We’ve returned from our annual weightwatchers trip. Where we (my future wife and I) (try to) shed a few pounds, we decided to use our bikes this year.

The plan: To cycle the Sustrans West Country way bike route from Bristol to Padstow. A 300 mile part traffic free route which leads us from Bristol to the quiet and country lanes of Cornwall.

We camped throughout the journey, apart from our night on Exmoor where where had the luxury of a B&B in Dulverton.

The trip took us 6 days from start to finish, covering 3 sets of interesting hills – The Quantocks, Somerset. The Exmoor National Park, Devon, and various Cornwall hilly bits.

We were covering about 50 miles a day on average, and carrying around 80 litre capacity clothing, food and camping equipment.

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Having to travel on trains quite regularly in the UK, I always have to learn about the forever changing rules regarding bikes on trains.

I picked up a leaflet from the train station which you can download here > http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/passenger_services/cyclists.htm

It lists the many different rail companies here in the UK, with their many different rules for traveling with bicycles.

By far the most important part of this post is the details of organisations promoting bicycles on trains:

• Bike2Work
• Sustrans
• The National Body for Cyclists – CTC
• A to B Magazine

These are mostly charities that receive government and private funding for their projects. You can get involved with the events they have thru the year.

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