MOVING THE MACHINE

A T-4-3 triplet is 11 feet long. That is longer than most family cars, longer than a supermarket bay, and longer than the optimism of a rider who says they will just pop it on the roof. Plan the move as carefully as the ride.

A decent-sized van is the honest answer. Pads on the floor, bars turned if we agree it, and nothing heavy stacked on the top tube. A long car with a proper rack can work in calm, dry weather. Crosswinds, November rain, and a short estate are how frames get scarred. Roof-rack straps and spacing are on the roof rack page.

We do not send machines with national carriers. Previous boxes came back with bent dropouts. At least one key rider also needs a pre-hire lesson at the shed, so collection from Churchtown is the default. Delivery is sometimes possible if manpower and fuel costs are agreed first. Details sit on logistics.

Ferry crossings need a crate or a van bay booked as a vehicle, not a hope that the purser will smile at three saddles. The Ireland lap in the adventures list is still the example we quote: fly the riders, ship the bike, and do not leave that sequence until the week you travel.

If the start line is a long way from Lancashire, treat the journey as two jobs. First, get the triplet from Garstang to the overnight stop. Second, get it from that stop to the start, with helmets and the collection table still in one piece. Charity teams heading for a capital event day often hire a local van for that last urban drop rather than driving a long-wheelbase into the middle of town at dawn.

Write the vehicle plan on the same scrap as the route. Then phone us so we can say whether your dates still have a machine free. Ride planning notes, if you need them, are on Ride planning.