Heading South?
New Bikeshuttle service to Toulouse
John Newman
It can be frustrating if you have limited holiday time in the year. You want to head to some (almost) guaranteed warm weather and the magnificent roads that can be found in southern France, Spain, and the mountain ranges in those countries. But it's a long haul whatever route you decide to take. Add in the cost of ferries, fuel, and toll charges if you want to take the most direct route. Factor in an overnight stop or two and the Euro total will mount up and might even persuade you to take a chance on the UK weather lottery.
Bikeshuttle, the bike and kit transportation service that has been operating between UK and Geneva, has now introduced a new service to Toulouse. Which means you can take advantage of the EasyJet service that flies there (from Luton), and your bike and kit will be waiting.
They are organising five runs to this destination this year. The return cost for your bike and kit/luggage will be £595. Or if you're claiming political asylum because of Brexit and only want to go one way, it's £400.
Comments
07/04/17 - Tempting... Prob the only way I could take that heat is on the bike with a breeze blowing through!
07/04/17 - Would take longer and cost more using a service like this. Plus it's part of the tour to ride there. The tunnel is the cheapest crossing and most toll motorways in France can be avoided, but are not that expensive if you avoid Paris.
07/04/17 - It means a f**k of a lot of money and a missed ride on great roads Stuart! You can ride the most wonderful roads from Versailles to Toulouse. Calais to Toulouse is 2 days riding, £200 max in petrol, £120 for 2 nights in hotels. Save almost £300 and have 4 days of riding great roads through open countryside picturesque villages.
07/04/17 - Lets see........Flight to Toulouse from Stanstead £60 return + £595 bike transport = £655. Versus £70 chunnel return and £120 for fuel = £190 (@50mpg). Even if you wish to split the journey through France and throw in a hotel, it's still cheaper, more fun and quicker. Artic truck is restricted to 56mph and time on the road.
09/04/17 - Hi, all you say is very valid, so not dissing your post at all yeah...
I'm a northerner & ride a fair few miles over a season with my club & solo..
I used the Bikeshuttle service last summer..
My tour was planned from Edinburgh to Northampton- ( Bikeshuttle) to Geneva, then it was all the usual passes in Switzerland, northern Italy, Dolomites, Austria & through Slovakia to Poland for a good friends wedding over a period of three weeks... obviously rode back through Chezc, Austria, then back to Geneva....picking up the bike in Northampton to head through wales.., Yorkshire & up through the Scottish Borders to Edinburgh....
I may hear you think 'so what'... at this point...
I used the service not because it made financial sense, although it did for me.
You could add another couple of days each way onto the calculations you made so in my reckoning I saved 6 days ( 3 to Geneva & 3 back) riding on mostly motorway to crunch the miles i needed.
Now I like all of us have, do & would just tuck in the elbows & do the long rides needed for as you say or someone did, it's part of the tour..
I had a new convert to biking on the back- well 18 year partner - with a disability who never really rode any longer than an hour or so from base... I cajoled her into this tour with all the usual comforts... hotels, no tents, plenty time off the bike ( that was a flagrant lie- oops)... actually was 9-12 hour days in the saddle--
Gel seat - back rest, geez , all the comforts 
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