[Closed] Is £40 extra and a 9 hr train trip wrth it to avoid easyjet bike damage?

Bike in a Taxi might be a problem?

I'd go on a train. I like trains.

Easyjet don't handle you bagage, the airports do. Although IIRC easyjet are responsible for it if it gets damaged even though its not nececeraly their fault (the airport is a sub contractor).

Assuming the train might be quieter you could travel overnight and sleep which would save a day for riding and a nights hotle accomadation? Train is less environmentaly reprihensible as well.

I'd everything being equal and I already have a bike bag/box then I'd fly.

Took a train from E'burgh to London last year, where we met friends and drove to Morzine.

Thought the train would be relaxing instead of the two of us driving down to London.

Getting selves + bikes + 30kg bags each to station was ok, a bit of a hassle.

Getting bikes on train was a PITA, not a lot of room, lots of other peoples bags jammed everywhere had to be moved.

Train was full up (crowded) and it was a hot day so it was a sweatbox for 5 hours.

Kings X was a nightmare to negotiate with bikes + bags, couldn't make the transfer because the tube wouldn't let us go down stairs with bikes. Missed connection and had to wait 1 hr and negotiate with staff to let us on rush hour train with bikes.

It was crap.

Coming back was worse, tubes were off altogether and had to get a taxi. Yes you can get 2 MTBikes and lads and bags in one taxi. Wheels off etc. Caught train just leaving, got shouted at by conductor for trying to secure bikes... did it anyway.

Conclusion - driving is better. Would never do daawwrn saaf again by train with baggage if I could help it - travelling light the train is acceptable, but forget bikes.

Not sure how that applies to French trains, nor to planes. Best bet is to drive IMHO.

What damage?

I've stuck DH bikes straight on planes without even bothering to bag/box them.

if you're worried about I'd love to see your face if you ever did a UK uplift?

Oh.. and BTW I had a DH bike nicked from an Easyjet flight

It's not airlines that damage bikes, it's handlers, who are employed (mostly) collectively by airlines.

I've flown loads of times with bikes, only 1 incident of damage (croken rear light), I really wouldn't worry.

We've had a few hundred people fly out here for bike holidays with us. I can't remember anyone ever having their bike damaged en-route.

Maybe one bent rotor out of all those people?

I wouldn't worry about it.

Took a train from E'burgh to London last year, where we met friends and drove to Morzine.

Uk trains and European trains are rather different...

Been on a plane many times with my bike (lightweight carbon roadie) with no dramas at all. Just pack it well and off you go.

If there is 2+ travelling together then drive. It's a trip of around 550miles which is doable in a day with drivers taking 3 hours shifts.

You can then take more gear and have the flexibility of leaving when you want, plus having transport on resort for exploring will be a bonus.

If i lived on mainland europe i'd never get in a plane.

Car + Ferry not an option?

Once you include the excess baggage fees etc probably works out on a par cost wise with flying, obviously takes a bit longer but then so does the train… you’re not limited on luggage and you have the use of a car while you are there…

If there’s 2 of you why share the driving so you both arrive relatively fresh…

Don't do ferry its a PITA, use the eurostar/tunnel its far quicker and worth the extra money.

I look at this every year and to be honest i'd love to just get on a train, have a beer and rela all the way to the alps. But the reallity is that its expensive (compared to driving) and is far from hassel free.

Every year we drive to the Alps and to be honest i quite enjoy the drive, all part of the holiday.

I only really consider the train these days if I can get a 1st class ticket for not much more money than Standard.

Driving there is a great option, especially if you are self-catering. Plus, you can drive across to Morgins and Chatel to ride, rather than riding there and back.

From your options, I'd probably go with the train. I like being able to wander around on trains, and see the countryside whizz pass. Plus it's the age of the train.

Thanks everyone.

Driving isn't financially viable because I'm going from Brussels and others are coming separately from London. So it's between train and plane.

Has anyone else got the train from Paris to any station in the Alps in summer? How was it? I did it in 2003 but can't really remember much, except that it would have been good to have had a bike bag with wheels.

I think I'm going to go with train on the basis that it seems like there's less faff involved, less to go wrong and it'll be less stressful. I can use the long journey to figure out route options on the map etc.

Mainly I'm keen to avoid the hell that is getting to Brussels Charleroi airport at rush hour on a Friday. Geneva airport is a $hithole too. On the train you pull out of Paris at 11:30 on Friday and wake up at 8am the next morning at the foot of Mont Blanc.

Plus with plane, Alpybus and Chamexpress (the two transfer bus operators in Chamonix) are far from reliable - barely caught my plane with Alpybus last time.

Look on the Basque MTB website, there's an excellent bit of information on there with links. It was somewhere i was considering for this summers holiday (by train hopefully)

I've done paris-zurich in the summer, but without bikes. Did it overnight in the sleeper going there, during the day coming back. Both were fine, in that I remember very little of the journey other than some epic views, and the bed being a bit short.

Has anyone else got the train from Paris to any station in the Alps in summer? How was it? I did it in 2003 but can't really remember much, except that it would have been good to have had a bike bag with wheels.

We've had quite a few people come by train, generally from UK via Eurostar. Trains to the Alps leave from Gare de Lyon. To come to us, you need to get the train to Bourg Saint Maurice, which usually means changing in Chambery (although there are direct overnight trains, which is a nice option - extra day's riding).

Think you can also get the train to Thonon les Bains for the Portes du Soliel, but it's probably a longer transfer from there to the nearest trails.

Last time I booked trains for clients, it was free to take a bike on the TGV as long as it was in a bike-bag - just goes with the suitcases in the luggage racks. If you want to bring your bike fully-assembled, then you need to pay a 10€ booking fee per journey-leg and book it into one of a limited number of bike spaces. These aren't available on all trains either.

Thanks - that is very helpful.

Alway fly with bike in a good bag. Never had a problem.

flown with bike dozens of times (short haul and long haul) and apart from a few excess baggage charges never had aq problem, however i always spend a fair amount of time making sure it is packed properly

Flown loads of times with the bike; Spain, France, Australia and never had a problem. Going to head to one of the holiday companies near Bourg St Maurice this year though, and will now be taking the train with the bike in a bag with all kit in it. Hopefully be able to just take hand luggage with it.

Some handy advice in this thread. Cheers.

easy jet will refuse a bike if its not packed in a box or bag...its in their t&c!! Last week they charged me £10 for being one kilo overweight...they really are just like the Fly Low firm on telly. I believe they get a commission on excess baggage charges. Many years ago they totally had me on a new years eve on excess baggage. They new I had no alternative but to pay up. Anyway I prefer them to Ryan Air. For me Driving is best. Then you can take all the goodies!

drive, train, walk. I'll do anything.
bike one a plane once and I ended up with 2 bent rotors and a bent outer chainring. never again.

Charleroi airport is indeed minging.
Horrible place that I wouldn't trust with a Boardman let alone anything decent (joke - well the Boardman bit was).
What time of the day do you need to move from Bruss to Char? As long as it's not evening it's OK no?

What's the taxi bit for btw? Is it not a direct transfer from the Thalys?