3 bikes on the back of your car compares favourably with 4 bikes on a bastarding train, as the one I am booked on is apparently full up of bikes, and with booking mandatory.
My mental scenario says that a group of end-to-enders has booked this with out regard to the fact that they will actually arrive two days early, and in the meantime are pissing off righteously the good people of the north of Scotland, in particular, me.
I think I may have to purchase a bike bag, on the basis that at least I'll get on the train, and it'll be handy if I take the bike on the plane another time. Sadly the good old days of a nod and a wink at Kirkwall check-in and the bike went on for free with only needing to turn the handlebars round are past.
Even then Scotrail might sting me for a half adult fare as the bag would be oversize (1m), but as that would be a fiver, could be worse. The tense bit will be getting the bike in the bag in five minutes flat...
Jamie, you don't fancy this route do you?