Traveling with brand New Bike Advice

I will be traveling in mid May if everything goes well not for pleasure but for personals for only 2 weeks. I am willing to bike ride a lot in those to weeks. Where we live in Panama C.A. in the Canal Area there are a lot of hills, pretty steep. So I am going to take advantage of that and train if I can Hopefully it wont rain too much. I was looking into buying a bike over there but because I only go once a year at the most and havent been back home in the past 3 years I really dont want to spend too much money on a road bike, it looks like they are a bit more expensive over there . I have an account with Performance Bike where I have save a few points that will give me a good discount on any purchase. They have a 2012 Fuji Finest 3.0 triple at closeout for 449 + tax (original price 929 +tax)....and I am pretty sure I can get an extra 10% off which will keep the price right at 449. I know this bike maybe not the best quality and maybe has low end components but good enough to serve my needs over there. I looked into buying a used one out there but the ones that looks good are over 650 used !...+ I will not have enough time to go look for a used bike in person so I preffer to take it from here with me. I want to start riding as soon as I get home :). I will be doing country rides but also city

Anyway....My main question is..Can I take this bike with me as extra luggage?....should I have the bike put together here and take it in a bike bag or it will be better to take the bike in the original box and have it put together once in Panama?...which way would you do it? which way is safer and or less expensive...Any advice would be much appreciated


I am dying to go bike riding back home...

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Airlines will charge at least $100 each way for the non-folding bike, probably more for international flights. You pack it in a cardboard bike box (already assembled at the bike shop but with the pedals off and bars turned). You could also rent or buy a bike box. Either way, it will be expensive. You might want to look into a used Bike Friday and case. Pretty pictures!

The Fuji is about the same quality as your Giant, just so you know. ;)

It's expensive to pack a bike, and if you're traveling internationally, that adds a lot. If you've got a hard-sided bike case rather than a cardboard bike box, some airlines count it as oversized luggage, so they don't charge as much.

I'm a little unclear on why you want to buy the new bike rather than ship one you already own. Are you planning to leave it in Panama (doesn't sound like it)? Am I reading your post right in that you have the option to buy the bike new in crate and have a shop in Panama build it for you (or build it yourself once you arrive)? If the latter, that's probably the safest option for shipping it there; if you'll need a shop to do the work, make sure you arrange it with them ahead of time; but then that doesn't solve the issue of how to ship it back after your trip if you plan to do that.

As I've said many times before, I MUCH prefer shipping a bike over trying to deal with it in an airport. Within the USA, it's no more expensive (sometimes cheaper, depending on shipping criteria) and WAY more convenient. I would at least price whatever shippers go to Panama (FedEx/DHL?) for comparison.

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Originally Posted by tulip

Airlines will charge at least $100 each way for the non-folding bike, probably more for international flights. You pack it in a cardboard bike box (already assembled at the bike shop but with the pedals off and bars turned). You could also rent or buy a bike box. Either way, it will be expensive. You might want to look into a used Bike Friday and case. Pretty pictures!

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Thank you!!.. I will call the airline to find out before I buy the bike...

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Originally Posted by Owlie

The Fuji is about the same quality as your Giant, just so you know. ;)

It's expensive to pack a bike, and if you're traveling internationally, that adds a lot. If you've got a hard-sided bike case rather than a cardboard bike box, some airlines count it as oversized luggage, so they don't charge as much.

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Yes Owlie I know its kind of the same quality but for some reason I am in love with my Giant and even though I dont know much about bikes I think my Giant is a bit above this Fuji...I could be wrong though....lol

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Originally Posted by OakLeaf

I'm a little unclear on why you want to buy the new bike rather than ship one you already own. Are you planning to leave it in Panama (doesn't sound like it)? Am I reading your post right in that you have the option to buy the bike new in crate and have a shop in Panama build it for you (or build it yourself once you arrive)? If the latter, that's probably the safest option for shipping it there; if you'll need a shop to do the work, make sure you arrange it with them ahead of time; but then that doesn't solve the issue of how to ship it back after your trip if you plan to do that.

As I've said many times before, I MUCH prefer shipping a bike over trying to deal with it in an airport. Within the USA, it's no more expensive (sometimes cheaper, depending on shipping criteria) and WAY more convenient. I would at least price whatever shippers go to Panama (FedEx/DHL?) for comparison.

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The bike is staying in Panama so when I go I have a bike to use every single day and anytime. I usually go for a whole month.I am going to buy the bike new but I dont know If I should have the shop put it together and then package the bike in a bike box with wheels and pedals dismounted or if I should just leave the bike in the original box and ship it like that and then built it over there. I do have a friend who build bikes so I wont have to worry about that and there are also many BS that I can make arrangements with. I will call around and price the shipping..I think Fedex and them will be too darn expensive...I remember a couple of years ago I was trying to ship a laptop with Fedex and they wanted if I am not mistaken $125+ .




Thanks everyone for your help.

I would be surprised if a bike shop would sell you an un-assembled bike. There might be some liability issues because they would not be able to confirm the quality of the assembly. Sounds like a good idea to leave a bike there--could you not buy a used decent bike in Panama?

Looking at the components, the Fuji's actually a little nicer (rear derailleur)! But I get being attached. The Charge has yet to worm its way into my heart (...ew...) the way my Giant has, even though it's a heck of a lot nicer and fits me better.

I'm about 95% sure they won't sell an unassembled bike. The only way you'd be able to get it that way is 1) if they've got one of them on the floor, you could ask them to disassemble it, but you'd have to pay the cost of doing that, or 2) you buy it off the website and have it shipped to you rather than going in, buying it, and shipping it to the store.

Could you rent a bike down there?

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Originally Posted by tulip

I would be surprised if a bike shop would sell you an un-assembled bike. There might be some liability issues because they would not be able to confirm the quality of the assembly. Sounds like a good idea to leave a bike there--could you not buy a used decent bike in Panama?

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They are very good used ones but I am affraid I wont have time to go look at one that fits plus don't like the idea of ending up buyin a stolen bicycle because I am in a rush of getting one. They are very good at that over there...and I mean really good...and I would hate to give my money to a thief. So I prefer to buy it new either here or there ..where ever cost less.

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Originally Posted by Owlie

Looking at the components, the Fuji's actually a little nicer (rear derailleur)! But I get being attached. The Charge has yet to worm its way into my heart (...ew...) the way my Giant has, even though it's a heck of a lot nicer and fits me better.

I'm about 95% sure they won't sell an unassembled bike. The only way you'd be able to get it that way is 1) if they've got one of them on the floor, you could ask them to disassemble it, but you'd have to pay the cost of doing that, or 2) you buy it off the website and have it shipped to you rather than going in, buying it, and shipping it to the store.

Could you rent a bike down there?

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Yeah I know...the Fuji has more gears on the rear and thats nice I also like the fact that it is a triple. And you are right I also tought about having the store mail it directly to my house instead.

I don't want to rent because where I live I can bike ride everyday all day! so I want a bike handy 24/7. PLus it will be there everytime I go on vacation and I don't have to worry about renting.

So last night I called the airline I am planning to fly with and asked about this. The rep told me that as long as the Box is between 62"X62" and no more than 50Lbs I am able to take it as the first check in luggage for Free and any extra luggage under 50Lbs will be $40. So the question is Should I call again to make sure? I am about to buy the bike this weekend or next week at the latest and the flight ticket at the end of the month.

I read the same last year with Jet Blue when I was researching out of curiosity. I thought it was such a great deal I read it over a few times thinking I was reading it wrong.

Just FYI, hard sided cases with their packing materials typically weigh over 30# empty. By the time you add your pedals and bottle cages, you'll have to have a pretty lightweight bike to get it under 50# in a hard case. So, with that in mind, if the airline offers that same deal on international flights, you'll definitely save money using a cardboard crate. I've never used one and I'd be kind of afraid to, myself, but if you let the LBS pack it up for you, hopefully it should be okay.