OP
OP
Florencepeneice
New Member
- Location
- Bristol
Let us know how you get on
using the hanging bike racks on the new GW trains
- Thread starter Florencepeneice
- Start date
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OP
OP
Florencepeneice
New Member
- Location
- Bristol
Let us know how you get on
vickster
Legendary Member
What’s a “grand” on a train? Is it a northern term?
- Location
- The TerrorVortex
That'll be the spellchecker at work. Guard.
vickster
Legendary Member
Fair do. I wondered if he was being derogatory and meant ‘grunt’
Low Gear Guy
Veteran
- Location
- Surrey
I have a GWR reservation for later in the month. The ticket does not indicate which of the two bike areas to use. How do I know which coach to go to?
deptfordmarmoset
Full time tea drinker
- Location
- Armonmy Way
I was lucky, a guard arrived just after I'd removed the 2 buggies from the bike area and he helped me get the bike up and then played buggy Tetris to clear the aisle. It's in here somewhere....
swansonj
Guru
To remove the bike from the hook, you need to raise the whole bike slightly (to clear the hook from the spokes), twiddle the rim/spoke gap off the curve of the hook, whilst stopping the steering from flopping over and thereby scuppering your attempt at step 2. It requires three hands.
I found my wife's bike (10 kg, 32 mm tyres) not too bad but my bike (15 kg, 38mm tyres, so a tighter fit on the hook) a real struggle. I was seriously concerned that I'd find I had dented the rim.
If the lobby fills up with passengers in advance of the station, you won't be able to start the process of extraction till they have got off, by when the train is ready to depart. I was very pleased there were two of us and my wife could keep the door open as long as I needed. Another time I'm start extracting 15 mins before the stop, take possession of the lobby, and brave all the consequential pissed off passengers.
I found my wife's bike (10 kg, 32 mm tyres) not too bad but my bike (15 kg, 38mm tyres, so a tighter fit on the hook) a real struggle. I was seriously concerned that I'd find I had dented the rim.
If the lobby fills up with passengers in advance of the station, you won't be able to start the process of extraction till they have got off, by when the train is ready to depart. I was very pleased there were two of us and my wife could keep the door open as long as I needed. Another time I'm start extracting 15 mins before the stop, take possession of the lobby, and brave all the consequential pissed off passengers.
swansonj
Guru
In my one experience, the bike reservations are not specific to a coach. You take pot luck on the end of the train you have chosen being occupied already.
Slick
Guru
Mine wasn't either at the start but when I complained bitterly that the space should be for bikes only and not used to store bags of rubbish he also gave up.
BrumJim
Forum Stalwart (won't take the hint and leave...)
- Location
- Selly Oak, Birmingham
Had great fun travelling first class (super-cheap ticket) with a bike on Virgin Pendolinos. The bike is at the other end of the train to my seat. Left 10 minutes before my station to get to the bike, but still only managed to get half way before giving up, due to passengers congregating in the vestibules, then isles up to the vestibules. A few comments along the lines of "we are all waiting to get off", and "why didn't you sit nearer your bike?".
Thought it wouldn't be worth it trying to answer latter question.
Thought it wouldn't be worth it trying to answer latter question.
mudsticks
Obviously an Aubergine
And so you must lurk mid platform until the train comes, and then make a dash for it with your fully loaded bike to the correct end of the platform, through the throngs of trolley toters.
Sometimes the guard will let you load your bike with your bags attached but then sometimes, if they're having a 'jobsworth' day they' ll decide not to.
Hanging a bike in its skinny wardrobe whilst the train is moving, is a proper lark.
Then occasionally, the guard won't let you off with your bike, at the required stop, so you get unscheduled visits to other countries
It's all part of the character building experience, of being a train and cycle enthusiast.
Racing roadkill
Guru
I had the exact same problem ( but on SW railways last weekend)
Fancy pants 1st class seat ( again, a cheap deal ) bike at the other end of the train. When I tried to get off, the vestibules were rammed. Fortunately I was getting off at the last stop / terminal. So I just got off via the doors in the first class carriage, and walked down the platform to the bike carriage ( where there were 6 people with bikes, in a space for 3 bikes)
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
It's shoot isn't it? Like no one would travel by train with a loaded bike would they? Ever tried a recumbent? Ha ha ha.
One day integrated transport may come but probably not till two generations from now.
One day integrated transport may come but probably not till two generations from now.
