tyreon wrote:I made it back! Thanks for those who gave advice and guidance.
Don't want to savage the ticket meister at my first contact station but it went something like this: Yeah. Dunks kitakat into mug o T. Turns to page 3 o Sun. How can I elp u? I explain my situation. Nuthin doin. There's no reductions anywhere today. Youll have to wait ere til tomoro if you want anything. Turns page of paper,leans head onto palmed hand,a slow blink,gazes at page 3 DDs. I query,I remonstrate,big O. Well,it wasn't quite like that,but the guy was very indifferent,almost hostile(In his defense I think he'd just had a rush of 4/5 other cyclists just off the ferry...probably all wanting trains,just missing trains,all wanting travel,cheap tickets etc) I go away, exhausted by ferry journey.
Ouch. Interesting journey. I think you had most of the learning experiences in one go. He's doing well if he was looking at a topless page 3 since they stopped publishing it in January.
I did my first cross-London station run last year, and apart from a "learning cleats" slow collapsing bicyclist disaster, and everything being dug up everywhere, it was fine but I needed the extra half hour. On the way back I managed to get locked in the secure storage airlock entrance at St Pancras, because the button is hidden to anyone over 5'6" or so under a shelf.
I don't think you will ever get reductions on the day, as they work on a Low Cost Airline type pricing model, so aiui our ticket prices are more responsive to supply and demand than elsewhere. With planning I can get to London for the cost other places might charge for the bike. I find the walk-up costs a bit eyewatering, so I always plan train travel to the nth degree.
One tip I don't think was covered was perhaps to take a mini camping stool (Aldi, about £3.00) or similar if possible for bike watching. If travelling it can be adandoned in a local charity shop for the price of a coffee. That and a bungie strap for holding it in place on the train.
I also have a habit of sitting in the wrong seat if I have a bike as I'd prefer to be within sight, especially if I leave things on the bike - I look for one which is booked by somebody on a different journey segment to mine. If you are in the togs or have a helmet people can find you.
Pre-booked bike should have a bike ticket stuck on the frame on eg East Midlands Trains, so you can tell where they are getting off and rearrange bikes in the right order.
My 2 golden rules having done a few trains now are 1 - *Always* allow extra time. 2 - Never travel at an expected busy time.
I now have less anxiety about booking since I have had no problems with walk-up trains where that is the system. But I don't know how to avoid the bike developing patina.
Ferdinand