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Hello All,
Trying to arrange a JOGLE for me and an American friend, and being reminded why I normally don't bother cycle touring in the UK; it's impossible and niggly to get anywhere, its expensive and it will probably be shit.
But anyway...the Caledonian sleeper up from London (or back again) is constantly booked for our dates either way with the bikes, and the courier drop off thing also doesn't really work for us.
Has anyone ever put their bike in a box, and carried the bikes on as luggage? Is there a firm rule about this? We will have our own cabin, so I don't see a particularly problem in finding space for the boxes.
I have also always fancied myself as a bike smuggler and a low level anarchist, so will probably enjoy the pleasure of the process.
Seeing the size of suitcases idiots seem to park in the bike spots on my local train i wouldnt have thought you would have an issue so long as they phyiscally fit in your cabin.
Joe, I work for a company that specialises in bike transport for folk doing LEJOG / JOGLE.
We do get a few folk each year using the Sleeper and their bike transport service to get to Inverness, but not many. Other options would be flying to Inverness or just get in touch with us and see if we can help you out.
http://www.johnogroatsbiketransport.co.uk/
I'll take a look.
I used scotroutes services when I did lejog. Highly recommended.
Have you seen the size of the compartments and corridors on the Sleeper? Not sure you'd even fit a bike box along the corridor let alone into the cabin.
No chance you'd fit 2 bikes in a cabin for 2. Only possibility is book 2 first class cabins with an interconnecting door.
If you're going for the sleeper seats rather than a compartment it should be fine for baggage but your night will be uncomfortable and mostly sleepless.
We will have our own cabin, so I don't see a particularly problem in finding space for the boxes.
Not been on it before then 😀
[quote=5thElefant ]I used scotroutes services when I did lejog. Highly recommended.
Glad you found it to your liking.
One word: Brompton.
One word: Brompton.
Yeah, sure it'd be ace doing a 1000 mile tour on one of those :-/
I was looking at doing LEJOG at some point this year. Based in Edinburgh and 11hr train down to Penzance is £225!! In comparison 8hr train from Wick back to here is £40. I might end up flying to Bristol or somewhere closer though obviously means hassle of boxing up bike (can't even take a bike bag unless I get it courierd back home). Might be easier to just cycle to lands end to start it!
I halved the cost of rail fair from Edinburgh to Penzance by splitting the journey at Exeter. (£200-ish down to £97 IIRC). I stopped at a B&B in Exeter too because that fitted in with my other plans better - but it still cost me less overall.
You won't fit it in the cabin! We used the sleeper to get to Inverness for Etape Loch Ness. Perhaps unsurprisingly a few others had the same idea. We'd booked our bikes on and had the reservation tickets to prove it, but only got on in Preston by which time there were already loads of bikes on board but the staff were really good about finding somewhere to stash them. Couldn't fault the service. I guess they may have been less helpful had they not been booked though.
[quote=simondbarnes ]
One word: Brompton.
Yeah, sure it'd be ace doing a 1000 mile tour on one of those :-/
I met a guy at Cape Wrath who had done an extended E2E on a Brompton. Still wouldn't be my first choice though!
I know it's a long drive but if you haven't booked your train yet have you looked at a one way hire car. My mates started their LEJOG (opposite way) with 1 way car hire to Penzance as it was way cheaper that 2 train tickets and they couldn't get a bike booking.
Have a great trip however you get there. Ol:-)
Yeah, sure it'd be ace doing a 1000 mile tour on one of those :-/
Met a guided group who had a member riding one of those. The guide looked suicidal.
I was looking at doing LEJOG at some point this year. Based in Edinburgh and 11hr train down to Penzance is £225!!
If that's not direct price up a ticket for each leg.
Met a guided group who had a member riding one of those. The guide looked suicidal.
Probably didn't help that the rider was stopping to blog every 5mins
There's also the Virgin East Coast train from London to Inverness, it usually has plenty bike spaces. Though maybe a less convenient time, would probably have to spend the night in Inverness.