So I have to stop at an IKEA on the way up this Friday. I can either go up to A34/M4 and then west via Bristol or North via Birmingham. Is either IKEA less of an evil than the other as the journey time is pretty much the same, via Bristol is a shorter distance though.

Cheers

Ikea Birmingham is exactly at the pinch point of the M5 M6 Aston Expressway and main Walsall Wolverhampton link road. Friday night is about the worst time to be any where near it. I've spent many unhappy hours sat in endless queues on that junction trying to get home to Shropshire. If you have the choice of routes, I'd go via Bristol and the A470, at least you'll be moving albeit slowly.

I live not far from IKEA wednesbury and it's a nightmare ,the only plus you may have is Friday afternoon the M6 frees up a bit , with people finishing early ,also decathlon is opposite in case you've forgotten gas or anything ,b&q is opposite if you need meths and Tesco is just round the corner if you need any supplies

IKEA in Cardiff? good links to M4 and back to then drive up the A470.... just a thought

Ok so the m6 sounds a mare, Bristol is only a couple of miles off the m4 so I guess that wins. Now the seven bridges are free.

Most bizarre thread on a bikepacking site, evah!

It's taken me nearly an hour to get from the IKEA car park in Bristol to the M4 in the past... Traffic heading into Bristol on the M32 can be heavy too. It really depends on what time you're passing.

Why not just go to the one in Southampton?

Firstly there is no greater evil than going to Ikea, secondly, don't they offer a delivery option these days?

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 10:30 am Firstly there is no greater evil than going to Ikea, secondly, don't they offer a delivery option these days?

True.

Whenever I've been dragged along, err, visited, I've always wanted to go in the ball room* rather than traipse around the store.

*kids play room half filled with ping-pong balls instead of water

"no greater evil than going to Ikea" - agreed, but would extend to include the likes of C*sta, McKFCKing or whatever the fuk they're called, Tescarse, etc, all of which are the devil incarnate. Just IMHPO you understand. </rant>

sean_iow wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 10:06 am Why not just go to the one in Southampton?

It is a bit if a detour the other two are more or less enroute

chris n wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 9:58 am It's taken me nearly an hour to get from the IKEA car park in Bristol to the M4 in the past... Traffic heading into Bristol on the M32 can be heavy too. It really depends on what time you're passing.

Hopefully about half eleven to twelve, I should only be 15 mins in the store

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 10:30 am Firstly there is no greater evil than going to Ikea, secondly, don't they offer a delivery option these days?

Sadly not for small items

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 10:30 am Firstly there is no greater evil than going to Ikea

My kids like to jump on the beds and eat meatballs. We never actually buy anything.

dlovett wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 11:39 am Hopefully about half eleven to twelve, I should only be 15 mins in the store

Should be fine.

chris n wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 11:42 am

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 10:30 am Firstly there is no greater evil than going to Ikea

My kids like to jump on the beds and eat meatballs. We never actually buy anything.

Their cafe is rather good.

chris n wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 11:42 am

dlovett wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 11:39 am Hopefully about half eleven to twelve, I should only be 15 mins in the store

Should be fine.

Fingers crossed!

I don't mind going to Ikea, its the getting back out that takes me ages

Mart wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 3:27 pm I don't mind going to Ikea, its the getting back out that takes me ages

I always go in through the rear entrance and back out the same way.

Glad you beat me to it Chris

dlovett wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 5:30 pm

Mart wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 3:27 pm I don't mind going to Ikea, its the getting back out that takes me ages

I always go in through the rear entrance and back out the same way.

Perhaps I should rephrase that.

Dear me no, it's perfectly phrased just the way it is .

Well that’s sorted by the time I would reach The Birmingham ikea it will be raining, where as Bristol will be dry. I figure I will see enough rain on Saturday, so I don’t need to bother getting wet on Friday.