E-bike disassembly for travel on European trains
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Hi
In what circumstances do you envisage having to dismantle your ebike during your travels?
I am starting and ending from Zurich.
When I get to the end of Euro Velo 17, I would like to get back there without having to the do the round-trip as part of the holiday. Using the train allows us to go to Mulhouse and back to Zurich, and the only way to travel on that train is to disassemble.
When I get to the end of Euro Velo 17, I would like to get back there without having to the do the round-trip as part of the holiday. Using the train allows us to go to Mulhouse and back to Zurich, and the only way to travel on that train is to disassemble.
I can try to answer as much as possible.
I have a R+M New Charger.
The TGV train i am travelling on wants your bike to take up the following dimensions:
I have a R+M New Charger.
The TGV train i am travelling on wants your bike to take up the following dimensions:
- treat it as carryon luggage. Fold or disassemble your bicycle*, pack it in a bike bag no larger than 120 cm high x 90 cm wide and be sure to tag it. As long as there’s space available, your bicycle travels free on all our trains.
I'm placing a photo of the bike below for others to reference. Those dimensions mean taking out both wheels, removing the rear carrier, stand and rear mudguard and possibly lowering the saddle. Turning the handlebars into line will also make it easier to handle. It might also be necessary to remove the front mudguard to get the length within 120 cm. The handlebar to forks base will hopefully be within 90cm., but if not the forks could be compressed and tied to reduce that.
This is a big stripdown and you'll have to guard against damaging the brake disc rotors when out of their mountings and also bag and tie up the loose chain. And of course obtain a suitable bag of that size and wide enough to take the frame with wheels, packaging and other parts alongside. It will be heavy to pick up of course.
This is a big stripdown and you'll have to guard against damaging the brake disc rotors when out of their mountings and also bag and tie up the loose chain. And of course obtain a suitable bag of that size and wide enough to take the frame with wheels, packaging and other parts alongside. It will be heavy to pick up of course.
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Thanks for that, this is great advice. I think i need to take my bike apart this evening and see if it is do-able...
When I have seen bikes with suspension forks in bike bags the forks have been removed. Hopefully not necessary but not the end of the world if you have to. When I put my bike in the boot the forks have to come off.
You will probably need to remove the pedals too. Have some spacers available to fit between the brake pads in case the brake levers get caught.
You will probably need to remove the pedals too. Have some spacers available to fit between the brake pads in case the brake levers get caught.
That is going to be tight.
The wheelbase for the 46cm frame is 113cm, the 49cm frame is 116cm and the 53cm frame is 119cm.
As Chris has said, I suspect that you might well have to remove the front forks as well.
It would be ideal if you could leave the rear wheel in and drop the whole front end out.
The wheelbase for the 46cm frame is 113cm, the 49cm frame is 116cm and the 53cm frame is 119cm.
As Chris has said, I suspect that you might well have to remove the front forks as well.
It would be ideal if you could leave the rear wheel in and drop the whole front end out.
That's interesting. So they are not saying we have to send it separately by road or rail transport and you can put it on 'whole' you just have to pay extra (typically how much do they charge -eg for a 100 euro person journey?)
Mike
I did think it odd, as whenever I have used the trains in Switzerland, I have always had to pay for the bike as a passenger paying fare.
On a TGV a bike costs 10 €, you have to reserve. So it isn't a costly option if you are on a simple journey. However if you are doing Eurostar to Paris that is 15€ then another 10€ for Paris - Strasbourg.
I wonder what they would say if I rolled up on my trike? Actually I might be doing just that in November for a St Jean to Nantes trip. I was going to ride up but I'm not sure I will be motorised in time.
I wonder what they would say if I rolled up on my trike? Actually I might be doing just that in November for a St Jean to Nantes trip. I was going to ride up but I'm not sure I will be motorised in time.
I remember taking a bike by plane to Paris in 76. What I had to do was remove the two wheels and secure them to the frame ,rotate the handle bars and deflate the tyres. No bike bags then, but it appeared on the conveyor belt along with other baggage. .. The fun was reinflating the tyres in a temperature of 37 degrees. There was no air conditioning in the arrivals hall at Orly.. (it was a student type flight), so bending to tighten a single nut or one stroke of the pump was an effort!. Of all the things I had remembered to bring, a lock was not one, and the bike was nicked an hour later,when I was in a shop buying one!!!!.I'm placing a photo of the bike below for others to reference. Those dimensions mean taking out both wheels, removing the rear carrier, stand and rear mudguard and possibly lowering the saddle. Turning the handlebars into line will also make it easier to handle. It might also be necessary to remove the front mudguard to get the length within 120 cm. The handlebar to forks base will hopefully be within 90cm., but if not the forks could be compressed and tied to reduce that.
This is a big stripdown and you'll have to guard against damaging the brake disc rotors when out of their mountings and also bag and tie up the loose chain. And of course obtain a suitable bag of that size and wide enough to take the frame with wheels, packaging and other parts alongside. It will be heavy to pick up of course.
My Orly experiences were in the early 1960s on business flights in Air France Caravelles. Those were the days to fly, when not many did. Then I could drive to Heathrow, park very close to the terminal, check in 20 minutes before boarding and come back a week later and not be bankrupted by the parking fee.
Flying today I regard as an uncivilised misery.
.
Thanks everyone for your insight, and advice.
I took my bike apart as much as possible.
I am leaving the back wheel on, detaching the handlebars, front wheel, saddle.
It took about 40 mins to do, but it seems that it will work for me.
FYI, I am travelling on the TGV Lyria, and I have a bike space reserved.
In Switzerland, there is a general charge for bikes, so I will pay for the bike when I get there
Wish me luck, and thanks again!
I took my bike apart as much as possible.
I am leaving the back wheel on, detaching the handlebars, front wheel, saddle.
It took about 40 mins to do, but it seems that it will work for me.
FYI, I am travelling on the TGV Lyria, and I have a bike space reserved.
In Switzerland, there is a general charge for bikes, so I will pay for the bike when I get there
Wish me luck, and thanks again!
There is an excellent site called Rome2Rio that can help. And as said above, consider TER rather than TGV. TGV don't want bikes and TER are free.
Earlier I thought you were going by train Mulhouse - Zurich which is doable if the bike is assembled. If you are looking at London-Mulhouse, then the TGV seems to be the main choice. You could use TER but it will be a series of stages with waiting times between.
www.rome2rio.com
Earlier I thought you were going by train Mulhouse - Zurich which is doable if the bike is assembled. If you are looking at London-Mulhouse, then the TGV seems to be the main choice. You could use TER but it will be a series of stages with waiting times between.
Rome2rio
Discover how to get anywhere by searching plane, train, bus, car and ferry routes
www.rome2rio.com
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