I recently joined a Cycling club in an effort to lose weight and keep fit. Unfortunately, most rides involve a train journey and loads of hassle.

Last Sunday, on a jaunt to Chichester and the joys of the flat Centurion Way, three of us were turned away from a South West train at Brighton Station, the guard quoting health and safety regulations and a rather tasteless reference to the rail crash the previous day.

We waited for the Southern service to Portsmouth and this time were allowed on, despite there being only provision for two bikes. We were obviously worried about getting back.

We do come across the occasional slam-door train in use and rejoice at its spacious guard's van, so why can't they be brought into service on Sundays?

Cycling should be encouraged, not made impossible by the new trains.

Alan (Fred) Pipes,

-Brighton