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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 23 Jul 2007
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Hi Jim,
I went last year and one of the assistants on the train told me that the carriage I was on didn't have suspensions (?) I don't know if it was a temporary inconvenience or maybe some carriages are just like this but I felt like I should have brought a tie down strap (although my tenere has a quite long side stand). I used a bungee strap instead.
Mind the ramps by the way, they are quite slippery when wet and you board the train from the side.
Have a nice trip.

Regards.
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  #2  
Old 23 Jul 2007
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Just park up in gear as mentioned before. The tunnel is very close to me 1/2 hour away so i use it a fair bit. I have had the odd rough carriage where everyone sits around watching their bikes nervously as they rock about. I take a velcro strap to tie the front brake on as well for a bit of extra security, still ive not seen one fall over yet.
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  #3  
Old 23 Jul 2007
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P.S the dover/calais ferry is normally cheaper but admittedly not as quick and easy, and when you turn up at the tunnel have the credit card to hand you booked with for the auto check in.
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Old 23 Jul 2007
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if you book the tunnel and say you are coming back next daybut dont use the return leg you can get it for £ 22 dont know if they do anything about not using return leg i was just looking to go on a ciggy run
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  #5  
Old 23 Jul 2007
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I use the tunnel quite regularly and generally the way to park is in gear on the side stand with the front wheel butted up into the curb inside the carriage. I then put the steering lock on and take a strap from the handle bars to the hand rail at the side of tha carriage. It helps to stabalise the bike and ensures it doesn't rock too much. If you are loaded with luggage this really helps so take a long a small webbing strap about 2 meters long and you'll be fine. Bon vogage - coming to Belgium - let me know and pop by for a coffee - I'm 15km south of Antwerp.
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Old 23 Jul 2007
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I am surprised you dont all use the centre stand?
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Old 23 Jul 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldbmw View Post
I am surprised you dont all use the centre stand?
I think if the train decelerates abuptly most bikes will come off the central stand

XTZs dont have central stands by the way
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Old 23 Jul 2007
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The reason I asked the question was, I thought there were wheel locks or something for your front wheel, then I read posts on forums about people watching their bikes shaking and stuff. If I go through the tunnel I'll just do whatever any other biker would do, and that's, do what everyone else around me does That plan has never let me down yet.
Gecko, thanks for the offer of coffee. If I'm in your area I'll give you a shout.

P.S watch for my next post " My bike fell over in the tunnel"
Jim
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Old 23 Jul 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gecko View Post
I use the tunnel quite regularly and generally the way to park is in gear on the side stand with the front wheel butted up into the curb inside the carriage. I then put the steering lock on and take a strap from the handle bars to the hand rail at the side of tha carriage. It helps to stabalise the bike and ensures it doesn't rock too much. If you are loaded with luggage this really helps so take a long a small webbing strap about 2 meters long and you'll be fine. Bon vogage - coming to Belgium - let me know and pop by for a coffee - I'm 15km south of Antwerp.
I might just take you up on that, i often visit friends there.. st job int goor.

maybe go for a chinese
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Old 24 Jul 2007
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I might just take you up on that, i often visit friends there.. st job int goor.

maybe go for a chinese
Anytime you're passing
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  #11  
Old 24 Jul 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BORN2BMILD View Post
if you book the tunnel and say you are coming back next daybut dont use the return leg you can get it for £ 22 dont know if they do anything about not using return leg i was just looking to go on a ciggy run
How were you going to get back? or were'nt you???
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Old 24 Jul 2007
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when you come back you just book a day return from calais to folkstone and back to calais cheap fare again but like i said dont know if they like you to do this or if they can do anything about it anyway
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Old 24 Jul 2007
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They are wise to this, took a while, but from what i gather from those that have tried recently you get charged for a full price ticket on return.
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Old 25 Jul 2007
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Originally Posted by illustratedman View Post
How were you going to get back? or were'nt you???

Norfolkline ferry are competitive as well (Dover-Dunkerque) - £51 return last time I got a quote for the high season and it would be cheaper without a pillion (can't remember how much the passenger cost in that quote but there was an extra).

The cheapest I ever crossed the channel, with a car, was £4.50 one way in the depths of winter and from the continent to Dover AND a few years ago it has to be said; this was because the ferries will give any amount of discount out of season (but it is still cheaper to enter Britain than it is to leave because we are captive customers and we are used to paying over the odds for everything in the UK). I was living over there at the time.

Reference the credit card; don't use it - spend cash, you know it's best!
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Old 25 Jul 2007
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Thumbs up Chunnel:
You do get the bargains for day time travel, as me an g/f got a trip for £31, that was £19 going out between 10:00am.. 11:59am friday morning and £12 return 2wks later at the same time 10:00am.. 11:59am. After that the price went up by £20.
The bonus for us was we were there at 8:00am an was asked if you would like to be on the early train, so we were an hour an half early getting back to the U.K.

Roi. n Bron.
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