Bicycle Question

I am trying to decide if I should bring my bike with me to the UK when I go on my 'exploratory mission' to the UK in September. I have no idea how much it will cost to bring my bicycle with me on the flight, but figured I could break it down and box it up, reassembling it once I got to Britain.

I have two bikes that I could take. One is a very light bike with those thin racing tires, the other is a sturdy child's bike I got for $20 secondhand.

The racing bike was expensive, and I don't know if those thin tires will get torn up on the streets in England, though I have taken it in some of the worst places in Houston and it has proven to be pretty tough.

The child's bike is the one I prefer to ride for short distances where I am afraid of theives. The bike is ridiculous looking but tough as nails, but the only way anyone would ever consider stealing it was if it wasn't locked up and the 'thief' was just tired of walking. But it has a smaller frame, and if I take it great distances it can reallybring some pain to my knees...

I can see advantages and disadvantages to both, but perhaps someone who has cycled in the UK can look at my pros and cons and tell me what they think is best?

Another question about bikes -- do the buses or trains in Britain accomodate bikes? Do they have bike-racks or bike sections or something?

Thanks again for all the helpful info I keep getting from this site!

To be honest it may be more trouble than it's worth!  If it's an expensive or a heavy bike you'll have a number of problems with either having to pay excess weight on the thing (or some extra cash just for the annoyance value (to the airline) of bringing it.  If it's expensive the people at customs will think that you're trying to sell it.  I know I wouldn't want to try to drag something that's expesive through that kind of trip - the baggage handlers really aren't careful about what they do with fragile items.

May be better to get to the UK and then either hire a bike or buy a cheap one here it may be cheaper in the long run too.

Regarding your other point, trains will accommodate bicycles but buses won't.  UK buses will only accommodate a bicycle if it's a fold away type and can be put away like a baby stroller, otherwise they won't let you onto the bus with it - it'll take up too much room and become annoying to the other passengers.

May be better to get to the UK and then either hire a bike or buy a cheap one here it may be cheaper in the long run too.

Thanks for the info. I am curious about what you said about hiring a bike -- is a that something pretty common in the UK? Would you have a balllpark figure of how much that may cost?

Thanks again!

Hi Jim,Don't know about hiring a bike,but Halfords seem pretty reasonable if you decide to buy one instead of lugging one over with you,and they have stores all over the place.

http://www.halfords.com/


Dave

It will cost nothing to bring your bike with you (depending on the airline) provided it is within your total weight allowance. Should you be uneasy about damage you might consider renting a sturdy bike-sized suitcase from a well-stocked bike shop. Personally I think it's better to leave it unboxed if that's an option, so the handlers can see what it is and hopefully take a little more care.

You should have no problem on thin racing tyres. I've cycled all over the country on 25mm (not exactly thin thin, I know), but have friends who manage handily on narrower tyres.

The best advantage to bringing your own bike is -- it's your own bike. You're comfortable on it and comfort contributes to safety, not to mention enjoyment. Don't count on being able to rent one while you're here. It's possible in larger cities (and near some of the popular offroad trails) but if you're doing anything more than a couple of miles it can be a pain adjusting to the crappy bikes usually on offer.

The various train lines all have their own policies on cycles, but in general, they are accommodated. The intercity lines usually require reservations (can be done on the fly, but be careful during the height of summer). Some trains have racks; most don't. Older trains (the so-called slam-door variety now rapidly disappearing) have a guard's van which offers room to heap bikes up practically to the rafters. Unfortunately the newer trains have far less room available to cyclists. Sometimes you just have to prop it up whereever it'll fit (usually in the door-well) and keep an eye on it so it doesn't get in people's way or fall out when the doors open! I have little experience with bikes on buses; I've done it, so it isn't impossible, depending on the line.

Any other questions, please ask. I happen to have a website about cycling, though it's more devoted to literature and art than to practicalities: http://www.bikereader.com If you click through 'group ride' then onto the links page you'll find helpful sites.

Hey thanks for that information, Sam! I was really worried that I might bust those thin tires all the time. I haven't booked my flight yet, but am now shopping for an airline that will take my bike for free or next to nothing. After I land in London I'll be travelling from there to Bath by train in the first week of September -- I guess I should book ahead?

Are the bicycle thieves in Britain pretty determined and advanced? When I lived in Austin, Texas I was amazed at how clever and devious the bike thieves were, and how they'd take anything off your bike that wasn't locked down and also saw through most locks while you had your back turned for a second (my roommate there had his bike stolen from the BUS!). I was wondering if they are like that in the UK?

I have looked a lot at the Sustrans website's bike route maps for the UK, and I saw they had one marked that went across the Mouth of the Severn from just north of Bristol to Chepstow in Wales. This was marked as being a path just for cyclists/pedestrians -- I was wondering if you have been on that bridge? I notice on my AA map of the UK that there is a toll bridge at that same location -- would a cyclist have to pay a toll at that bridge, too?

I was also wondering if you have cycled on any of the tow-paths along the waterways? It seems like you could have a smooth long ride to and from most of the major cities along those tow-paths... that's how the UK Waterways website describes it. Do you know if that is true?

Thanks for your helpful info! I'll be looking at that website you linked to also...

London->Bath; yes, book ahead. Make sure you tell them you need to book your bicycle, too. Last time I did it it cost an extra £3. Going back to your earlier question, the intercity trains will usually have a rack, with straps -- though I bring my own bungee cords/straps anyway.

There are lots of determined thieves in the UK. After my last bike was stolen I no longer locked the new one up. I take it into the shops with me instead. (Doesn't work with all shops, obviously.) I've even had restaurants offer to put it in a storage room or whatever. Just ask; it's surprising how many people say yes. But I'm just paranoid. Most cyclists who don't want to lose their bikes find the biggest baddest lock they can find and try to get their bike on their insurance policy.

Sustrans is doing good work, but I confess I haven't ridden many of their routes. I tend to stick to the roads. However, the towpaths can be quite pleasant. There's a well-known and much-travelled route between Bristol and Bath which I've never been on myself.

You can cycle across the Severn Road Bridge and it won't cost you anything. I've done it. My advice: don't do it on a really windy day. Scary. Toll bridges generally don't charge cyclists, and we aren't allowed on the road with the rest of traffic on the larger bridges.

Bristol is a good base for a cyclist. Much stunning scenery close by. And get yourself out to the west country.

Are the bicycle thieves in Britain pretty determined and advanced? When I lived in Austin, Texas I was amazed at how clever and devious the bike thieves were, and how they'd take anything off your bike that wasn't locked down and also saw through most locks while you had your back turned for a second (my roommate there had his bike stolen from the BUS!). I was wondering if they are like that in the UK?

I can't speak for London or the other major cities, but whole bike thefts aren't as common as in the states. I use a coil-encased cable for the frame and front wheel, but not the back (unlike when in NYC when I had to use two coils, one for each wheel). My sense is that it's still better to avoid the easily snapped kryptonite locks, though. Sadly, there's a lot of impromptu theft of pointless things here. My seat clamp has been stolen twice and my seat once (I've now cabled it to the frame). But the further you go from the cities, the less theft is likely (I think).

Thanks again for those replies -- you guys have given me some vital information. I booked a flight on US Airways, which lets you bring a bike in place of one of your checked bags at no extra charge. I guess I'll have to start looking at trains to Bath now --

I prefer to bring my bike in with me whenever I get the chance as well, or I pick a space to lock it up where I can see it from where I am going. I always thought I was being paranoid, so I'm glad to hear that most shops you've experienced are friendly about that. I don't have a very good lock, just a twisty cable that I wind through every part of the frame and wheels, and again, when I lock it up, I usually keep watch.

You don't like those Kryptonite locks, Lightbulb? I have never had one but have been sort of keeping my eye on getting one (or two) before the trip. People here swear by them, but maybe that's because the new ones cost eighty bucks. If you say they aren't worth that, well I'd rather believe you and not spend eighty bucks on a lock! It sounds like you might recommend one of those seat-locks though?

Do you guys generally bike most places, or do you keep it mostly recreational? I usually would like to ride my bike to go everywhere, but various things in Texas make it almost impossible to rely on your bike for every day use. Does it get too cold or rainy for you to cycle sometimes?

I took a bus down to Mexico last year, and there was this Mexican kid who was going back home. I watched him ride to the bus station and take apart and box up his bike befoe getting on the bus. Then when we stopped at his town, he got the bike out, put it back together, and rode off onto the Mexican streets, off to see his family or something. I thought it was magnifico!

To answer 3 questions.

The familiar Kryptonite locks could be broken by leverage attacks in a matter of seconds. Their strength comes from their crystalline compound structure. THis means, however, that if enough pressure was applied on their butt end (especially after a dose of quick-freeze spray), they'd shatter instantly. They have a new lock the Evolution 3000, which they're only selling in Europe. It claims to prevent this, but I mean that's a lot of money for the gamble.

The lock that I use is a an armored cable (for  picture click here). They are flexible so can be used to wrap around a greater variety of posts than the kryptonites. They can be gotten all over the place, but as you see Argos has them for ten pounds. 60 for a kryptonite, 10 for an armored cable: you decide!

When I lived in Manhattan, I bought some armored cables back, and I can say that for 6 years I kept my bike locked on the mean streets of Gotham with these cables and they were never compromised, the bike remains in my possession.

2) I'm a city biker, not a long haul one. I'd give tremendous respect to Sam, who is much more skilled in the latter. I don't own a car here in England, so I use my bike to get to work and to shop. Yes, it's true that in the winter, it can be a little uninspiring to bike, but then I use the bus.

3) What you probably saw in Mexico was a guy with a folding bike. It's a small whell bike that can be folded in to the size of a carry on suitcase. They are very popular here, especially among commuters. If you go to Euston or King's Cross in London at the rush hours, you'll see tons of people with them. THey take the train into the city and bike their way to work. Prices vary. They wouldn't work for me, since my work is about 2 kilometers away, but for situations like I described, they are fabulous. Also, I'd bet that if you want to do day trips to cities. Then taking a train with one of the bikes would be a great way to get around the city.

Thanks for the info. I am curious about what you said about hiring a bike -- is a that something pretty common in the UK? Would you have a balllpark figure of how much that may cost?

Thanks again!

Sorry I took so long to reply.

There's not that many places in the Uk to hire it's more of a continental idea, but there are a few.  Mostly on the outer parts of the country.

Here's a link that should give you an idea for the cost.

cycle info

then there's some more info here

pedal away

and finally

Cycle hire shops in london

Our bikes are world travelers! Kevin took his with him when he left CA to go to the UK and paid nothing (BA). It was just a piece of his luggage allowance of two items.
When it was time to take mine, I did have to pay about $130, as it was an additional piece of luggage. On both occasions, we paid about 40 pounds each to have them put back together.
When it was time to return to the states, we paid another 40 pounds to have them taken apart and boxed up, and  $25 to have them put back together.  This was a savings to us as Kevin’s bike is ridiculously expensive and the cost to replace it wasn’t worth it!