get a tandem back from John O Groats

[rogersavery]

any suggestions on how to get a tandem back from an unsupported trip to John O Groats

- £100 for boxing by lbc and couriering back

- Scotrail dont allow tandems

- Postoffice will on go to 1.5m (wheels removed frame is 1.6m)

The only solution I have found so far is cycle another 120miles back to inverness for one way car hire - which will be around £85

the additional 120 miles will take us to a nice round 1000 miles, but we are a bit short on time for the trip

Any other suggestions I have not thought of?

 

[darkstar]

Do you not know of anybody who can pick you up? Or how far away is the closest train station? Just book the bike on the train and off you go

 

[srw]

John O'Groats -> Orkney on the ferry.
Ride up to Kirkwall (and, if you're me, spend a few days going around the islands).
Kirkwall -> Aberdeen ferry.
Train from Aberdeen towards London (I forget which company, but one of them does take tandems).

Or buy a tandem with S&S couplers, but that'll cost you rather more than £85!

 

[rogersavery]

Do you not know of anybody who can pick you up? Or how far away is the closest train station? Just book the bike on the train and off you go

Scotrail don't allow tandems

it around 1000 mile round trip from home, so being picked up is not easy

 

[janner]

try the bike bike shop in Wick i believe they've helped people tin the past

 

[snorri]

You could try this guy

http://www.keissprivatehire.co.uk/

I have no connection with the business or experience of the service he provides, but he posted on here some time back offering his services. He could perhaps take you part of the way.

I spoke just recently to two LEJOGgers who had taken the bus from Wick to Inverness and had their bicycles in the underfloor luggage compartment. There would be plenty of room for a tandem in there I would think.
The company operating that service is Citylink or Stagecoach. http://www.citylink.co.uk/index.php
http://www.stagecoach.com/

 

[Greenbank]

- Postoffice will on go to 1.5m (wheels removed frame is 1.6m)

As someone pointed out somewhere else, a 1.6m frame will go diagonally into a box that's 1.5m by 1.2m by 0.3m

The Post Office will take a parcel with a maximum length of any one side of 1.5m, and height+width+depth adding up to under 3m.

The diagonal of a rectangle measuring 1.5m x 1.2m is 1.92m.