qclabrat
Well-Known Member
I've traveled often with bikes. I started with road bikes in travel bags when they still allowed two pieces on luggage per, one of which could be oversized sports equipment, like bikes. Bags worked but they get a good beating even when protected by pipe insulation and bubble wrap.
When I brought better bikes along still during the two bag era, I would just box it up, often double boxed. Once it was a Bruce Gordon touring bike I brought to Europe for a week. Double boxes are really tough.
Now with post 911 and greedy airline tactics they really stick it to the cyclist. That's where the Bike Friday came in and I travel with it as often as possible when I travel for work. I had a 12-15 country itinerary planned for January/February, but unfortunately will be delayed till late 2015.
I have rented, but the bike choices overseas are really bad, traveling in the US is much better, but I usually find myself in Europe or Asia. If only for a few days of tourist riding in the US, do the rental. Anything more hardcore, bring your own, nothing worse than poor fit and crappy parts to spoil the potential "ride of your life" trails/roads. I experienced that first hand in Singapore at wild trail park in a nearby island.
This past summer I flew United to China and brought 2 mountain bikes to leave behind at my in-laws near Shanghai. I was able to squeeze both bikes minus one rear wheel and still meet the 62" maximum size. Also was exactly 50 lbs. Boxed it from materials provided by the kind folks at High Gear in Stirling. Was preparing to pay the $100ish fee for the bikes but there was some chaos in the oversized baggage line and she forgot to charge us.
One important tip someone already mentioned is transportation after the airport. Most taxis or public transportation can not accommodate the 62" boxes or cases, especially overseas. Arrange for pickup with van service otherwise paying of a van at the airport will be ridiculously expensive. I actually brought a heavy duty portable dolly with me on the trip to China and wheeled my box to the train to the next city where some relative picked us up.
Traveling with bikes have really gotten to be a pain. I've tried the "It's a gift or artwork" line, they open boxes now. Fortunately for me it was a gift. Stick to rentals if just tooling around. Next summer I'll be doing a double century in China, a rental just won't cut it, bringing the Llama.
When I brought better bikes along still during the two bag era, I would just box it up, often double boxed. Once it was a Bruce Gordon touring bike I brought to Europe for a week. Double boxes are really tough.
Now with post 911 and greedy airline tactics they really stick it to the cyclist. That's where the Bike Friday came in and I travel with it as often as possible when I travel for work. I had a 12-15 country itinerary planned for January/February, but unfortunately will be delayed till late 2015.
I have rented, but the bike choices overseas are really bad, traveling in the US is much better, but I usually find myself in Europe or Asia. If only for a few days of tourist riding in the US, do the rental. Anything more hardcore, bring your own, nothing worse than poor fit and crappy parts to spoil the potential "ride of your life" trails/roads. I experienced that first hand in Singapore at wild trail park in a nearby island.
This past summer I flew United to China and brought 2 mountain bikes to leave behind at my in-laws near Shanghai. I was able to squeeze both bikes minus one rear wheel and still meet the 62" maximum size. Also was exactly 50 lbs. Boxed it from materials provided by the kind folks at High Gear in Stirling. Was preparing to pay the $100ish fee for the bikes but there was some chaos in the oversized baggage line and she forgot to charge us.
One important tip someone already mentioned is transportation after the airport. Most taxis or public transportation can not accommodate the 62" boxes or cases, especially overseas. Arrange for pickup with van service otherwise paying of a van at the airport will be ridiculously expensive. I actually brought a heavy duty portable dolly with me on the trip to China and wheeled my box to the train to the next city where some relative picked us up.
Traveling with bikes have really gotten to be a pain. I've tried the "It's a gift or artwork" line, they open boxes now. Fortunately for me it was a gift. Stick to rentals if just tooling around. Next summer I'll be doing a double century in China, a rental just won't cut it, bringing the Llama.
