missed the ferry at Portsmouth due to his stupidity, or he had tried to call the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police).

[Btline]

Either 'fold' or 'book' end of.

It isn't that difficult.

Held up a train at Trowbridge many years ago as I cycle tour in Brittany, always booked when you had to, guard tried to prevent me from boarding having let too many casual bikes on. He wasn't moving the train with my bike halfway through the door and I would have liked to have seen the outcome if I had missed the ferry at Portsmouth due to his stupidity, or he had tried to call the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police).

So you had booked, and he had let someone else take your space? What happened?

[JayMac]

Either 'fold' or 'book' end of.

During the much publicised problems on the former Wessex services around Bristol in 2005/06 passengers had to have 'folding' capabilities themselves to get on certain trains!!

[bleeder4]

I do think cyclists using the train have a hard time in this country. Having recently been round Europe by train, it's an absolute joy to take the bike on a train abroad. The image I've attached is of one the dedicated bike compartments on a train in Germany (one at the front and one at the back).

Edit : I've just found the page at http://www.atob.org.uk/Bike_Rail.html which aptly highlights what a hassle it is to take a bike on a train.

[JayMac]

Edit : I've just found the page at http://www.atob.org.uk/Bike_Rail.html which aptly highlights what a hassle it is to take a bike on a train.

What an excellent find bleeder4!! Perusing that webpage has put a big smile on my face. Integrated transport: Pah!

[tramway]

Either 'fold' or 'book' end of.

It isn't that difficult.

Held up a train at Trowbridge many years ago as I cycle tour in Brittany, always booked when you had to, guard tried to prevent me from boarding having let too many casual bikes on. He wasn't moving the train with my bike halfway through the door and I would have liked to have seen the outcome if I had missed the ferry at Portsmouth due to his stupidity, or he had tried to call the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police).

So you had booked, and he had let someone else take your space? What happened?

Several others in fact, the train was full of em which was what annoyed me the most as he should have been aware that there was another bike joining, which threw him completely as he knew he was already over allocation. I called his bluff as he was obviously not prepared to put those off who obviously hadn't booked and does he delay the train while I'm a legit booked bike trying to board blocking the door then call BTP. I finally squeezed on. Completely refused to acknowledge me when checking tickets later.

[Chris from Nailsea]

News of an award for Brompton: see http://www.bikeradar.com/commuting/news/article/brompton-inventor-wins-award-for-lifetime-contribution-to-design-23630 

[Mookiemoo]

Either 'fold' or 'book' end of.

Seriously explain how this works........

You work in the real world - i.e. you dont clock off at the same time every day.  I do project work - sometimes I can get out at 2pm, sometimes I'm still in the office at 8pm!  But lets remove the extremes.

On any gig, I can be on (Paddington Timings) the 1722, 1751, 1822 or 1922 to WOS^» (Worcester Shrub Hill - next trains).  I am not allowed to reserve all four trains - I did try once.  Most of the week I will be on the 1751 but twice this week I was on the 1722 twice and once on the 1822 - and that was not predictable in advance.

The official connection for my journey is 7 minutes - look up the connection to Crowthorne off the 0535 WOS to PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains).  If I had to stow my bike in A - bearing in mind I travel in G - I would seriously struggle to make it since it fairly rare you get in early.

My bike folds but is not a Brompton - its about 2 inches too big to fit in the luggage rack - however I would not want to cycle a brompton on a canal, on rough terrain etc (I have an S brompton in the garage - I decided I wanted a proper bike when cycling uxbridge to paddington - 16 miles).  I'm lucky enough to be able to afford a first ticket and therefore have an unofficial understanding to stow it in the disabled space in G.  (Swansea guard knob end excepted)

Maybe I should drive every day WOS ro Reading - I'm trying to limit my foot print! 

And no I cant move - in the last five years I've worked in:

Tottenham Court Road
Nottingham
Manchester
Uxbridge
Swindon
Rugby
Solihull
Uxbridge
Stafford
Oxford
Putney
Reading
Belfast
Datchet
Crowthorne

Typically contracts are 3 months with renewals - do you move house every time?  I tried leaving a bike at paddington - it got done over.  Same at oxford.

Ah - the solution - go to work on Monday - live in a god forsaken B&B all week or hotel, never see the house, the cats or him indoors - go home on friday - and spend more than a monthly season ticket costs in the process......OR - have two cars!!!!!!!!!  Leave a banger at the other end..............OR....Spend and extra ^20 per day (on average) in taxis.

So - tell me - those who think cycles are the devils works - give me a solution - I think my semi folding mountain bike is a nice compromise

(Got off soap box now but this really irritates me)

[Chris from Nailsea]

Just a couple of points from me, if I may? 

- Sometimes, I despair of the chump who started this topic;

- I can't see any justification for taking a soap box on a train.

C.

[tramway]

Either 'fold' or 'book' end of.

 I think my semi folding mountain bike is a nice compromise

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.

I nearly wet myself.....

I've cycle camped with the Brompton from Hereford to Bristol.