Prudential Ride 100 prep.

[Deleted member 35268]

The Heathrow Express Train goes from Paddington for your return leg. They are used to people having alot of luggage, bike boxes etc.
Car also equals Congestion Charge.

 

[smutchin]

Alternatively, stick enough spare pants and socks for three days in some panniers and ride from Maidenhead to Tower Bridge.

 

[Globalti]

There's sticking to a budget and there's being unnecessarily tight. Sometimes it's better to cost a taxi or minibus into the equation; I've struggled with big cases on the Underground and the Paris Metro and will never do it again, the experience was a huge downer on the whole trip.

 

[vickster]

Booking a people carrier taxi through local Maidenhead cab firm will be the simplest if not cheapest option. Just call a couple of firms and explain your situation

Or can you unpack the bike and leave the bike box at left luggage at Heathrow if such exists?

 

[Deleted member 35268]

Heathrow Connect is much cheaper than Heathrow Express. My advice would be to avoid Heathrow Express if budget is a consideration.

I had no idea there were two services. Cool.

 

[mjr]

Heathrow Connect is much cheaper than Heathrow Express. My advice would be to avoid Heathrow Express if budget is a consideration.

It also stops more, so you can get to Maidenhead without going into central London, changing at Hayes and Harlington. Still £33.70 per person, which seems steep. https://traintimes.org.uk/heathrow+terminal+2/maidenhead/10:00/2017-07-25 - like @vickster says, a people carrier taxi or minicab booked from Maidenhead may be better.

The Bike Box Alan (92cm x 113cm x 32cm) may be great for flying but it's too big to take as standard luggage (30 x 70 x 90 cm) on UK trains, at least officially, but as long as you don't block aisles or used doorways, I'd doubt anyone would object - anyone tried in practice?

If you've nothing else to do, storing the box at the airport and one person taking the suitcase by train and circle line tube while the other cycles might be the nicest way to get everyone and everything to Tower Bridge area: NCR4 is one option and probably has some pretty bits and some rubbish in its 45 miles, although NCR61 and the A4 cycle track looks about 10 miles shorter. I suspect locals may know better routes.

Easiest might be to take the bike, unboxed, off-peak on a stopping train to Paddington, head for Hyde Park and then follow CS3 to the Tower Bridge area.

Or can you unpack the bike and leave the bike box at left luggage at Heathrow if such exists?

It exists but it ain't cheap: http://www.heathrow.com/airport-guide/terminal-facilities-and-services/left-baggage

 

[smutchin]

I once left the Brompton at Gatwick while I spent a week in Barcelona. Left luggage was more expensive than the flights on BA.

 

[vickster]

Car also equals Congestion Charge.

Not at the weekend

But there are a lot of closed roads in London that weekend for obvious reasons, including all around tower hill

 

[mjr]

I once left the Brompton at Gatwick while I spent a week in Barcelona. Left luggage was more expensive than the flights on BA.

https://www.toptiplondon.com/practical-tips/left-luggage suggests the self-storage places are often cheaper for more than day (between £8 and £22 for small lockers or units), but then you've the extra time spent getting to/from the airport or station and doing the contract/key-pick-up shuffles.

 

[jefmcg]

If you've nothing else to do, storing the box at the airport and one person taking the suitcase by train and circle line tube while the other cycles might be the nicest way to get everyone and everything to Tower Bridge area:

This is the best suggestion here. Remember they are going to Maidenhead first, so once you get away from the excitement that is Heathrow, it's a pretty nice cycle through the Thames Valley, through Runnymede, past Windsor Castle etc @ginormousgiant let me know if you want a route.

Coming into London, you could both get the train to Paddington, and then cycle/tube from there.