Simon_m
Guru
Here is my story, it may help others who plan to do the same thing. Note that in the summer, Eurostar goes direct to the south of France from London (apparently).
So, I wanted to go somewhere warm/hot over Easter. Thursday morning through to Tuesday night. Flights were expensive due to airlines and holiday companies putting prices up for school holidays. No kids so it was even more of a pain.. So I tried to find the cheapest way by train to get to the South of France for some sun while taking the bike in a large rigid bike box.
Thursday 24 March, Eurostar first train out at 05:40 - 09.17, returning on Tuesday 29 March 21.01 - 22.9 at a cost of £237 for two people. I booked the bike in to euro dispatch. That cost £30 each way, it's part of Eurostar. That is a booked guaranteed place on the train. You can just turn up and risk it if you want, which will work. As I was busy all week I dropped the bike off on the Monday morning. Easy. No problem at all. The bike was in Paris the same day. It could have traveled on my train but what's the point.
(not my pic)
(not my pic)
The sncf TGV to Aix was a bit more problematic. I rang them up to check if I needed to book the bike on the train. They said I didn't and this was confirmed by the website too. So this cost £139 for two and the times were 10.37 - 13.44. If I booked earlier then 1st class would not have cost much more.
Thursday and Eurostar left on time but was 50 mins late getting in to Paris due to people on the track trying to get to England! This messed up the connection time, plus Paris rush hour was worse than normal due to security problems. At Paris Nord you have to go and pick the bike up from the holding are, which is kinda easy to get to but hard to find as no big signs saying where and what it is. The guy was confused that the box was not on our train but an earlier one in the week. No problem though. Euro dispatch London said you can leave it at their office for two weeks.
(blury pic sorry)
Trying to get a taxi to get the box on was a nightmare and had to wait for ages too. So, once across Paris and at Lyon ,the sncf customer service were good. They put us on the next train at o extra cost. (When I made the initial booking there was enough time to get across Paris plus the next train cost more). Next problem, the train was full. Very busy! I thought maybe the box would go in the guards cabin but no. Dam. It had to go in general luggage. Full train, no room, no seats. Waited and bumbled our way in to first class. Only place with seats
)) so, the box sat in the isle and we got some first class seats. Btw, earlier you book, you can get first class at not much more.
At Aix train station there is a cheap shuttle bus to the city bus station. Threw bags and box in back. Easy. Then we had to get a taxi to the apartment, again hard work trying to get the box in the back of the car.
The rides were amazing, challenging but worth the hassle. Weather was fantastic except for Easter Sunday. Drizzle in the afternoon. So temps were high teens to low 20s. Great for riding. Lots of cyclists about but noticed that the local weekday guys were more friendly and would wave or say hello, compared to the weekend warriors. Looked like some proper fit pro or pro types out there too. The roads were not too bad although one route had trucks running pretty close by so I went off back on to the D roads. It was a bit windy though with the mistrial winds. Grrr. Great riding, lovely and warm while England had crappy weather.
Getting back to Paris, well again the train was busy. Booked seats but the luggage areas are small. Managed to beat the French and after some shuffling the bike box get a space. Phew. Taxi from station to station. Same problems as before with the size. Eurostar station was closed because of security alert but opened just as we got there. Perfect. Bike taken to depot.
The French at Paris nord said that I could pick up the box on the London platform, but when I got there and tried, I was not allowed due to custums. I was not too bothered, glad it made it one piece. So had to go back to the office. Bike stand in area to use to reassemble bike which is good if you need to.
On the new Eurostar trains there seems to be room for bike box in luggage rack.
Cost too much to get to Spain mainland or islands or lanzergrotty so getting to the south of France was the next best option. Do it again? Not on my own for sure. I would do it again if I could book a space on the sncf TGV. With Eurostar going all the way, and if you can still book a confirmed space, the. Yes!
Ride1:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1098293854
Ride 2:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1099385537
Ride 3, .fit file corrupt. anyone help?
So, I wanted to go somewhere warm/hot over Easter. Thursday morning through to Tuesday night. Flights were expensive due to airlines and holiday companies putting prices up for school holidays. No kids so it was even more of a pain.. So I tried to find the cheapest way by train to get to the South of France for some sun while taking the bike in a large rigid bike box.
Thursday 24 March, Eurostar first train out at 05:40 - 09.17, returning on Tuesday 29 March 21.01 - 22.9 at a cost of £237 for two people. I booked the bike in to euro dispatch. That cost £30 each way, it's part of Eurostar. That is a booked guaranteed place on the train. You can just turn up and risk it if you want, which will work. As I was busy all week I dropped the bike off on the Monday morning. Easy. No problem at all. The bike was in Paris the same day. It could have traveled on my train but what's the point.
(not my pic)
(not my pic)
The sncf TGV to Aix was a bit more problematic. I rang them up to check if I needed to book the bike on the train. They said I didn't and this was confirmed by the website too. So this cost £139 for two and the times were 10.37 - 13.44. If I booked earlier then 1st class would not have cost much more.
Thursday and Eurostar left on time but was 50 mins late getting in to Paris due to people on the track trying to get to England! This messed up the connection time, plus Paris rush hour was worse than normal due to security problems. At Paris Nord you have to go and pick the bike up from the holding are, which is kinda easy to get to but hard to find as no big signs saying where and what it is. The guy was confused that the box was not on our train but an earlier one in the week. No problem though. Euro dispatch London said you can leave it at their office for two weeks.
(blury pic sorry)Trying to get a taxi to get the box on was a nightmare and had to wait for ages too. So, once across Paris and at Lyon ,the sncf customer service were good. They put us on the next train at o extra cost. (When I made the initial booking there was enough time to get across Paris plus the next train cost more). Next problem, the train was full. Very busy! I thought maybe the box would go in the guards cabin but no. Dam. It had to go in general luggage. Full train, no room, no seats. Waited and bumbled our way in to first class. Only place with seats
)) so, the box sat in the isle and we got some first class seats. Btw, earlier you book, you can get first class at not much more.At Aix train station there is a cheap shuttle bus to the city bus station. Threw bags and box in back. Easy. Then we had to get a taxi to the apartment, again hard work trying to get the box in the back of the car.
The rides were amazing, challenging but worth the hassle. Weather was fantastic except for Easter Sunday. Drizzle in the afternoon. So temps were high teens to low 20s. Great for riding. Lots of cyclists about but noticed that the local weekday guys were more friendly and would wave or say hello, compared to the weekend warriors. Looked like some proper fit pro or pro types out there too. The roads were not too bad although one route had trucks running pretty close by so I went off back on to the D roads. It was a bit windy though with the mistrial winds. Grrr. Great riding, lovely and warm while England had crappy weather.
Getting back to Paris, well again the train was busy. Booked seats but the luggage areas are small. Managed to beat the French and after some shuffling the bike box get a space. Phew. Taxi from station to station. Same problems as before with the size. Eurostar station was closed because of security alert but opened just as we got there. Perfect. Bike taken to depot.
The French at Paris nord said that I could pick up the box on the London platform, but when I got there and tried, I was not allowed due to custums. I was not too bothered, glad it made it one piece. So had to go back to the office. Bike stand in area to use to reassemble bike which is good if you need to.
On the new Eurostar trains there seems to be room for bike box in luggage rack.
Cost too much to get to Spain mainland or islands or lanzergrotty so getting to the south of France was the next best option. Do it again? Not on my own for sure. I would do it again if I could book a space on the sncf TGV. With Eurostar going all the way, and if you can still book a confirmed space, the. Yes!
Ride1:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1098293854
Ride 2:
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1099385537
Ride 3, .fit file corrupt. anyone help?
Last edited:
but it is a couple of years since I last sampled the delights of French roads and driver courtesy
