Heathrow thread

[cosmicbike]

I find I'm not cycling as much now the tunnel is closed to cyclists.

The worst bit about the journey to work is getting the bus from the car park into the central area (and back out at the end of shift). Even if I cycle I still have to get this bus, so it's hardly worth it.

I think the number has dropped off as a result. I'm no longer based in the CTA so will resume commuting when my health issues are done and dusted. Some of my CTA based colleagues have continued to cycle, and rather than use the car parks, have parked at T4 or T5 (excellent cycle facilities at T5) and used the Heathrow Express to get to the CTA (which is free).

 

[Dayvo]

What happens if you do cycle through the tunnel?

You don't come out the other side.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I don't commute there, but have taken my Brompton on quite a few flights. It gets some quizzical looks, but no problems.

In the cabin?

 

[CopperBrompton]

In the cabin?

When flying business class, yes. I always ask to gate-check it, then when I get to the aircraft I ask the crew if they can find room for it on board, and they usually agree. It fits in the overhead lockers on the upper deck of 747s, and in the wardrobes on any wide-bodied aircraft.

When travelling pleb class, I use a Bikepod case and check it.

 

[Fab Foodie]

When flying business class, yes. I always ask to gate-check it, then when I get to the aircraft I ask the crew if they can find room for it on board, and they usually agree. It fits in the overhead lockers on the upper deck of 747s, and in the wardrobes on any wide-bodied aircraft.

When travelling pleb class, I use a Bikepod case and check it.

Mmmm, that's interesting. I looked into doing this some years ago and there wasn't really a suitable bike bag around then. This indeed looks a good solution.
Couple more questions.
What spec Brommie do you travel with?
How does the bag survive the hold treatment?
Most of my travel where I'd take this are EU and just a couple days. Checking would be preferred. Most of my customers are in places that have flat roadage except Toledo in Spain where it's up and down like a bride's nightie!
Do you have any special insurance for it?

 

[CopperBrompton]

What spec Brommie do you travel with?
How does the bag survive the hold treatment?
Most of my travel where I'd take this are EU and just a couple days. Checking would be preferred. Most of my customers are in places that have flat roadage except Toledo in Spain where it's up and down like a bride's nightie!
Do you have any special insurance for it?

I've done cabin baggage with a T5 and M3L. Current bike is a much-modified M3L which has so far only gone as hold baggage (sadly, my business class travel days are largely behind me save for occasional upgrades).

Bag - second time out, a baggage handler managed to try to lift it by the retracting roller handle and destroyed it:

But a shoulder strap fed through the main handle works just as well, so this wasn't a big deal.

The bike itself hasn't suffered any damage except a broken Garmin Virb mount, which I now remove before packing. Other than that, I just remove the hinges and deflate the tyres to 60psi. I also wrap the saddle in an old t-shirt, and put some folded cardboard in as crush protection:

 

[CopperBrompton]

It makes such a difference taking your own bike with you on a trip. Here's a recent lap of Stanley Park in Vancouver.

 

[3narf]

I often wonder with you guys, how long does it take you to get from the car / bike park to your actual place of work, what with security, the size of the place etc ? Are you 'clocked on' ages before you can get to the airfield?

PS I landed at T3 in a 777-300 last week, i should have waved

Hmm, was it one of my 777-300s, I wonder?

Journey from carpark takes about 10 mins, then its about 10 mins to get through security and into the office, where I have to put my hand in a biometric machine to prove I'm in on time. I can't be trusted without this; of course, I can be trusted with 100 million dollars worth of 777 and 300 passengers.

 

[3narf]

Quicker than i thought then!

American Airlines.

I trust the service was up to standard?

 

[Fab Foodie]

I've done cabin baggage with a T5 and M3L. Current bike is a much-modified M3L which has so far only gone as hold baggage (sadly, my business class travel days are largely behind me save for occasional upgrades).

Bag - second time out, a baggage handler managed to try to lift it by the retracting roller handle and destroyed it:

But a shoulder strap fed through the main handle works just as well, so this wasn't a big deal.

The bike itself hasn't suffered any damage except a broken Garmin Virb mount, which I now remove before packing. Other than that, I just remove the hinges and deflate the tyres to 60psi. I also wrap the saddle in an old t-shirt, and put some folded cardboard in as crush protection:

Thanks for the details! Hoping I get a decent bonus this year .... I've blown this years budget on the Rourke!

 

[Fab Foodie]

It makes such a difference taking your own bike with you on a trip. Here's a recent lap of Stanley Park in Vancouver.

How nice is that?

 

[CopperBrompton]

I loooove Vancouver

 

[3narf]

It's great; we hired a tandem there in 1995.

 

[3narf]

I'm coming from a different direction now I've moved campsites so I have to use the secure parking or cycle an extra mile on the perimeter road.

I've been starting at 5 this week and the TFL bus service is pretty poor at that time in the morning...

 

[Recycle]

Anyone else commute regularly to Heathrow?

Share your stories of daily discrimination here!

Yes, to the cargo section near T4. I have to use a bit of the south perimeter road, which is terrible but the rest of the commute is OK.