Getting Home

KieranM said:

I'm planning to cycle to Rome from Canterbury next summer and wonder how people who have cycled to Rome in the past get home ?

If you flew , how difficult was it to get a box and packaging to put your bike in ? where did you get it from ?

If you came back by train, what were the restrictions ? I have in my mind that in Italy, Switzerland ?? and France you can't take your bike on certain trains.

All advice most appreciated

Kieran

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@Galloglaigh should be able to help you...he cycled the VF earlier this year & has always been willing to share info with cyclists & walkers alike.

KieranM said:

I'm planning to cycle to Rome from Canterbury next summer and wonder how people who have cycled to Rome in the past get home ?

If you flew , how difficult was it to get a box and packaging to put your bike in ? where did you get it from ?

If you came back by train, what were the restrictions ? I have in my mind that in Italy, Switzerland ?? and France you can't take your bike on certain trains.

All advice most appreciated

Kieran

Click to expand...

We have not flown from Rome but have returned with bikes to the UK from various European airports (Basel, Munich, Berlin etc), sometimes with British Airways but more often with EasyJet.

Our packaging is simply the heavy-gauge polythene bag (formerly from Cycle Touring Club but now from Wiggle) which is easy to carry on tour. There has been no problem over the years with acceptance by the airlines but the future attitude can never be guaranteed.

There is also the matter of possible damage to the bike as it is not protected from heavy weights being placed/thrown on top : our experience has been mixed with no significant damage (luckily) on the outward journey but some serious problems on the way back. I was about to say that our worst episode happened with a terminal transfer in London but actually my wife's bike had the derailleur mechanism damaged beyond repair on a straightforward (EasyJet) flight from Munich to Edinburgh in September this year.

As you would be flying one-way, you should not feel too concerned unless you really need to ride home from the UK airport.

The website The Man In Seat 61 www.seat61.co.uk is the fount of ALL knowledge on matters of train travel and if memory serves me shows about five different ways of getting between Rome and the UK. Train is a wonderful way to travel and Seat61 is wonderful; if you can't find the answer there it will point you to where you will find it. From my own observation continental railways look much more user friendly than in the UK. The website will also tell you where you can book the best deal in tickets. Good Luck.