Bikes on the chunnel

[phatmanace]

folks - we're off to France for summer hols in a few weeks. I'd really like to take my bike.

We have a Thule ProRide 691 rack (the one where the bike stands upright on the roof).

I expect this is not chunnel friendly as it will be too tall, but thought if I strapped the bike down flat just for the duration of the journey though the chunnel, and then put back on the rack as normal when we get out the other side, that this would be ok.

Does anyone know if EuroTunnel would have a problem with this, and if so, is there another/better way (that doesn't involve purchasing another rack?)

-ace

[marshalla]

http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/FAQ/ said:

I want to add bicycles / roof rack / roof box to my booking:

It is possible to add cycles to your vehicle, as long as they are attached to the car and not on a separate trailer. The only thing that you need to check is that adding them does not take the height of your vehicle over 1.85 metres. The same height restrictions apply to vehicles carrying roof racks or roof boxes. If they do make your vehicle over the 1.85m limit and you have a low space booking, you need to amend the booking to high space. There are far fewer of those and you could have a long wait if you are booked incorrectly. Providing that the travel times do not need to be amended, it does not increase the fare. If you would like assistance please call us on 08443 35 35 35.

[phatmanace]

marshalla said:

http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/FAQ/ said:

I want to add bicycles / roof rack / roof box to my booking:

It is possible to add cycles to your vehicle, as long as they are attached to the car and not on a separate trailer. The only thing that you need to check is that adding them does not take the height of your vehicle over 1.85 metres. The same height restrictions apply to vehicles carrying roof racks or roof boxes. If they do make your vehicle over the 1.85m limit and you have a low space booking, you need to amend the booking to high space. There are far fewer of those and you could have a long wait if you are booked incorrectly. Providing that the travel times do not need to be amended, it does not increase the fare. If you would like assistance please call us on 08443 35 35 35.

Yeah - I read that (sorry, should have mentioned), I guess my post should have read "If I bungee my bike flat to the roof, does that count as attached" - Hopefully it does

[marshalla]

Your problem will be finding somewhere to put the bikes upright again. ISTR that the exit from the train more or less spits you out onto a slip-road to the autoroute once you're clear of the platform access roads - and there are staff on hand (as well as other passengers queuing behind you) to stop you stopping.

Might be better to bite the bullet and book as a tall vehicle.

[phatmanace]

marshalla said:

Your problem will be finding somewhere to put the bikes upright again. ISTR that the exit from the train more or less spits you out onto a slip-road to the autoroute once you're clear of the platform access roads - and there are staff on hand to stop you stopping.

enough bungee straps to get me to the first petrol station then I guess

[Magic919]

Either pull to the side on the platform, or proceed up the ramp and do it at the top.

[phil y]

I'd contact eurotunnel and try to change the booking, ring them and hope you get a sympathetic person to talk to if the bookings are full

They'd probably be happier squeezing you onto a tall carriage than having you rock up with a bike slung sideways on the roof. They might even prevent you boarding if they don't believe it's safe.

Also, even lying flat on the roof rack, the bike might stick up enough to catch the roof of the carriage. I wouldn't want to risk damaging bike or car either.

[tr7v8]

phatmanace said:

marshalla said:

Your problem will be finding somewhere to put the bikes upright again. ISTR that the exit from the train more or less spits you out onto a slip-road to the autoroute once you're clear of the platform access roads - and there are staff on hand to stop you stopping.

enough bungee straps to get me to the first petrol station then I guess

There is a fuel station around 5 minutes from the exit on the french side

[astroarcadia]

Moving bikes around at the terminal sounds like alot of faff, its supposed to be a holiday after-all.

I would call Eurotunnel, see if there is space for a high car over 1.85m on your current crossing, if not see if they can change your departure time to the next available with space.

[Watchman]

For the lack of hassle, go with the "high" option.

I took this through the chunnel:



Loadsa room:

[Gruffy]

Came back through the Tunnel last weekend with the bikes on top of the car. One way crossing was £68, which I think is the standard price for the time we travelled. Basically, it's unlikely to be a big premium (if any) for registering as a tall vehicle with a bike rack. Definitely do it properly and relax.

[zebedee]

bungee it to your rack flat at the services beforehand (aren't there some pretty much on the exit of the M20?) and then put a heavy dustsheet or something round it and over it, I can't see anyone wanting to pry under that but otherwise you might get pulled for not having it on safely.

[richardxjr]

When we booked it was no extra cost for vehicles over 1.85m or with bikes on the back.

We were driving a mahoosive VW Amarok truck with 2 on the roof and 3 on the towbar rack. Would be getting on for 3m tall.

You just get waved on to the single deck high vehicle part, no problems at all. Except sub 25mpg from a 2 litre diesel, ouch.

[ndg]

No difference in cost to swap our car to a van when we went out (low to high vehicle class).

Queued up with all the other T5's :-)

[jamiebae]

It doesn't make a difference to the cost in my experience, so just book as a high vehicle. They only need to know to be sure there are enough high vehicle spaces on the train, most of the time they fill the big coaches up with normal cars anyway, the prices you pay are determined by length of the vehicle.

[TonyHetherington]

There's a petrol station barely a few hundred metres once you get off in France (same in England, too).

But, it's not difference in cost. Just ring them and say you want a high vehicle!