Hi,
I planing to travel to France for a small bike tour (2 weeks). I have couple of questions
1- I am planing to take a bike from CDG airport to Strasbourg on a Train, are bike allowed on trains (some website says you must have it in a box and some says every train have a place for a bike)
2- when flying back, would I be able to get a box at CDG airport? Some say yes and some disagree. does anyone have a person experience in that or have some suggestion of best way to do it.
3- Have a bike box with me, any ideas if can store it to reuse when leaving.
thanks for help.
Kind regards,
Mahmoud
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---Solution---
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Just leave an update in case any body is looking
I was able to buy a HUGE box from airport CDG, Air France Information Desk. They are available at terminal 1&2 for 7.20 Euros. You also get a huge tape to seal the box, half the tape was left after mummifying the box. The box is quite big that it fit my big bike (60 cm frame with 700X35 tires) with only removing the front wheel, then lost of space left to put more stuff. Box are sold to passenger regardless what airline you are using.
Note: Airlines might complain that the box is over size and have to pay extra. I traveled with Egypt Air, and they should accept bike as one of the 2 free check in luggage. you have to hassle them for a bit before they accept it, like argue it is the box provided by airport, and the box weight is below the limit.
Good luck :)
Hi Mahmoud,
1 - You can take your bike on any TGV (fast trains) for free if you can fit it in a 120 x 90 cm box or cover (like a big bag). If not, you need to buy your ticket in a train station with a special ticket 10€ for your bike.
More official info (french) here : http://tgv.voyages-sncf.com/services-train/velo-a-bord
2 - 3 For the plane, I have no idea, nor experience at CDG, sorry. I packed once a tandem with a lot of scotch and cardboard and had no problem.
Cheers,
Marc
Hi Marc,
Thanks for your reply. Really appreciate it :)
I was looking for tickets and the cheapest i could found is 90 + euro :| are these normal train prices in France. I feel it is quite expensive for such a short trip, especially for booking one month before hand (or it doesn't make much difference book early in France) ?
Is way to get cheaper prices? Is their alternative to get to Strasbourg for a cheaper price.
Thanks again and appologies if I am asking too much questions.
Take care,
M.
Hi Mahmoud,
Yes these are the regular prices for TGV trains. It's expensive even when booking one month before. Prices changed depending on the day in the week and hours in the day.
I just discovered that you can now buy an online train ticket with the bike option (+10€) on capitainetrain website (https://help.capitainetrain.com/c4/q286/fr/puis-je-prendre-mon-velo-a-bord-d-un-train.html), another french ticket reseller (https://www.capitainetrain.com).
Cheaper alternatives are bus lines (like eurolines, http://www.eurolines.fr/fr/promotions/voyage-bus-strasbourg-paris/) or non TGV (slower) trains.
Regards,
Marc
Thanks for info.
What is the website for non-TGV Slower Trains. always get redirect back to the TGV trains.
Cheers,
M.
I just checked and no luck for Strasbourg line, only TGV trains...
thanks appreciate it :)
Hi Mahmoud,
a cheapest way to reach Strasbourg? Crank you bike!;)
Right TGV are expensive and you have to book for you and the bike.
the classic trains are called TER (regional train). don't need to book.
http://www.ter-sncf.com/Regions/Alsace/Fr/Se_deplacer_en_TER/Avant_mon_voyage/Fiches_horaires/Default.aspx
but PCDG airport has no TER acces, just TGV (i guess).
so to catch a TER you need to reach Paris gare de l'Est by metro. could be tricky with a bike cause sometime it's really busy and there are a lot of steps in the suburb.
you'll maybe save 15 euros but with a lot of trouble.
for the bike box you may find a left-luggage shop (Bagages du monde).
http://www.bagagesdumonde.com/fr/consigne/consigne-securisee-et-stockage-de-bagages
bon voyage!
Joseph
Hi Joesph,
thanks for the info. no 15 Euro is not worth it, but ticket is very expensive. I am arriving to france on 13 and their is a nice event in Strasbourg that I am trying to attend. https://www.couchsurfing.org/n/events/happy-strasb-hours-2014-main-event-strasbourg
After that the plan is to cycle back to paris. Found bus ticket for Euro lines for 30 Euro. Down side it leave from paris and leave at 10 PM while I arrive in afternoon. Then bus takes LONG 8 hours to reach strasbourg at 5 AM in morning
If you have any better suggest. they would be very welcomed.
Enjoy your day.
Cheers,
Mahmoud
Hi Mahmoud
TGV or Eurolines are your only alternatives... Actually be careful of TGVs, I know that not all TGVs have the 10€ thing. Some only take bikes as carry-on (in which case you need to take the weels off etc).
Euroline is OK if you can sleep in the bus. Just give 'em a call to make sure they'll take your bike.
good thing is coming into Paris from the north is a nice bike ride (there is a bike path next to a canal all the way). See here... Pretty nice appart from the first 3k to get out of the airport.
http://goo.gl/maps/dxH89
Hallo Hugues,
I sent email to Euro lines and hope to hear from them soon. the path looks very nice, but not sure if i will be able to ride it. I assume they will only take the bike if it is in a box, so will have to carry it as is and take the underground.
Take care,
M.
Sadly, Euro lines won't accept bike in boxs.
Guess only option is to pay the 100 Euros :(
Thanks everyone
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---Solution---
--------------
Just leave an update in case any body is looking
I was able to buy a HUGE box from airport CDG, Air France Information Desk. They are available at terminal 1&2 for 7.20 Euros. You also get a huge tape to seal the box, half the tape was left after mummifying the box. The box is quite big that it fit my big bike (60 cm frame with 700X35 tires) with only removing the front wheel, then lost of space left to put more stuff. Box are sold to passenger regardless what airline you are using.
Note: Airlines might complain that the box is over size and have to pay extra. I traveled with Egypt Air, and they should accept bike as one of the 2 free check in luggage. you have to hassle them for a bit before they accept it, like argue it is the box provided by airport, and the box weight is below the limit.
Good luck :)
--------------
---Solution---
--------------
Just leave an update in case any body is looking
I was able to buy a HUGE box from airport CDG, Air France Information Desk. They are available at terminal 1&2 for 7.20 Euros. You also get a huge tape roll to seal the box, half the tape was left after mummifying the box. The box is quite big that it fit my big bike (60 cm frame with 700X35 tires) with only removing the front wheel, then lost of space left to put more stuff. Box are sold to passenger regardless what airline you are using.
Also, you can take your bike on the RER for free to the airport, except during rush hour.
Note: Airlines might complain that the box is over size and have to pay extra. I traveled with Egypt Air, and they should accept bike as one of the 2 free check in luggage. you have to hassle them for a bit before they accept it, like argue it is the box provided by airport, and the box weight is below the limit.
Good luck :)
May I suggest that you fly on to Strasbourg from Paris and leave a bike box there. Putting the bike in a box is the way to go.
My family of four just got back from cycling in France. We rode many local trains and had no problem getting on and off trains (sometimes you had to lift your bike up 3 steps). even when there was not a bike hangar (railroad car identified with a white bicycle in the window of the door where the hangars area) you can roll your bike on and try to get it out of the way as best as you can. Everyone was very accepting and dealt with our four bikes sticking out in odd ways into the aisle between the trains.
We rode trains in southern France fron San Malo to Bordeaux, cycled the Canal di Midi to Toullouse and took the train to Elne. We had to transfer between trains several times and sometimes we had to carry our bikes up stairs to the right track and back down stairs from our track. All doable and you will be amazed at how helpful strangers can be.
Thanks for your update :)
Had similar experience in my trip. i was lucky that the train station i used had elevators. the one in paris have very tiny elevators so sometimes my bike won't fit, and with many people waiting to use it, i resort to escalators.
the only problem I had was in the fast trains, when leaving the airport one guy didn't want me to get on the train with a box. he said it is not allowed, when argued that ticket didn't say that and i need to take it with me. he asked what inside, i said a bike. then he said it is ok. Later on the journey he said next time, you need to put it in the bike car (and get extra ticket for it). however, i read online and been told by french people, that as long as bike in box you can take it with no problem.
Thank you so much Mahmoud for your update!
I will have the same issue next year and have been looking everywhere for information on bike boxes at the airport! Emirates were not helpful at all!
Merry Christmas
Elizabeth :-)
Hi Elizabeth ,
You most welcome :) No Air lines, including Air France , have any info about it. They were very helpful over the counter though.
Please feel free to drop me a line if you had any more question.
Best of luck with you trip and Merry Christmas To you too :)
M.