Getting Bikes Back from John O'Groats

[Ray McColgan]

Looks like No Bike spaces on the Train for our return to the Midlands - 31st May. (Someone snapped them up quick I guess)

What alternative methods have members used to returm their Bikes?
Does the Johe O'Groats Post Office have Bike Boxes?
Any good and reasonable priced Couriers locally?

Some pointers most welcome .

Thanks Ray

[misterrea]

john o'groats couriers post back bike for £55ish see their website ,also from wick bike shop called the spot will post for you

[robgul]

Have a look at the links on the LH side at www.cycle-endtoend.org.uk - there are some names there of firms that operate services

Last time I rode the E2E we hired a chap with a car and trailer to take us from JOG to Inverness station ... and through this forum found some people that were wanting to get from Inverness airport to JOG the same day ... so halved the cost by sharing it.

It was in 2010 so prices have probably changed ... but it was reasonable for 2 people (could have been 3 or 4 for the same cost) compared with the train ... and time was saved too.

Rob

PS : if you're returning to the Midlands it's just about possible to get from JOG at 0800 (driving to Inverness) and then train(s) to Birmingham New Street by about 2300 [We broke the journey in Edinburgh as that suited us ... and getting home from Brum to Stratford would have required a late-night spousal pickup!]

[Ray McColgan]

Thanks Rob and Misterrea - a couple of options to follow up Monday.

[tuftyrowlands]

We did LEJOG July/August 2011. Our website details how we got to Lands End and back from John O Groats.

http://www.landsendtojohnogroats.weebly.com

Here's part of a post I made last year when we had finished:

Once at John O Groats we got back by staying in John O Groats YHA overnight, then cycled back to Thurso (18 miles) the next day to The Bike Shop. Here they helped us pack our bikes into boxes for £15 each and we posted them back home at the post office for £37. The Bike Shop were very helpful indeed and a mine of information about how to pack the bikes. If you are going to do it this way you need to order the bike boxes in advance. A lot of the stuff we had in the panniers also went in with the bikes including helmets so we had the minimum to carry around with us. Just one pannier with enough in it for the stay in Inverness. We had previously measured the panniers to make sure they would be acceptable to EasyJet as cabin luggage.

Then got the train to Inverness (£17), stayed in Inverness YHA which is easy walking distance from the station and an Indian restaurant! Next day got the bus to Inverness airport (£3.40 and goes past the hostel!) and flew back to Bristol on EasyJet. We booked the flights last September so they were only £22.

Nearly two years ago now and the prices will have gone up no doubt but it does solve the problem.


Good luck!

[Mick F]

I'm not being flippant here or trying to be funny or unrealistic. Honestly.

When you get to JOG, take a day off, then ride home. You have the finest form of transport known to man, and you'll be fit and healthy and well up to the challenge.

When I was being cajoled into doing my LEJog in 2006, I raised the problem of transport home, and it was suggested I did a double End2End. So I was given a lift to LE and set off for JOG, then turned round and set off back to LE.

It was tough to say the least and I finished a day or two late coz I was knackered.

I'm not suggesting you do a "double", just to cycle home .............. or even part of the way home.

[John-D]

That's what I did, but being retired I wasn't pushed for time. It wasn't part of my plan to ride all the way home. Initially I thought I'd get a train at Inverness or Edinburgh but once I'd started back I knew I'd go the whole way.

[Mick F]

Yes, time is the snag!

Most folk only have a fortnight, so ten days End2End plus transport at either end and your fortnight is up.

I reckon that an End2End is probably the biggest ride and momentous thing people will do in their whole lives, so perhaps it needs more than a fortnight off work to do it justice.

My first JOGLE had me still in the RN and my ship called in at Faslane (just north of Glasgow) and I had a fortnight's leave. I pedalled into Helensburgh to stay with friends for the night and they gave me and my bike+gear to Glasgow QS station for the Inverness trail and the Wick connection. I rode up to JOG SYHA for the night, then set off for LE. 11days later, I was met at LE and driven the 90miles home.

That was simple, thank goodness, but it might not have been. Good job the RN was there to help me get going.

[loafer]

Looks like No Bike spaces on the Train for our return to the Midlands - 31st May. (Someone snapped them up quick I guess)

What alternative methods have members used to returm their Bikes?
Does the Johe O'Groats Post Office have Bike Boxes?
Any good and reasonable priced Couriers locally?

Some pointers most welcome .

Thanks Ray

here,s one option ray ...http://www.johnogroatsbiketransport.co.uk/ we have used these getting back twice ...one way hire

http://www.europcar.co.uk/

[Temesvar]

I took the ferry to Orkney and flew home from Kirkwall with the bike as luggage. It worked pretty well, and there was the added bonus of an extra half day in Orkney.

[Ray McColgan]

Thanks Loafer

Just to let you know we used http://www.johnogroatsbiketransport.co.uk as you suggested.

Great service - they collected from our B&B in Wick and we got the Plane back. (Wick to Edinburgh and then onto Birmingham)

Turned out as roughly the same cost as the Train and no hassle with the bikes and trains.

[loafer]

glad it all worked out .... my next one in 2 years time is north to south easy to get back from penzance