Finding the bike space

If you’re at a staffed station, ask where to load your bike – a few minutes in advance, if you can. If not, look for a bike sign on the platform, or the bike symbol on a door as the train pulls in.

In or out?

On most trains, the bike spaces are just in the normal carriages. On newer InterCity trains, this is generally in a separate compartment near one of the doors. On Virgin’s tilting Pendolinos, the bike storage has its own door, but once you’re in you can walk through to the carriage. On older InterCity trains, you’ll need to load your bike into a ‘guard’s van’, then jump back out onto the platform and go in via a passenger door. 

Remove your panniers

It might be a hassle, but an unloaded bike takes up much less space than a loaded one. Removing panniers enables another cyclist to load their bike next to yours. (If the guard’s van is separate, do this on the platform, and pick them up when you go back into the carriage.) You might want to remove expensive lights, too.

Lock the bike to itself

Locking the bike to the train is expressly forbidden, just in case you can’t get it unlocked again. If your bike’s in a guard’s van, though, these are generally pretty secure.

Be wary of the tickets

Your booking will have been accompanied with a vast array of tickets, including one labelled ‘Attach to bike’. We’re unconvinced by these; they tell potential thieves how much time they have to half-inch your bike. We’ve never been chastised for not affixing one, but if you do choose to use it, we suggest blacking out the destination.

Be a ninja

Train companies are fined heavily for every minute they’re late, and timetables are tight. Cyclists causing delays will mean a bad reception for the next bike-toting passenger, and worse bike provision in the future. So don’t hang around; be efficient, and be seen to be efficient. Strolling idly along the platform will annoy the conductor.

Tell the conductor

When the conductor comes to check your tickets, tell him/her you’ve got a bike, where it is, and where you’re getting off.

Keep it clean!

On many trains, passengers will be brushing up against your bike. They won’t thank you for mud or oil stains on their new suit.