Cycling UK Forum

Anyone done this with a fully laden bike? We are planning to take local trains as these seem easier than the TGV which has limited space for fully built bikes. Is this easy?

We have to switch trains in Paris and go from the station at Montparnasse across Paris to the gare St Lazaire. Anyone done this, and how easy is the route across Paris?

Thanks

Terry

My wife and I have taken our fully laden bikes on the train from Cherbourg down to Bordeaux and return on a couple of recent tours and found it to be a doddle. The transfer across Paris was quite enjoyable, Paris has plenty of cycleways and when possible we arranged it to be on a Sunday when Paris is more relaxed, there is a good Parisian route planner to plot the journey. The train Caen to Paris is free for bikes but you need to reserve on the TGV from Paris to Bordeaux ( costs 10 euros per bike). "Trainline" website is your friend as it shows bike space available. The TGV is a pleasure to use, there are dedicated wheel-on spaces with hold down straps provided in cars 1 and 11, just remove panniers to racks above. You sit in comfort alongside your bikes.
Rob

Rob, excellent. Many thanks. We were concerned that the TGV might be overbooked, but from what you say it should be easy. We will be booking as soon as the booking window opens, about 3 months before the trip in late June.

Where did you get the cross Paris route planner?

Cheers

Terry

We used a website called " geovelo.fr/paris" for the route planning across Paris.
Rob

Many thanks Rob

We did this journey two years ago, but didn't go through Paris. I think we changed at Le mans and Tours. As above, it was very simple. Captain Train was the site we used for info and booking, which has now been taken over by Trainline I think. Enjoy!

Trying to book 3 bikes onto the TGV but although Trainline says the train can take 3 bikes, it also says they are not available. Anyone know how to break through the system to get the bikes booked on?

Thanks

Terry

Info on other threads here
Try making three separate single bookings (for bikes alone, no people?)

That’s the problem - no apparent mechanism for booking bikes. Oddly, when I first looked at this earlier this year, I am sure it was as simple as ticking the cycle box, which now just says ‘unavailable’

Terry

TerryField wrote:We have to switch trains in Paris and go from the station at Montparnasse across Paris to the gare St Lazaire. Anyone done this, and how easy is the route across Paris?

I've not done that exact route but unless something's changed, I know there are a lot of cobbles on the obvious direct line (Boulevard Malherbes and Rue Royale) and to its east, so I'd consider using the contraflow cycle lane west along Rues de la Pépinèrie and Boétie, then south along bus lanes on Avenue Franklin Delano Roosevelt, left just before the river (down the cobbles onto the quay if you prefer) and then just touch the Place de la Concorde, right over the bridge, left and fork right onto bus lanes of Boulevards Saint-Germain and Rasspail, the fork right onto narrow cycle lanes of Rue de Rennes and keep heading towards the tower...

Or if you're not bothered about cycleways, so bus lanes, wide roads and back streets are OK, I'd head for Rue Auber, Boulevard de l'Opera, fork right Rue de Rohan, straight on straight through the Louvre and over the bridge, then left-right, left when you get to Boulevarde Saint-Germain and right into the north end of Rue de Rennes and keep heading towards the tower.

TerryField wrote:That’s the problem - no apparent mechanism for booking bikes. Oddly, when I first looked at this earlier this year, I am sure it was as simple as ticking the cycle box, which now just says ‘unavailable’

Terry

My understanding is that if the Trainline TGV cycle reservation isn't selectable then it has already been taken therefore no longer available to you. Try alternative train times.

Rob.