Best way to get my bike from Stuttgart to London?

[Kosong]

Its def not a Brompton!

I think the plan now is to find a coach that will let me take it on if i pack it down, as I can't get to Brussels in a day from my partners using local trains (bikes aren't allowed on ICE/fast trains!)

its turning out to be a real pain in the ass

 

[classic33]

Eurolines?

 

[alicat]

Ummm, if it's at your partner's could you just leave it there and use another bike when in the UK?

 

[T4tomo]

Box it up and freight it separately. Then travel hand luggage only by cheapest means to UK and be ready to receive your "parcel" later in the week ?

 

[Kosong]

Ummm, if it's at your partner's could you just leave it there and use another bike when in the UK?

i dont have another bike in the uk haha. and i'd still have to get it from his house at some point

 

[mjr]

i dont have another bike in the uk haha. and i'd still have to get it from his house at some point

Plenty of ways to get bikes in London. Some of them are even legal. Then ship the bike as a parcel.

 

[classic33]

Its def not a Brompton!

I think the plan now is to find a coach that will let me take it on if i pack it down, as I can't get to Brussels in a day from my partners using local trains (bikes aren't allowed on ICE/fast trains!)

its turning out to be a real pain in the ass

Check with your local office, with regards the bike. If possible, go to the coach station and ask one of the drivers.

Usually hidden away in the small print is the piece that says the driver has the final say on what may or may not be allowed to be carried on the coach.

 

[Kosong]

Plenty of ways to get bikes in London. Some of them are even legal. Then ship the bike as a parcel.

i don't live in london though

 

[Kosong]

Check with your local office, with regards the bike. If possible, go to the coach station and ask one of the drivers.

Usually hidden away in the small print is the piece that says the driver has the final say on what may or may not be allowed to be carried on the coach.

yea not going to be possible as im not in germany right now. am going to fire off more emails and try and get something in writing. will also get partner to fire off an email in german to the local german branch just in case

 

[classic33]

yea not going to be possible as im not in germany right now. am going to fire off more emails and try and get something in writing. will also get partner to fire off an email in german to the local german branch just in case

I've taken two, on Eurolines services to Ireland. (Not at the same time) Wheels off, handlebars turned and held in place. Both bikes were carried in a home made bikebag, with bubblewrap round the frame tubes. All sharp ends covered with tape. You'll be the one loading it, not the driver.

And a leave upright/leave nothing on top sign on both sides.

 

[Crankarm]

Some people make things so hard for themselves. You want to travel quickly, but are not prepared to pay. So you allow more time for your journey and travel more slowly, but more cheaply, but which you also are not prepared to do.

Why not just take local trains back to any of the Channel ports get a ferry to Blighty then catch train back home to where ever you are in the UK?

 

[T4tomo]

you could have had it posted home and collected by now

 

[Kosong]

Some people make things so hard for themselves. You want to travel quickly, but are not prepared to pay. So you allow more time for your journey and travel more slowly, but more cheaply, but which you also are not prepared to do.

Why not just take local trains back to any of the Channel ports get a ferry to Blighty then catch train back home to where ever you are in the UK?

No, I've already considered and looked into that in this thread...i can't get local trains to any of the channel ports in a day, and neither can i get a combo of local trains to even Brussels in a day to catch the last eurostar. Either option would involve me staying overnight somewhere which just adds more money onto the pile.

Flights are expensive - I have the time to travel overland and am up for this, but i can't take a bike on a high speed train in Germany. I can't get from my partners house on local trains to Brussels in time to catch the last eurostar - its over 12 hours! - so i'd have to pay for accom in brussels, which is also expensive. Plus, i also found out that my flight into Heathrow using a C2C bike bag would mean i couldn't even take my bike by tube to my mums in London, as its the polar opposite side of the city from the airport and im not allowed bikes on the deep tunnel parts of the tube system.

I've found a coach service that will allow me to bring my bike packed down into a bag, and even with the cost of buying a soft bag, the train to the city and the coach is still cheaper than train/eurostar or plane. It's about a 20 hour door to door trip but i would much rather save money for the tour itself. not everyone has the luxury to just drop £100's here and there when you can simply ask online and find ideas of how to cut corners and make bike touring affordable for all people of all budgets. this is the first time ive had to take my bike on public transport and most people on here have been great in helping me to find ideas and solutions, so thanks all and hopefully, perhaps this thread will be a source of info for others too.

Plus, now i have a bike bag I am happy to use on trains or coaches (seeing as i can load it with nothing on top in the hold) it will be super cheap to tour - the coach network in Europe is great and super cheap so its a good investment for future tours!

The only hurdle that remains is getting the not very lightweight soft case to my partners house