So I might be coming down to London for the weekend of the 29th and 30th and I'm tempted to bring the bike down. I'll be spending time with my mate most of saturday but on Sunday I was thinking I'd head along to Polo and meet the faces behind the posts. Does anyone have any experience with bikes on the trains taht they could share with me.

I look forward to meeting some of you on the 39th if this happens.

What time? If it's peak hour, ring 'em and see if you can book a spot. You could chance it being a weekend.
I trained to/from Manningtree, on the way out the bike was with me in the carriage (early morning Sunday) and on the way back it was in the guard's carriage.
I didn't book a bike spot and there were no other bikes but you never know.

I've taken bikes on the ECML before, you just need to book it with them. Your bike gets a ticket (costs nothing) and then when your train is ready to go ish the guard will put your bike in the end carriage where there are spaces for bikes to be locked to. It's easy and painless just as long as you get the space booked up. I would recommend locking it up as people with really bulky items or bikes are in and out of there during the course of the journey and could easily walk off with your bike unless you look out everytime the train stops.

which calendar are you on? ;)

Where you coming from? I've been travelling from Colchester to London for many years with a bike and that line has always been bike friendly.

That's just rocking up with the bike, no forewarning.

Well done. You picked up on my deliberate mistake... erm... I meant 30th

Yeah, same as above, i take my MTB up to Yorkshire when i visit the parents, just book a place in the guards carriage.

Will do. Should be booking the train tonight. Looking forward to my first taste of cycling in London. Hopefully there will still be a good amount of people at Polo even though the Southend-on-sea ride is the day before.

First time in London.. take it easy.. eyes peeled.. we don't want your teeth lying on the ground for the weekend (puncture hazard ;))

Train booked with bike tickets reserved. I'll have to get my mate suitably mashed on the saturday night so that I can ditch him easily on the sunday for polo.

on a similar note, does anyone have any experience with taking bikes on french trains? Is there a charge??