FNRttC Friday Night Ride to the Coast - Cardiff to Swansea 20th May 2011

[frank9755]

Going there by car is one thing but coming home is not appealing!

 

[Aperitif]

Going there by car is one thing but coming home is not appealing!

Howzat, Frank?

 

[MarkA]

I'm on the 1927 from Portsmouth & Southsea, gets into Cardiff 2248.

I am joining this train in Fratton, having started in Worthing.

I am undecided about whether to bring the Brompton again or use the road bike this time. I have reservations for a bike so will probably go with the road bike.

Hope to see you on the train.

Mark

 

[frank9755]

Howzat, Frank?

Driving after 8 pints and 36 hours without sleep....

 

[PpPete]

I only offered a lift TO Cardiff....

 

[rich p]

I'm confused - easily achieved, I grant you.

Does this mean that I can't get a bike on the Brighton/Pompey/Cardiff route?

 

[rich p]

Yup, TMN, it's not an issue out of Brighton but I'm concerned that they may not be as relaxed at the Portsmouth change.

Shall we just take a punt?

 

[StuAff]

Yup, TMN, it's not an issue out of Brighton but I'm concerned that they may not be as relaxed at the Portsmouth change.

Shall we just take a punt?

The FGW ones on that route (which I've used quite a few times going to and from Southampton, Fareham, Newport) are Sprinters, which are usually just two or three carriages, and have little in the way of bike storage. Official capacity is two bikes, on the whole train (!), there are wall-mounted wheel racks for that number, but in practice you could get at least one more in there, if not two. Depends if the guard's going to be a jobsworth or not I think.

 

[theclaud]

Rats! no bike spaces on the Abergavenny to Cardiff, although Arriva did helpfully inform me there was space available for the return jouney - I can't go with a bike but I can come back with one!

It is a small train, but in my experience there are usually very few bikes attempting to travel on it. The reservations have probably been snaffled by our lot coming that way. In which case they are unlikely to fight you about squeezing on, so it's just a matter of getting a friendly guard and it not being packed to the gunwales. If you haven't booked a ticket yet give Adrian's advice a go and try East Coast online.

 

[mcshroom]

One of those reserved spaces will be mine

Southern or Chlitern also do bike reservations (and I think East Coast have added a £1 fee for posting tickets). Hopefully it shouldn't be too hard to get an extra bike on. We often shove far more than the stated two on the Northern Rail trains up here

 

[Aperitif]

Punts. I'll bet it's all about the current, see boyo.

Actually, you could "do a Frank" (Yep - another variation) and stow your bikes as "luggage" - eh Frank?

 

[threebikesmcginty]

If you haven't booked a ticket yet give Adrian's advice a go and try East Coast online.

Cheers tc, I'll try 'em tomorrow, I'm done with telephone menu systems for today!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

One of those reserved spaces will be mine

Budge up and let an athlete on at Aber then please.

 

[rich p]

So if we take a punt, how do we get to Cardiff - all the way round the coast from Portsmouth? Are you volunteering to do the punting Rich? I'm having nightmares about this ride now, I'm such a poor sailor. And with bikes to load and unload too, oh god ...

We'll need a pole too. Is Lech Walensa still alive?

 

[DrSquirrel]

Book it on line, they don't seem to do the sensible thing and cut off the reservations on line.

Bike reservations online? Is this just a FGW thing? Arriva iirc you need to call and th eonline booking sites I use don't give an option.