Travelling to Provence

[rich p]

I had intended to use the European Bike Express bus to get there this summer but the dates are unsuitable. It would mean either going for 24 days or 13 days (too long and too short).
The alternatives are driving, (expensive and tiring) and impose a circular route.

Eurostar to Avignon - I don't know how practical that is for 2 loaded tourers and I have to travel to Ashford.

Fly from my local airport to Lyon and back from Toulouse - £100 return

I didn't really want to fly but the practicalities and economics are forcing down that path.

Any thoughts?

 

[slowmotion]

I don't know about the possibility of taking bikes on Eurostar, but if you can, that rail trip is great fun, (unlike air travel) and not a whole lot slower than the plane because you dodge all the security stuff at airports.

The Man in Seat 61 might have some information on bikes, but I'm not sure...
http://www.seat61.com/

 

[rich p]

Eurostar would be good but I seem to recall people on here saying that it's not simple.

 

[slowmotion]

These is some stuff here...

http://www.seat61.com/bike-by-train.htm

 

[rich p]

These is some stuff here...

http://www.seat61.com/bike-by-train.htm

Thanks, SM, it only gives info on Eurostar to Paris. Possibly the same rules apply on other routes.

It seems that Eurostar runs to Avignon from July 10th but it's not clear if bicycles can be pre-booked. The cost is £260 return.

 

[slowmotion]

Oh dear, I didn't realise that it cost that much. Sorry.

 

[andym]

Well if the fare hasn't put you off: according to the Eurostar website the facility to carry your bike with you on the same service is only available on the routes between London, Paris and Brussels - although it's not clear why, as presumably the whole fleet now has facilities for carrying bikes. You could try ringing 08705 850 850 to see if a real person has a wizard wheeze they can use.

It's more hassle, but you could also see if you could send by their registered baggage service - although that means an extra couple of trips to the station so it's a bit of a pain.

Another alternative is to go via Lille Europe. The change at Lille is very easy and there is then a direct train to the Avignon TGV station. Unfortunately there are only a couple of trains a day (well four if you don't mind arriving in the evening). This could be the cheaper alternative: cheapest return on Eursotar to Lille is £65 and a quick look around on the SNCF website suggests that you could get tickets for 52€ (or less), each way, if you book ahead.

The downside of this option is that you would need to put your bikes in bags.

 

[rich p]

Cheers for that, Andy. I'd prefer to travel by train but the obstacles seem too large sometimes, as is the price. If you factor in the cost of travelling to St Pancras and back twice, plus the bit of bother changing trains while lugging 4 panniers, a tent and a bagged bike and assisting Mrs rich p......

 

[rualexander]

How about taking the European Bike Express bus for your outward journey, then train or fly back? That way you get the advantage of knowing your bike will be with you and ready to ride away from your destination with no hassles.
Haven't done it myself but did consider it last year.

 

[andym]

Cheers for that, Andy. I'd prefer to travel by train but the obstacles seem too large sometimes, as is the price. If you factor in the cost of travelling to St Pancras and back twice, plus the bit of bother changing trains while lugging 4 panniers, a tent and a bagged bike and assisting Mrs rich p......

Yep and i guess Ashford (or is it Ebbsfleet) is no easier.

But (mainly for the benefit of anyone else considering that journey) changing trains at Lille is really pretty straightforward. Just grab a trolley and away you go. Minimal amount of faffing.

 

[rich p]

How about taking the European Bike Express bus for your outward journey, then train or fly back? That way you get the advantage of knowing your bike will be with you and ready to ride away from your destination with no hassles.
Haven't done it myself but did consider it last year.

Yes, that's a thought. It would cost me (us) an extra £160 but it has some advantages as you say.

 

[Domestique]

Sorry to hi-jack this thread, but what is actually involved with putting a bike in a so called bike bag?
Do you just need to cover the cycle, or do you need to remove pedals, turn handle bars etc

 

[andym]

Do you just need to cover the cycle, or do you need to remove pedals, turn handle bars etc

It depends. Some people put their bikes on planes in the CTC plastic bag which basically covers the whole fully-assembled bike (but even then I think they need to turn the handlebars and maybe remove the pedals). Most bike bags involve some degree of dismantling - either front wheel only or both wheels. If you're flying it makes sense to do a certain amount of dismantling to protect the bike; if you're on a train you will probably need to do it to get into the luggage racks.

 

[JackE]

I took my bike to Lille on the Eurostar last June for the first time. Also getting off there were 2 guys who were changing onto the Avignon train. They said it was so much easier to change at Lille than struggle across Paris with bikes in bags. They had (heavy) padded bags and were leaving them at some Hotel in Avignon for the 2 weeks. Our ultralight, home-made bags (which we carried) did the job just as well.

 

[slowmotion]

If I lived in Brighton, and could get a return flight from Gatwick, it looks like the flight option seems extremely attractive compared to all others. When I suggested the rail one, I did not know the economics, which look, frankly awful. Take the plane, IMVVHO.

Good luck, anyway, and best wishes.