Some notes from a third #velotrain2025 trip (continuing to insist that this is possible...), this time only to the South of France, connecting engagements in Marseille, Port-Vendres and Toulouse. Main challenge this time: the heat, indeed an early heat wave hitting all of France.
I started, this time, by cycling, from my doorstep, across the Col de Carabes, towards the Durance valley, passing Claps, in the fresh air of the morning hours.
1/n
@btel @jon There's definitely pros and cons either way.
- No reservation needed but first-come-first-served means you could just be rejected.
- Mandatory reservation but delayed train or replacement bus means you may end up stranded anyway.
I liked following @wolfgangcramer 's latest #velotrain2025 threads highlighting how these issues can be sorted out in practice when pragmatism and dialogue prevail. 💯
Starting a new, one-week, #velotrain2025 trip this morning. This time, the goal is to honour speaking invitations in Perpignan and Nantes ... and do some cycling on the Atlantic coast in between. I will stay in France.
The beautiful day starts with the first TER being cancelled, so I already have to adjust and get onto a reservation-only TER later on (without reservation). But so far, everything looks good.
Planning to report in a simple 🧵 once again here.
1/n
…suivent les récits de ceux qui, avec résa, se sont entassés comme d'hab, et de ceux avec résa qui n'ont pas pu monter du tout.
Je me rappelle. RT @wolfgangcramer: Even on a hazy day like today the climb right after Lausanne is spectacular.
15/n
Off this morning on #velotrain2025 to Germany, on interrail, with my bicycle. Will be taking lots of regional trains along the way and am starting unnecessarily early, such as to be able to buffer possible delays later during the day.
I will report observations in this thread (thanks for the 50+ encouragements!).
1/n
Dear #trainbubble - next Monday I will be departing for another risky experiment: start here in France and visit several places in Germany by train, with my "normal" (non-foldable) bicycle. In the current plan, 21 trains of all kinds in 🇫🇷🇨🇭🇩🇪, some with and most without reservations, and the plan will certainly have to be adapted along the way.
Should I report my experiences and tricks as a 🧵 here?
The hashtag would be #velotrain2025.
Wolfgang Cramer
Cycling on Rails
Jocelyn
Thomas