Originally Posted by
tyrion
I want to do some light tours this summer. I'm in San Diego, want to take the train up north a bit and ride south. The problem is Amtrak (according to their website
https://www.amtrak.com/bring-your-bicycle-onboard) my bike is too big. My tires are bigger than 2" and my bike is bigger in every dimension then the spec'd limits (I'm 6'5"). Is Amtrak strict about this? Can I slip the guy $20 to get him to take by bike? Do I gotta get a smaller bike?
From your proposed start point of Solvang, I'm guessing that you'd take Amtrak up to SLO, correct? If so, you'd be taking the Pacific Surfliner. Unlike most of the other Amtrak routes, where bikes boxed and unboxed go into the baggage car and are handled by baggage carriers, the California cars have self-serve hooks located on the bottom level near the doors. So it probably wouldn't be a big deal. (If you choose to use the Coast Starlight for a portion of your trip, you will have to deal with baggage handlers for your bike.)
As for tire width, I've used bikes with tire widths around 54/55mm and had no problems with Amtrak (using both the self-serve hooks and baggage cars.)
Here's a photo when I took the Capitol Corridor between Sacramento and Berkeley. The bike hook area is similar to what you'll find on the Surfliner:
