Bikes on Eurostar?

This is a useful thread. Thanks all.

I'm not surprise it costs £20 each way to store a bike. It may or may not be extortion on their (Eurostar's) part, but compared to the prices of other stuff related to travel it seems pretty reasonable. Better though to just take the wheels off and save forty sheets.

My question is this: if I'm taking a fully-loaded touring bike (with, as a side note, mudguards that are a right fucking hassle to remove), should I just drop the dollar? What's the storage provision like in the area around/above the seating? If I was travelling light I'd whip the wheels off and slip it up top, but as it is I can tell I'm gonna have to spread myself about. I have travelled on the Eurostar before but didn't take notes.

Cheers.

I did it the cheap way when doing some budget touring with a mate. I took the wheels off, put it in a bag and took it into the regular carriages with regular luggage.

My bag split (I should have taken the pedals off but didn't) – the staff freaked out (they could see bicycle!). It could have gone better tbh. If you pay £20 they might not treat you like scum.

We were light-touring (just a massive Carradice saddlepack with mat etc strapped to it). I will pay next time if I'm carrying any luggage. Just for the convenience of not having to carry the bike bag and luggage off the train, and the fact I wouldn't have to take a bike bag touring with me.