Having already entered 5/6 of the 2019 BEMBA races, the final one has been announced today. Kinlochleven is a long, long way from Surrey, and I am really not feeling the love for a 10+hour drive each way.
I have already planned some long weekends around the other races, but not sure I can take any extra time off work for this race, so I'm considering taking the sleeper train up to Fort William, and would like some thoughts/advice before I book.
I've taken the sleeper with bikes before, but always fully assembles and with a cabin to sleep in. This time I'd probably strip the bike and put in in an Evoc bag jammed full with camping kit and spares, and book a sleeper chair (£100 return on the chair vs £450 for a cabin)
Questions that hopefully someone may be able to help with:
1. Would I be permitted to take such a bulky piece of luggage on the sleeper
2. Will I struggle to get from Fort William to Kinlochleven and back again with the bag? (Google Maps shows 35mins drive each way) Taxi / Bus / ride?
3. As I would be relying on public transport, I would be travelling light with limited spares, camping kit and food. Will I survive?
4. Is riding after a night in the sleeper chair feasible? Likewise working on Monday morning after travelling down again on the chair Sunday night?
Any other suggestions welcome, but at the moment it is looking like Sleeper or no race.
Thanks
Not as cheap but I few to Glasgow last time I was up for work, could be done for for under 100 I think if you book early. Hire car from Glasgow
I would fly and hire a car. Relying on a train then bus/taxi is just too much opportunity for stuff to go wrong.
Also I reckon you will spend a shed load of cash and end up feeling knackered/stressed before you do the event. Its possible, but not something I'd spend my own money on. For that much money / hassle I would want several days of riding to make it worth it.
Thanks @Trimix
I've thought about flying, but still limited to what can be taken kit wise so would probably get a room in the village instead of camping.
Assuming two people flying up Friday night -Flight is £145pp LHR-Glasgow including a bike.
Hire car from Glasgow is £150ish for the weekend based on having something large enough for two people plus bikes.
Room is in Kinlochleven around £50pppn based on two sharing.
Would want to leave 5hrs / enough time to finish race, get bike packed, drive to airport, check in etc which means a late flight.
I've just called a local taxi company and it should be around £45 each way from Fort William to Kinlochleven with the bikes if we do take the sleeper option, which doesn't sound too bad.
Sleeper would also mean one night less accommodation required in Kinlochleven
hmmm.....
I've taken a bike in a bag before; I just booked it as a normal bike. There were no issues with that.
I've not used the 'reclining' chairs, but on the experience of my girlfriend who has, I'd not want to before a race. They don't actually recline but are at a semi-reclined fixed angle and the heating alternately varies between freezing and roasting. I doubt you'll get much sleep and feel knackered for riding the next day.
I would personally go for not doing the race in your situation. As above, for the amount of travel / cost / potential stress (particularly if the weather turns out badly) I would want more riding and more chance of being slightly relaxed! Having done the race a few times it might be worth noting that you'll only be on the course for 2.5 - 3 hours.
However, if you are keen then flying and car rental would be preferable to train / taxi.
Have a look at the Blackwater Hostel & pods, and the Macdonald Hotel cabins for cheaper accommodation options.
The sleeper is terrible. I would definitely fly and rent a car. Easyjet flights from Gatwick or Luton are usually much cheaper than BA from LHR.
@peekay - where was it confirmed today?
Also if you are travelling solo and flying up to Edinburgh / Glasgow maybe a kind STW local could give you a ride the rest of the way saving on some costs? Just a thought.
ENDURO – KINLOCHLEVEN
EVENT DATE: 15/6/2019 – 16/6/2019
We are delighted that we will be in Kinlochleven for 2019, after the successs of the venue and the amazing feedback from riders over the years. We know that everyone enjoys the stages and that real mountain feel that you get in Kinlochleven and in the Highlands. We are doubally delighted that this round will be the Round 4 of the BEMBA Championships a real fitting venue for this all new national series.
No Fuss Events website
Cheers. I was looking for info on the BEMBA series and didn’t think to look at NoFuss...
Thanks for the tips so far.
It is looking like being around for £250-£300pp accommodation and transport either flying&hire car or sleeper(twin cabin)&taxi and a lot of effort for just a weekend to get up there and do the race. It looks amazing and for completeness I'd like to still do it.
@groundskeeperwilly there will likely be two of us so relying on a lift from a local might be a bit too much of an ask.
As I understand it though, results are only needed from 5/6 BEMBA races to complete the series, so assuming no issues with the other five races then I can get away with not doing this one.
Does this race replace the usual end of season Kinlochleven race then? Been up the last three years to finish off the season so would be a shame to miss out on that!
I feel I can speak from my ample experience on this subject. Hope it helps.
Before I moved to Scotland, I was in a long distance relationship between Reading and Fort William. I have used every method of travel between the two; car, plane, train, sleeper train(Chair), coach and sleeper coach(bunk).
I also once drove to Glencoe & back to do the Rat race Coast to Coast in a long weekend.
My personal advice would be fly to Glasgow on Friday night, stay in the Holiday in opposite the airport and then hire and drive to Kinlochleven.
Do not get the sleeper train (chair) you will be in a rough state and have a terrible weekend.
Hope that helps.
Went up one night to Inverness in a sleeper chair, hot food, couple drams, the next night I spent in a bothy half way up the Corrieyerack. Awesome fun!
The sleeper is bad enough, a sleeper chair would be miserable.
Fly and hire a car. There's less than an hour difference between EDI to Kinlochleven and GLA to Kinlochleven, so consider Edinburgh Airport too. Or inverness, but options will be more limited for there.
Some great advice above. Thanks.
I was bored and had a bit of spare time, so I put together a decision tree with 16 various options, sleeper, plane, taxi, hire car (broker vs big name), hotels (Kinlochleven/ GLA airport) etc. I’ve assumed no camping as taking kit would be difficult alongside bike on plane/train.
I’m sure no-one else will be interested in my little exercise, but summary of least cost results below for transport and accommodation only:
Solo:
By sleeper chair: £246
By sleeper cabin: £700
By Plane: £375
2 of us racing:
By sleeper chair: £156pp
By Sleeper cabin: £340pp
Via Plane: £267
A lot of expense for just one race.
On sleeper you can book 2 Std fares in same cabin cheaper than solo cabin btw I use it quite a lot.
A lot of expense for just one race.
https://www.mtba.org.au/news/2018-gravity-enduro-season-confirmed/
I'll leave that one there 😉
Maybe find someone from Glasgow or Edinburgh that's driving up and meet up with them?
(not going to do this one this year due to timing, but definitely don't just think of it as some race- it'll lose something with not being in November but the KLL enduros are rightly legendary, I have them in the same place in my head as the old endurance dh and the 2 EWS rounds I've done. It's worth treating as a special, mad occasion)
I would recommend the sleeper to anyone but not the seats. As has already been said, they don't recline that much and the carriage is roasting hot. Cabins are great
Bear in mind that the sleeper splits at Edinburgh at about 4am. For Fort William, if you're in the chairs you'll need to move carriage. No need to move if you have a bed, but if your bike is in the guard's van, you'll need to move it.
Not done the chairs, but the sleeper is ok
Decision made: Driving up and spending a week on holiday in the Highlands after the race. Can't wait.
wow.. them train prices are insane !!!!
@weeksy The trains are expensive for a weekend away, but I don't think that they are insane for two people if heading up to Fort William for a week or so.
When compared to the time and cost of getting to an airport, parking, flights and transfers, or fuel/wear and tear on a car, plus a nights accommodation I think that they are fair. Especially as it is 12 hrs of sitting looking out of a train window vs a 12 hr drive.
If really budget conscious and happy with a chair, £50 each way from Euston to Ft William is great value.
Having said that, I am now planning on the drive 🙂