The bike and the TGV

 One of the first things I did before considering buying a bike in France was to look at the SNCF website to make sure I understood what was required to travel with a bike on the TGV.

Remove the pedals, set the handles parallel with the frame and wrap the bike so that it won't damage or mark other folks luggage. No problem, Ross and Ian gave me a hand and the job was done in no time.


We arrived at Dijon station at the appropriate time for the 9:05 train to Paris (our train unaffected by the strikes) and waited for our train on the platform with the bike for about 20 minutes. Our train duly arrived and as we were about to board we were approached by the "boss"of the train and his side kick and they said that we couldn't take the bike on the train as it was. This was about 3 minutes before the train was due to depart. Panic set in, we needed to disassemble the bike and repack it to make it smaller in size. This obviously was going to take some time and the train didn't want to wait.

It was suggested that we catch a later train after we repacked the bike - would have meant we missed our Bordeaux connection in Paris as only 60% of trains were running.

After much muttering and gesturing, common sense prevailed and they let us on!!!!!!

Bugger, what if they won't let us on the Bordeaux train? Funnily enough the trip to Paris was a bit quite.

On arrival in Paris we sought further advice - remove the wheels and make the package smaller and you will be fine.

Fortunately I had plenty of tape left over and a good supply of zip ties. Just what everyone carries when traveling. No drama no fuss, 20 minutes later I had a more compact package.

Sure could use a beer.

Caught our Bordeaux train on time, joined the very long queue at the bar on the train about 30 minutes into the trip - no beer@@#
The Welsh supporters travelling to Bordeaux for their first big match in 58 years (Euro 2016), drank the bloody train dry!

Arrived in Bordeaux about 20 minutes late, no maxi taxi's at this station. Waited forever in a long queue for a cab for Julie and the luggage.
Did I mention that it was raining on and off?

No maxi taxis in sight, no other option but to reassemble the bike at the station and ride to the hotel about 3.5 kilometers away.

No drama, apart from the rain, the bike went together easily and I was under way in about 15 minutes.

Had to shelter from the rain a couple of times on the ride to the hotel and navigating on a bike in the wet is not much fun.

The next exercise will be to fit the bike into our hire car with all our luggage.