StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
Flemish NRttK
- Thread starter swarm_catcher
- Start date
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ceepeebee
Veteran
- Location
- Some imaginary Flanders
This was my thought when I saw this (brilliant) plan
U
User169
Guest
I think I'm in for this one. I can get a regular IC train with the bike to brussel and it only takes a couple of hours. The plan to get home would be to ride to breskens, get the ferry to Vlissingen and then train home.
What do you suggest on the lighting front? Will some LEDs be OK, or should I look for sometjing a bit more powerful?
Vlaanderen by night - this is such a great idea Swarm Catcher!
What do you suggest on the lighting front? Will some LEDs be OK, or should I look for sometjing a bit more powerful?
Vlaanderen by night - this is such a great idea Swarm Catcher!
is it possible to get from Dunkerque to Brussels by train without going via Lille? The map shows a line going northeast to Diksmuide, but Rail Europe (which is a crap site) isn't having it. I suppose one could ride to De Panne and take the direct train to Brussels http://www.belgianrail.be/jp/sncb-n...eqnr=1&ident=6w.017890111.1367172995&OK#focus
BalkanExpress
Legendary Member
- Location
- Brussels
Dell, once the little ones are asleep I will have a further play on the Belgian railways site and have a look.
This morning I did a recon of routes out of town to get to fietsknoppen 52. I now have something which should gives us frite, fashion, cobbles, a basilica and all with a minimum of tramlines.
This weekend is also Brussels city festival weekend "Irisfest" and I believe there will be live music on the Grand Place to accompany the waffles
BalkanExpress
Legendary Member
- Location
- Brussels
Dell, it looks as if all trains go via Lille, but that there are non Eurostar or TGV options that would allow the bikes to travel. The down side two ( lille and tournai) or three ( Hazebrouch, Lille, Gent) changes and a three hour journey time .
mmmmartin
Random geezer
I think that line is disused or for freight only. I came to the conclusion that it would be much quicker to ride from Dunkirk to De Panne and get on a train there, where you had actually paid for the bike so would be guaranteed to get it on the train with no problem. And obvs riding Dunkirk to De Panne would be useful when riding back from De Panne to Dunkirk the next day, having done the trip from Ostend to De Panne on the Kusttram. Fast riders on a Pinarello could outrace the tram, obvs. Fat old pensioners on steel framed tourers perhaps not.
OP
OP
swarm_catcher
Guru
LEDs will be fine, especially if there are going to be a few of us. I'll be using two IXON IQs (not always on at the same time).
OP
OP
swarm_catcher
Guru
How about cycling to Veurne (Furnes), it's just over 20km. From there get a train to Brussels.
[edit: I guess that's the same idea as going to De Panne ...]
U
User169
Guest
Bugger. There are works on the line between Rotterdam and Antwerp on Saturday. Currently, the Dutch train route finder wants to send me via Duesseldorf and Luxembourg!
I'm going to see if I can book the bikes on Eurostar tomorrow. Will there be smeus?
ooh, I just did this http://goo.gl/maps/fKwK7 (hit Grote Markt, Caruso restaurant, pedestrian) and it looks really cool! 119km.
ooh, I just did this http://goo.gl/maps/fKwK7 (hit Grote Markt, Caruso restaurant, pedestrian) and it looks really cool! 119km.
BalkanExpress
Legendary Member
- Location
- Brussels
I have just realised that for those coming over from the UK that this is in effect an "11pm" start.
You lucky whatsists
Doing the trip the other way means every FNRttC is a "1am" start for me
You lucky whatsists
Doing the trip the other way means every FNRttC is a "1am" start for me
OP
OP
swarm_catcher
Guru
You say all the right things:
[bikes] @AgentHilda coming?
[smeus] Yum!
[119km] Perfect! Will sort out final route tonight (may be Wednesday).
BalkanExpress
Legendary Member
- Location
- Brussels
119km certainly sounds good and the navigation is easy, the Flemish equivalent of "head down the A23 until you can smell the sea"
The Brussels section of the Chaussee de Gand is, however, seriously shite. I'll see if I can nip out in the morning and adapt the route I had in mind so as to get us to the station at Berchem Sainte Agathe.