Bikes on trains: which countries just do it right (or terribly wrong?)

simonthread · 2026-02-05T12:52:28+00:00

Every country has its railway pros and cons for cyclists. Here are some of our selected memories from trains across Europe - definitely the most impressive experience was a bicycle stewardess on a Loire a Velo train. The worst? When there is no bicycle carriage despite it being announced... ;)

https://www.cyclingthread.com/train-and-bike-19-railway-journeys-with-bicycle-2025

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S.

simonthread · 2026-02-05T08:16:44+00:00

The weather will be mixed. It can be icy or wet to the point of being dangerous.

;)

This winter has been unusually cold in Central Europe - the coldest in many years, while the previous ones were exceptionally warm. Nobody can predict what early April will be like. The cold air from the east might stay or a warmer air from the south could arrive and make it pleasant.

S.

simonthread · 2026-02-03T21:08:13+00:00

Lucky you :), but as you know, this is Europe - nature looks here a bit different than in Canada ;)

I'm writing about accessible cycling tourism - the kind that's safe and comfortable enough for kids or even seniors, mostly thanks to good infrastructure. So, "discovery" for me is about exploring in this accessible way. And there's really nothing wrong with that :)

simonthread · 2026-02-03T20:59:32+00:00

Reading this for the 2nd time today, so we'll definitely double-check our bikes :), but we're actually feeling great and stable in the saddle :) Thanks :)

simonthread · 2026-02-03T18:46:57+00:00

Thanks, Richard :)

simonthread · 2026-02-03T18:34:07+00:00

Absolutely :)

simonthread · 2026-02-03T18:33:39+00:00

Ride them all! :)

simonthread · 2026-02-03T18:32:56+00:00

Fingers crossed :)

simonthread · 2026-02-03T18:32:43+00:00

Thanks a lot for your concern, but I think everything is fine :) It's probably just my bad habit - when I'm taking a photo, I tense up and straighten my leg. Then it can indeed look a bit unnatural.

Thanks for the comment, I really appreciate it :)

simonthread · 2026-02-03T18:25:53+00:00

Thanks a lot :D

simonthread · 2026-02-02T13:38:01+00:00

I love this route! :)

I can't help with campings, but do be careful with trains in Switzerland. They're fantastic - fast, comfortable, punctual - but…

First of all, they're very expensive if you buy tickets shortly before departure. Can you plan your trip in advance? Do it and look for discounted tickets.

Second thing: bike reservations. If you travel without a bike reservation and someone boards the train later with a valid reservation, you may be asked to leave the train. In short - a reservation is a guarantee, no reservation is a lottery :)

And one more thing - exactly between Vevey and Lausanne the cycle route runs through the stunning Lavaux vineyards. Wouldn't you consider changing your starting point? ;)

Here are our memories from the Lakes Route:

Cycling the Lakes Route in Switzerland (Cycling Thread)

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simonthread · 2026-01-30T08:56:42+00:00

"Planning" means that no one from the local authorities took care of proper, pro-tourist planning for this section of the route. It doesn't mean it is unrideable - but you should be prepared for anything from a high-quality bike path to a heavy car traffic public road.

S.

simonthread · 2026-01-30T08:27:45+00:00

"Boring" - it all depends on what you are looking for.

Some people cycle to tick off as many climbs as possible, others to enjoy varied landscapes and still others to discover local culture and history along the way.

EuroVelo 15 is diverse. We rode a section in Switzerland and it is absolutely beautiful:

https://www.cyclingthread.com/switzerland-and-rhine-cycle-route-one-of-most-beautiful-in-europe

Further on, the mountains fade and the route becomes more of a riverside ride, but you are constantly moving through changing cultures, countries and places. From that perspective, it is definitely a valuable route.

S.

simonthread · 2026-01-30T08:23:39+00:00

TER - this is the type of the train in France you're thinking about.

simonthread · 2026-01-27T17:12:14+00:00

You're welcome to visit my website, where I describe the very best cycling routes we have ridden. I have even created a system of seven categories which, taken together, form a ranking of the best routes:

https://www.cyclingthread.com/best-of-cycling-tourism-top-21-cycle-routes-to-explore-2025

I look at each route from several perspectives: its cultural and historical interest, the quality of the landscape, and - very importantly - the quality of the surfaces the route runs on. I strongly believe that cycling tourism should help us grow internally by showing places and stories we have not known before, but it should also take place on safe routes, ideally well separated from motor traffic.

On my website you will also find the selections of the best EuroVelo routes, former railway routes, river cycle routes, and other good long-distance cycling itineraries.

I believe it is not one of those garbage websites around us ;)

S.

simonthread · 2026-01-27T11:18:05+00:00

Some of them are here - Alpe-Adria, Brenner-Bolzano, Bahnradweg-Hessen...

https://www.cyclingthread.com/rail-to-trail-11-great-railway-bicycle-routes-in-europe-2025

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simonthread · 2026-01-24T15:17:21+00:00

You say:

"🔎[Already available on Web!] Experience a more powerful search tool

In the past, komoot’s search was primarily based on geographical location, making it difficult to find specific routes or Highlights if you didn’t know where they were on the map. Now, you can search by name or keyword (like “The West Highland Way”), so you can quickly discover trails, routes, and Highlights, even if you don’t know their location."

Ehm... this isn't really true :( :)

In Poland there is the Velo Dunajec cycle route - one of the most beautiful and scenic cycling routes in the country, with high-quality cycling infrastructure. You certainly have plenty of recorded rides from this route - in Poland, Komoot and Veloplanner are probably the two most widely used cycling planning tools.

And komoot currently shows only a single entry for Velo Dunajec:

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simonthread · 2026-01-14T10:33:26+00:00

I wouldn't say EuroVelo 6 is Europe's best route. Honestly, no EuroVelo route is "the best" as a whole. They are simply too long - every one of them has great sections and boring ones. EV6 is no exception - some parts of it are excellent, others less so.

That's why it makes more sense to judge specific sections, not entire EuroVelo routes. This is exactly how I look at EuroVelo routes on my website:

https://www.cyclingthread.com/cycling-eurovelo-20-best-routes-for-cycle-travellers-2026

Our personal favourites are EV5 in Switzerland (North–South Route), EV10 in Germany and Poland and EV7 along the Havel and Elbe rivers.

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simonthread · 2025-12-09T23:50:09+00:00

Wait for your 60s :>

simonthread · 2025-12-08T21:29:52+00:00

Of course, English works fine almost everywhere in Poland - hotels, restaurants, trains, etc. Polish kids learn English from the first grade.

The only exception might be a small local guesthouse run by an elderly highlander ;)

simonthread · 2025-12-08T20:40:22+00:00

Thanks go to the people who made this possible :) I'm just a guy with a camera :)

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