FNRttC Friday Night Ride to the Coast - Southend on Sea June 29th - the Genteel Ride

[User10571]

The train companies are celebrating the Olympics by banning bikes - Southern from trains to and from Brighton and Southeastern from their entire network.

Outstanding.

 

[dellzeqq]

Is this written anywhere, I can't find it.

Cycle Policy​

During the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games; Friday 27 July to Sunday 12 August and Wednesday 29 August to Sunday 9 September, we expect many of our services to be much busier.​

So during the London 2012 Games only compact folded cycles can be carried on our services into and out of London at all times. Conventional (non-folding) cycles may not be carried. ​

Please help us to ensure space on stations and trains is used in the most economical way by folding your bike before entering the station and keeping it folded for the journey.​

​

The cycle policy also applies to joint Southeastern and First Capital Connect services operating south of London Blackfriars (between London and Kent). This temporary restriction will be lifted once the Games period finishes.​

​

For more information on which stations are expected to be busier during the Games period, visit getaheadofthegames.com or speak to our customer services team on 0845 000 2222.​

​

​

The high volume of passengers we are
expecting during the 2012 Games means
that we cannot accommodate ordinary
cycles on some Southern services
during this time. This applies to all trains
travelling towards London, Kensington
(Olympia) or Brighton, and trains leaving
London, Kensington (Olympia) or
Brighton between 27 July - 9 Sept 2012.
On all other services, our usual Peak time
Cycle Policy remains in place. Folded cycles
are welcome on all trains at any time.

​

 

[rb58]

The train companies are celebrating the Olympics by banning bikes - Southern from trains to and from Brighton and Southeastern from their entire network.

My local coffee shop / deli in Bexley village has had a letter from the local council telling them deliveries to businesses in the village are now banned between certain hours until after the Olympics. We're not even close to an Olympic venue, and only just in Greater London. I sense the memories Londoners have from the event is not going to be the one organisers were hoping for. Like Dr Hutch in this week's CW, I too have Olympic fatigue and will be glad when the whole coporate sponsor fest is over.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

re: Brighton

LCC say First Capital Connect haven't introduced any extra restrictions (I'm inclined to think 'yet') on their services.

 

[dellzeqq]

that's my understanding too - but that's two trains an hour on Saturday morning, as opposed to six on Southern.

The Brighton ride is do-able. People can go on to Newhaven or Hove, and more of us can cycle back. Whitstable's another matter, and I think I'll probably bring Felpham forward to August and push Whitstable back to October. I discussed this with Faye at the Waterfront yesterday, and we agreed that the Olympics seems to be having quite a ripple.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

summary for the entire rail network here

 

[swansonj]

summary for the entire rail network here

I love my Brompton. But doesn't the branding of that leaflet just make you think Brompton are happily engaged in a conspiracy to drive non-folding bikes off the trains?

 

[dellzeqq]

I think you've got a point, John

 

[srw]

I disagree. It's in no-one's interest, least of all that of the TOCs, to drive all cyclists off trains. They buy tickets, they (usually) don't get in the way, there are a lot of them, they are more likely to be wealthy and influential.

The Brompton advert is just that - an advert. It's branding designed to remind cyclists there's a bike that can be taken on any train.

A friend at one of the TOCs rang us up to ask how long a tandem was. His new trains have room for a tandem once on board, but he wanted to find out whether he'd designed the trains well enough that you could board a tandem from both sides - specifically so that he could advertise tandem-accessible trains.

He decided to hire a tandem and take it to a test station and try it out himself. I haven't heard yet how he's got on.

 

[CharlieB]

Oh, dear, I've vanished, along with one of the Davy thighs.

 

[CharlieB]

Hoperfully HPC - but I understand that the road closures will go on for the duration of the Olympics. I'll take advice.

We're in a bit of bother for the August 3rd ride to Brighton and the August 31st ride to Whitstable. The train companies are celebrating the Olympics by banning bikes - Southern from trains to and from Brighton and Southeastern from their entire network.

But the HS1 from Faversham would be ok?

 

[dellzeqq]

But the HS1 from Faversham would be ok?

HS1 trainsets will be serving on the Javelin line.

 

[dellzeqq]

Lewes rather than Newhaven, via the A27 cycle path unless very brave, would give access to more trains coming from Eastbourne etc.

good point

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I love my Brompton. But doesn't the branding of that leaflet just make you think Brompton are happily engaged in a conspiracy to drive non-folding bikes off the trains?

I wouldn't mind if they were in respect of peak hour Southern services anyway, as then we might some B specific storage racks on the trains/stations and loose the it's down to the guard/barrier staff lottery that exists at present.

 

[TimO]

I'm up for doing this ride, since I think I'll be chickening out of the DunRun, due to a combination of lack of fitness this year, and a house visitor (who'll still get "here's the house, there's milk in the fridge, hot water in the kettle, I'll see you tomorrow morning" as I depart for this ride!).

I may do it on Vince, to slow me down a bit, and give me more pannier space for tools and whatnot.

(Vince = Heavy orange Decathlon single-speed bike, vs my normal FNRttC ride, Red = Carbon Fibre Planet-X speed beast).