A
Artemisia
Guest
As some may remember, I am since last November the proud human
associate of an HP Velotechnik Scorpion FX folding recumbent tricycle,
Widdershins.
Next week, we are going on our first major excursion together, a self-
guided tour of Provence and the Luberon looping out of Avignon.
But first, I have to get from the Paris region to Avignon. No problem
- there's a TGV direct.
Now, all the demons break loose. Since the end of March, I have been
trying to make sense of the SNCF and its regulations regarding the
transport of this vessel. They have plenty of provisions for transport
of bikes and make much pretence of being bike-friendly, but there is a
tizzy-fit on every level when I mention the tricyle. The category of
trike for adults does not exist in their little minds.
I spent last Saturday taking the trike apart and putting it back
together, as Proof of Concept. The frame part, with the seat, front
wheels and fenders off, fits into a loose bag, forming an irregular
mass with the three longest dimensions about 1m10 X 1m X 70cms. This
mass is extremely unwieldy and fragile. There is no handle to take it
by, and all the prominent parts that you could grab are delicate -
chain, dérailleur, steering, etc. I could compact it with packing tape
and try to devise some sort of carry-handle out of the same, but would
probably need to put cardboard round the gears and fragile twoggly
bits, which could increase mass. The wheels, fenders and seat go into
a large portmanteau suitcase which will also have to take all my
clothes and personal effects for the trip.
"Bicycles", dsimounted and put in a bike bag, can travel for free in
the baggage section of the TGV, but their dimensions must not exceed
1m20 X 90 cms. That barely covers my two longest dimensions and does
not take into account the third dimension. This solution would require
arriving perhaps 90 minutes early at the station and carefully
dismounting and packing the bike on the quai.
There is also a door-to-door bike shipping service, which would add
some 100 euros to the cost of travelling and quite a few constraints
because they only pick up and deliver in standard working hours, which
means a risk of not having the bike on the start of my voyage, a
Sunday, after a Saturday, after a Friday which is a Bank Holiday. But
this service has a very rigid concept of "bike", because the bikes get
put in racks, and every time I discuss my special problem I get
stonewalled. I do not want to pay for and reserve this service,
spending days at home waiting for the pick-up (being all too well
acquainted with the unbelievable jenfoutisme of French services in
general), only to have it refused at the last minute (which apparently
they can do).
I have phoned two Darths of the Scorpion FX in the South of France to
ask them how the trike can be transported. They are totally adamant
that the whole point of the folding trike is that it goes on the
train, and "all I have to do" is put it in a bag. They say they have
30 customers or whatever who have never had any problems taking the
bike on the train. Well, they would say that. My own Darth in Paris,
much more circumspect, points out that the Scorpion FX is guaranteed
to go into the back of a Smart Car, and nothing else.
I don't drive, or I'd consider investing in a Smart just in order to
get Widdershins to starting point.
Anyone have experiences in this area?
EFR
Ile de France
associate of an HP Velotechnik Scorpion FX folding recumbent tricycle,
Widdershins.
Next week, we are going on our first major excursion together, a self-
guided tour of Provence and the Luberon looping out of Avignon.
But first, I have to get from the Paris region to Avignon. No problem
- there's a TGV direct.
Now, all the demons break loose. Since the end of March, I have been
trying to make sense of the SNCF and its regulations regarding the
transport of this vessel. They have plenty of provisions for transport
of bikes and make much pretence of being bike-friendly, but there is a
tizzy-fit on every level when I mention the tricyle. The category of
trike for adults does not exist in their little minds.
I spent last Saturday taking the trike apart and putting it back
together, as Proof of Concept. The frame part, with the seat, front
wheels and fenders off, fits into a loose bag, forming an irregular
mass with the three longest dimensions about 1m10 X 1m X 70cms. This
mass is extremely unwieldy and fragile. There is no handle to take it
by, and all the prominent parts that you could grab are delicate -
chain, dérailleur, steering, etc. I could compact it with packing tape
and try to devise some sort of carry-handle out of the same, but would
probably need to put cardboard round the gears and fragile twoggly
bits, which could increase mass. The wheels, fenders and seat go into
a large portmanteau suitcase which will also have to take all my
clothes and personal effects for the trip.
"Bicycles", dsimounted and put in a bike bag, can travel for free in
the baggage section of the TGV, but their dimensions must not exceed
1m20 X 90 cms. That barely covers my two longest dimensions and does
not take into account the third dimension. This solution would require
arriving perhaps 90 minutes early at the station and carefully
dismounting and packing the bike on the quai.
There is also a door-to-door bike shipping service, which would add
some 100 euros to the cost of travelling and quite a few constraints
because they only pick up and deliver in standard working hours, which
means a risk of not having the bike on the start of my voyage, a
Sunday, after a Saturday, after a Friday which is a Bank Holiday. But
this service has a very rigid concept of "bike", because the bikes get
put in racks, and every time I discuss my special problem I get
stonewalled. I do not want to pay for and reserve this service,
spending days at home waiting for the pick-up (being all too well
acquainted with the unbelievable jenfoutisme of French services in
general), only to have it refused at the last minute (which apparently
they can do).
I have phoned two Darths of the Scorpion FX in the South of France to
ask them how the trike can be transported. They are totally adamant
that the whole point of the folding trike is that it goes on the
train, and "all I have to do" is put it in a bag. They say they have
30 customers or whatever who have never had any problems taking the
bike on the train. Well, they would say that. My own Darth in Paris,
much more circumspect, points out that the Scorpion FX is guaranteed
to go into the back of a Smart Car, and nothing else.
I don't drive, or I'd consider investing in a Smart just in order to
get Widdershins to starting point.
Anyone have experiences in this area?
EFR
Ile de France