ThorH
Registered user
If anyone offered to transport your bike from Stansted to Oslo and back, so that you could pop over on Ryanair, would you be interested? How much would you be willing to pay?
Fly and ride?
- Thread starter ThorH
- Start date
Yes, I'd be interested. The amount I'd be prepared to pay would be based on the cost of the long way round trip via Germany, Denmark etc or alternatively, the commercial ferry from Immingham.
I tried to interest a Scots based shipping company in such an idea a year or two ago. Never got back to me. I assume there was little or no profit for them in such a low volume trade.
Good luck in your venture.
I tried to interest a Scots based shipping company in such an idea a year or two ago. Never got back to me. I assume there was little or no profit for them in such a low volume trade.
Good luck in your venture.
jonnyp
Registered user
I did a 12 day trip to Norway in 2010.
By road and ferry I'd say then, it cost around £500-600 to get to Oslo and return. It also took 48+ hours.
I doubt Ryanair could do it cheaper or quicker.
Imagine the booking in process, do you have an engine it that sir, that'll be an extra £100, tyres sir, another £100..... Oh a seat, £100.....
Then when you get to Oslo, the bikes in Milan !!!
Good idea though.
By road and ferry I'd say then, it cost around £500-600 to get to Oslo and return. It also took 48+ hours.
I doubt Ryanair could do it cheaper or quicker.
Imagine the booking in process, do you have an engine it that sir, that'll be an extra £100, tyres sir, another £100..... Oh a seat, £100.....
Then when you get to Oslo, the bikes in Milan !!!
Good idea though.
ThorH
Registered user
Ryanair would not touch the bike. I am thinking a weekly lorry, and you could fly. If you book now, you could fly return for less than £100.
Actually, one of the advantages of Ryanair is that they hardly ever loose luggage. They only go point to point and mostly small airports.
Actually, one of the advantages of Ryanair is that they hardly ever loose luggage. They only go point to point and mostly small airports.
I'd love to ride the bike round Norway/Sweden without the hassle of a long trip just to get there. So, in theory I like the plan.
I wouldn't be flying with Ryanair though. I'd rather forgo the trip than give my money to any company who, I understand, refuse to acknowledge their employees right to representation by a Trades Union .
I wouldn't be flying with Ryanair though. I'd rather forgo the trip than give my money to any company who, I understand, refuse to acknowledge their employees right to representation by a Trades Union .
jonnyp
Registered user
I use to fly a lot with Ryanair to Sweden, although they never lost my bag I know plenty that had theirs do a Europen trip and to wait days to get it back.
The lorry idea is good. I would be interested as long as it was all fully insured
You could do that to any destination in Europe as there are trucks taking stuff everywhere. It's called "groupage" and the truck could have anything loaded on board. The goods on these trailers might get handled a few times before they get delivered so you would need to fully crate your bike for security.
Be aware though that delays can happen in the logistics chain so give it plenty of time.
Also, you will have to factor in not only your flight costs but maybe extra hotel accomodation, taxi's to and from the airport and delivery point and costs for using somewhere to unload and de-crate your bike and the same back.
Be aware though that delays can happen in the logistics chain so give it plenty of time.
Also, you will have to factor in not only your flight costs but maybe extra hotel accomodation, taxi's to and from the airport and delivery point and costs for using somewhere to unload and de-crate your bike and the same back.
ThorH
Registered user
Sorry for being unclear: Would you be interested in having your bike transported safely between UK and Norway while you swim, fly with an airline of your choice, on a broomstick, or otherwise get your ass across the water? How much would you be willing to pay for the privilege of not spending 4 of your vacation days riding / sailing with your bike? 
No crates. No "groupage". A weekly lorry route between London and Oslo in the summer. For those of you who would want to come here, and for those of us who would like to go there.
No crates. No "groupage". A weekly lorry route between London and Oslo in the summer. For those of you who would want to come here, and for those of us who would like to go there.
ThorH
Registered user
Let's look at the options. (Assuming, of course, that you want to ride your bike in Norway.)
The main ride options are (each way):
- London - Oslo: 1148 miles / 2 vacation days (at least), 2 hotel nights, food, bridge tolls
- London - Kiel: 626 miles / 2 vacation days, 1 hotel night (you must be in Kiel by noon), food, a very costly ferry to Oslo (must have cabin)
- London - Fredrikshavn: 884 miles / 2 vacation days, 1 hotel night, food, a quite costly ferry to Oslo (must have cabin)
- London - Hirtshals: 884 miles / 2 vacation days, 2 hotel nights, food, a relatively affordable ferry to Larvik
Plus, of course, the channel crossing. How much is that?
How much for a mile on the bike? Petrol, tyres, service, depreciation,... 20p? I think you are looking at least 4-500 plus food and lodging to ride here and back. Maybe less, if you are 4 to share cabin on the ferries. And you have to spend 4-6 tedious (IMO) days on the motorway, that could have spent by the fiords.
Proposed alternative: Deliver your bike and luggage at Stansted. Fly to Oslo, be a tourist there for one day. Pick up bike. Ride. Deliver bike. Fly home. Take train or bus to pick up bike a day or two later. If you buy a plane ticket early, you can fly return for less than a 100. Local transport between airport and Oslo is 20-30.
You sure such a service would be worth only 250?
The main ride options are (each way):
- London - Oslo: 1148 miles / 2 vacation days (at least), 2 hotel nights, food, bridge tolls
- London - Kiel: 626 miles / 2 vacation days, 1 hotel night (you must be in Kiel by noon), food, a very costly ferry to Oslo (must have cabin)
- London - Fredrikshavn: 884 miles / 2 vacation days, 1 hotel night, food, a quite costly ferry to Oslo (must have cabin)
- London - Hirtshals: 884 miles / 2 vacation days, 2 hotel nights, food, a relatively affordable ferry to Larvik
Plus, of course, the channel crossing. How much is that?
How much for a mile on the bike? Petrol, tyres, service, depreciation,... 20p? I think you are looking at least 4-500 plus food and lodging to ride here and back. Maybe less, if you are 4 to share cabin on the ferries. And you have to spend 4-6 tedious (IMO) days on the motorway, that could have spent by the fiords.
Proposed alternative: Deliver your bike and luggage at Stansted. Fly to Oslo, be a tourist there for one day. Pick up bike. Ride. Deliver bike. Fly home. Take train or bus to pick up bike a day or two later. If you buy a plane ticket early, you can fly return for less than a 100. Local transport between airport and Oslo is 20-30.
You sure such a service would be worth only 250?
ThorH makes a good case for anyone who is willing to pay to avoid a long trek and two nights in a hotel getting there.
Norway
I think this is a great idea, I would pay £600 and perhaps more to get my bike to Oslo. I live in Scotland, I would prefer to have my bike taken from Scotland. Having said that. Riding to London is better than Oslo!! I have had two trips to Norway on my bike in 2008.
I think this is a great idea, I would pay £600 and perhaps more to get my bike to Oslo. I live in Scotland, I would prefer to have my bike taken from Scotland. Having said that. Riding to London is better than Oslo!! I have had two trips to Norway on my bike in 2008.
I'm a bit confused here and I'm not trying to be obtuse but are you thinking of a dedicated truck for the bikes? I'm not sure you've thought about the time it takes for a truck to get to Oslo with drivers hours, ferry times etc etc.
ThorH
Registered user
This is a valid point of course. I have not yet looked thorougly at all the details, but I think it can be done. From Stansted to Kiel is 11-12h. I do not know the rules in detail, but I believe you can drive for 10h maximum in one day. You cold start e.g at Saturday 6 pm, drive 4,5 h and sleep for a few hours. Then sprint to Kiel for the 2 pm ferry, and you are in Oslo at 10 Monday.
This is just an idea right now, and it will probably never get off he ground unless I find someone in UK to work with. So chime in if you are interested!
johntu
Registered user
Sounds like a plan. I'd be interested for £500
ThorH
Registered user
Ok, I think I hear that it might be sellable in the £5-600 region. I will do some enquires and math, and maybe I will come back with something for 2014. I would like to use this as a platform for a couple of organized tour, to make it worthwhile. So maybe half of the slots would have to be reserved for this.
Meanwhile, potential UK partners please chime in! You can reach me at thoham60 at gmail.com.
Meanwhile, potential UK partners please chime in! You can reach me at thoham60 at gmail.com.
How much for one old sidecar from Oslo to Stanstead?
With all my camping gear inside the sidecar, safe?
And not in 2014, but in 2015?
And only one way (no return ticket)? That way I can go home when almost all my money are gone, hopefully after many weeks.
Liv.
With all my camping gear inside the sidecar, safe?
And not in 2014, but in 2015?
And only one way (no return ticket)? That way I can go home when almost all my money are gone, hopefully after many weeks.
Liv.We travelled from North Scotland to Scandanavia last year and did not relish the mileage via Newcastle- Amsterdam there and back. We managed to bully SeaCargo into taking 4 bikes in a container from Aberdeen to Stavanger (or the closest port) for £250 each, one way only, then flew ourselves. The main problem was each bike had to be securely strapped on to a pallet, custom built by ourselves, max 8ft to fit into standard container. Don't know if they would be wiling to do this regularly but worth asking. Cracking trip with he hairpins in/out of Gerainger proving better than the Trollstigen, but the highlight was "the" bridge, spectcular!!
ThorH
Registered user
This is the problem with shipping today, they make it damn hard to be a customer. I'm still working on it, but struggling to get the price down to where I want it.
Liv, if this ever becomes reality, it will not include an offer for one way shipping of side rigs. That would not make business sense, I'm afraid.
Liv, if this ever becomes reality, it will not include an offer for one way shipping of side rigs. That would not make business sense, I'm afraid.
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