I can probably requisition the car, got a three bike rack and a very large boot. So can comfortably take three and loads of gear or two and a half dozen bikes.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.
CCE Overnight Capables
(875 posts)-
Posted 4 years ago #
-
Thanks for the offer @Steveo. I'm going to persevere with the train for now but if it doesn't work out I might be in touch...
Had a confusing chat at the station tonight. Cheap tickets aren't out yet and the maximum bike spaces you can book (in any single booking) is 2 despite there may be more people than that on your booking and there may be more spaces on the train but not necessarily.
The recommendation was travel into Waverley so you have a better chance of getting your bikes on... kind of defeats a 'Gateway' station.
Taking the above into account and after some tense domestic negotiations, it looks it will be me & Mini-Chief on our first overnight adventure. Wish us luck...
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Hankchief Yes - in a country pretending to promote active travel and tourism getting two bikes on a train north should be normal, particularly as our rail fares are often beyond Scandinavian equivalents for mileage involved.
AFAIK the HST sets are now the main trains on Highland route. Were planned to have 12 bike spaces but cut down to 2 hanging despite a social media mauling. 29ers don't fit easily as Lee Craigie found. If a 158 set you'll get bikes on easier although often not enough seats or luggage space.Posted 4 years ago # -
looks it will be me & Mini-Chief on our first overnight adventure
Excellent news.
Posted 4 years ago # -
What a palaver to get train tickets...
The Northbound ticket became available last weekend and so I selected online the desired train and 2 bike reservations, only to have it crash when I went to checkout.
Went back and the very cheap tickets were gone as were the bike reservations. Went to the station to see what they could do and the best was to book us on a later train with bike reservations. They had lots of well meaning but ultimately unhelpful advice about some trains having more spaces as well as heading into Waverley for the best chance of getting on without a reservation, trying our luck with the guard. I don't really want our weekend starting off with a stressful experience.
I've been regularly checking the website all week for the Southbound tickets to become available and they finally were today ... but not for the train I wanted, just all the other ones. No cheap tickets and no bike reservations for the train I want, which isn't great when trains are few and far between.
So I have bought tickets for an earlier train so I could guarantee we could get the bike reservations...
I did try calling up the scotrail ticket office but they could only say that the tickets for the train I want are either sold out or not released yet.
Do you get the impression they don't want you to travel with your bike...
Posted 4 years ago # -
there's something darkly amiss with train price algorithms
27 quid for Kings Cross to Waverley at 2pm weekday
same train journey at 4pm or later is a cool £165
and thats booking six weeks in advance !
you could fly to Moscow and back for that
and have change for the Stolichnaya
Posted 4 years ago # -
I played drums with Train Price Algorithm '94-'96.
Posted 4 years ago # -
a rockin' combo that must have been
Posted 4 years ago # -
Not sure if anyone has seen this, worth watching. Also answers the question how bad the paths are around Ben Alder Cottage.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Stuck inside rather ge on your bike, just imagine the weather is going to be like this for the next three weeks.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Joyous.
Some terrain a few of us will recognise, eh?
(And excellent use of beach shoes.)
Posted 4 years ago # -
They had planned everything except the weather, it had different plans
Posted 4 years ago # -
Loved the bit where dad's cycling through wet snow with no gloves. He has abandoned comfort and is defying the weather goblins.
Posted 4 years ago # -
He has got to that point where I have been several times on walks en Ecosse where I cannot get any wetter (beyond supersaturation) and I say feckit and embrace the rain
Posted 4 years ago # -
Not ‘us’ of course -
Posted 4 years ago # -
I'm thinking of doing a 'bivvy a month' a this thing drags on. Maybe we could Google Hangout the planned May expedition - tents in gardens/living rooms and individual fire pits?
Posted 4 years ago # -
My workbench would double nicely as sleeping platform, unfortunately it is very much a one person bothy. (and locked).
Posted 4 years ago # -
Posted 4 years ago #
-
Micro-Greenroofer and I slept in the garden last night. We got my 25 year-old Terra Nova Quasar out of the attic for the first time in 10 years, and I used a sleeping bag that hasn't been out of its stuff sack since the 20th century. It did feel a bit OTT using 4-season mountain gear in the garden, and the gear did all smell a bit old, but we both enjoyed ourselves. Next we're going to graduate to cooking a meal on my petrol stove, although the backpacking staples of pasta and rice seem to be strangely unavailable...
It was all a bit nostalgic: I pulled lots of old equipment out of the attic and reminisced boringly to the children about the adventures I'd had with it.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@paddyirish
Can you hear his accent? Deep south maybe Corsican, adds a lovely element to the gag.
@Greenroofer
It's only a matter of time now. The bikepacking. It's in your soul.
Posted 4 years ago # -
@IWRATS thought was in Lake District but had sound off as being subjected to Jesus Christ Superstar. Tim Minchin’s limitations being exposed. I like him but i am not ga ga about him like his demographic. Also Lloyd Weber bit creepy
Posted 4 years ago # -
So, is everyone up for a virtual expedition on the 16th? Film a few wee clips of our S5(8)b exercise rides and garden camps and I'll stitch them into a wee film?
EDIT
I should of course check my privilege as the youths say. Garden or indoors camp.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Can I just check if we have to take everything we use for our camp on our S5(8)b exercise rides?
Or is the 'bothy' able to provide / store some luxuries for us?
Posted 4 years ago # -
@HankChief
This is a moral, legal and practical poser. For maximum authenticity yes. But if the neighbours spot you setting off with pots and pans you may get plod on your tail.
Frankly in these weird and worrying times I am inclined to the cutting of slack by the yard. It may be that my tent sprouts an air mattress, duvet and pillows. Maybe even a hookah and a fez?
Posted 4 years ago # -
when you lot getting here ? Kinda lonely.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Eh, we're already here, did you get the right bothy?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Who's got the corkscrew? Has anyone got a map? What about a spare battery for @Iain McR's handlebars? Are there wolves? Did anyone bring coffee?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Just snuggling down in our tent. Please keep the noise down. Night all.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I'm pumping up the duvet and trying to extinguish @Morningsider so same old same old.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Sorry @hankchief I've just started on the second bottle (it's lighter than a decent sleeping bag)
Posted 4 years ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.
posts
