Flying with Bikes - Should we or shouldn't we?

The Silvers are going to Maine for a week and have a house rented on a lake near Bethel Maine. Never been there before but they have cycling routes posted for the area (and they brag about the cycling):o

Bethel has a bike rental place...but they're likely not road bikes and not likely accessorized for serious cycling (clips, etc).

So, the question is:
- do we invest in bike boxes for the plane, bring our own, and pay the substantial weight penalty:mad: (total cost about $500 to $800 depending on the boxes), or
- do we rent bikes for $25/week and just take it easy:confused: , or
- do we kick back and get upper body exercise canoeing instead (free)?:)

What would you do?

We were just doing the same debate for a trip to New Hampshire! Ultimately, we've decided to not take the bikes. I hope we don't regret it.

Good luck with your decision!

The cyclists I know who travel with their bikes own a special cycling suitcase. The airline allows each person to check in two suitcases. If you are flying economy, and some flights have economy seats only, then the weight limit per suitcase is about 50 pounds. If you fly first class, then you get a weight limit more towards 70 pounds. Therefore one suitcase is devoted to clothing and the second suitcase contains the bicycle and accessories.

If you have a quality bike, your bike and the suitcase it is in should come in at under 50 pounds, including a few bike tools, the helmet and so on.

However you have to take the bike apart and put it back together upon arrival.

I don't have any personal experience with this scenario. I know of one senior male cyclist who owns a home in Las Vegas and rents an apartment in Portland, and he flies back and forth with his bike in this fashion regularly, like once a week.

If you take a vacation off of your personal bikes, it does force you to do other things, which can be very rewarding. I just went on a cruise to Alaska (thus no bike) and I really had a lot of fun. I don't regret my time off the bike at all, even though I have a century in a few days.

Darcy

Wow... $800! I'd probably rent bikes there even if they aren't super-sexy. $25 vs $800 is a pretty big jump. Bring your pedals and shoes (and saddles if you have one you like) and switch them out on the rentals.

Plus I'd be worried about the wear and tear on my beloved bikes if I was taking them apart and shipping and re-assembling and taking apart and shipping again.

What about investing in a couple Dahons or Bike Fridays? That way, if you go on other trips you'll always be able to bring your own bikes. Some of those folding bikes can be pretty sexy.

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Originally Posted by DarcyInOregon

If you fly first class, then you get a weight limit more towards 70 pounds.

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:D :D That's funny, flying out of Evansville, there's no first class...there's just a puddle jumper with your choice of "Left Side" or "Right Side":eek: :eek:

The cases are expensive...and you're right, the dismantling would be a pain!

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Originally Posted by KnottedYet

Bring your pedals and shoes (and saddles if you have one you like) and switch them out on the rentals.

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Hmmm...there's an idea...:)

Don't like the foldable bikes...we have ENOUGH BIKES in our house...guess we'll have to rely on our good looks rather than a sexy bike...

That's exactly what we did last year on a trip to Seattle - we packed shoes, pedals, and all our bike stuff in one suitcase ("real clothes" in another suitcase) then rented bikes from one of the local bike shops in the area.

I worried that our beloved bikes would get lost or broken if we took them on the plane. It really worked out; just be prepared for airport security to search your luggage....both ways! All that metal will set off their alarms :eek:

Lorie

DH flew for the first time this winter. The Thule bike case was around $300, and SWA charges $50 each way for a bike (most airlines charge $80 - $100 each way). He could have used a bike box from a LBS and shipped UPS for about $40 each way, but he wanted the protection of a case and to keep his bike "with" him. I think he would ship his "extra" Bianchi in a box via UPS, but not the Madone. We see decent road bikes for rent in some larger cities and vacation spots, you might call around. Riding would be awesome, even better on your own bike.

I probably wouldn't pack my bike unless it was important for my bike to be there. If I was just going around town or doing random rides (as opposed to an important distance ride), I'd make arrangements to rent a good bike and bring my shoes and pedals.

It just all depends on how much it would be bad if your bike were to be damaged. Yes, there is the dismantling but there is also the possibility that your bike could be lost or hurt. As much as I love my bike and would like it to be with me, if I was doing 30-50 mile rides in another city and I could find a decent bike for rent, I'd use the rental bike. If I was planning a century or double century in another state, I would probably risk packing my bike.

If you do bring your bike, definitely do hard-sided. Protect it as much as you can and remember aircraft can't read "fragile" signs :D

Oddly enough, when I posted this, I thought Silver was more serious about the possibility of bringing the bikes than she is.

:eek: :eek: Silly me, how could I have misread that???:eek: :eek:

However, I think that reading this feedback seals the deal! I think I see rentals and canoes in our future!;) ;)

My husband and son both have taken their bikes on planes. We have hard suitcase like cases that are bigger than standard suitcase size and get charged the extra $ for. We also have shipped a bike via UPS. Bad experiences with both. The TSA breaks the locks off of your bike case and rummages around in all of your parts, etc. UPS damaged my son's racing bike when shipping from Boston to Tucson and they would not pay to get it fixed. So, we either A) do a bike tour with a company that provides good bikes or 2) drive and bring our own bikes or 3) take a "normal people" vacation where we might bring our own pedals and seats and rent a bike (usually a mtb) to cruise around, but concentrate on other sports, hiking, canoeing, etc. My husband has a Bike Friday that he takes on business trips to Europe. It's the road bike model and he is ready to trade it in for a more touring type of bike and then I will get a similiar one, so we can easily travel with bikes.
Maine is a very relaxing place to vacation. Personally, I would try to concentrate on that and not worry about fast riding while I was there...

I tried to fly with my bike- it was really fun for a secvond or two but then and boy did I crash big.....:eek:

No, seriously...I borrowed a case from my local bike club, who has a few they sign out to members. That was great, BUT I was flying Delta, and they have not only a weight limit (50 lbs) but SIZE limit, and the bike box was over that. I was told to take it and try to talk them into it at the counter, (and I would have gladly paid extra) but I was afraid they would turn me down and I would have to take it back to the car, and risk someone stealing it in the parking lot. I borrowed a bike to ride instead.

Laura

We rented bikes in Vegas. Although they had Specialized Road bikes and it worked out great. Just be sure to check them over. My husbands bike was lacking air in the tires and he was wondering why his ride was so sluggish.

~ JoAnn

As others have said, flying with bikes is a hassle. The case is oversized, so you get charged regardless of whether it's within the weight limit. You have to dismantle the bike to get it in the case (my husband's job, since I wouldn't have a clue). I haven't traveled with mine since I brought it here to Chile in the early 1990s, and I have no intention of moving it again.

I'm planning to rent a bike in California to ride a metric. The company was very helpful when I called. You might try that with the shop in Maine--call them up and see what they have available.

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Originally Posted by Mr. Silver

Oddly enough, when I posted this, I thought Silver was more serious about the possibility of bringing the bikes than she is.

:eek: :eek: Silly me, how could I have misread that???:eek: :eek:

However, I think that reading this feedback seals the deal! I think I see rentals and canoes in our future!;) ;)

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:) Well, we do have some communication problems. :o {hugs, Mr. for trying to so hard to make me happier with the trip} This one is no big deal though. When I mentioned it, I really had no intent to take our bikes, I thought I told Mr. that we needed to rent bikes because it would be cheaper than shipping bikes.

I will miss my bikes dearly, but I am a triathete and can run and swim. I can be happy on a mountain or hybrid bike, I'll tell myself I'm working extra hard and how much more I'll appreciate "My Lovely Madone" when i get home.

And geesh, I would NEVER allow "My Lovely Madone" to handled by baggage handlers. :eek: :eek: Oh My, I won't even travel very far with it. Fortunately I have "Old Blue Jeans" (my trusty and wrecked Trek 1000) to tote around.

Looks like the decision is made, but I thought I'd throw in my two-cents worth anyway.

I have been traveling with bikes for 7 years so I have some experience. When I first started I would have my bike dismantled and boxed at my LBS, to the tune of about $15. I have shipped both UPS and FedEx and I will say, if you plan to ship a bike, use FedEx. Period.

I began flying with my bike about 4 years ago & don't mind it at all. Yes, the case is big, yes, there is a charge - but the bike is with you all the way. Baggage handlers? Do you really think they are any worse than the warehouse people who work for UPS or FedEx? I've had fewer problems flying than I did shipping. I fly Frontier most of the time and like SWA, they "only" charge $50 each way. I have learned to dismantle & reassemble the bike myself. It's not hard. It is really only taking off the wheels, handlebars & pedals. Everything else stays put. Oops! and the saddle.

The bike box is quite an investment, but you get what you pay for. Mine cost $500 & has been worth every penny because the bike packs perfectly & the casters on it are sturdy & roll easily. I figure it was worth the investment because I plan to travel with my bike fairly often. In fact, we (bike and I) are flying next on July 5.

Another option is to invest in a bike with S&S couplers (or have your existing bike retrofitted) - they add almost a pound to the weight but the bike packs much better. I do not have them but the people I know who do swear by them.

Hope some of this helps. -jane

i've traveled a bit with bikes also, and didn't find it too bad. i usually just use a cardboard box, and the most i've ever been charged on a domestic flight is $80 each way. When i shipped it, i think the total cost (with a lot of extra clothing and camping gear for "padding") was $50.

i took my mtb with me to guatemala in january, and TACA took it for free on the way down (i had one other bag as well).

on the way back, i was told that the US no longer allows cardboard boxes to come in on international flights (i'm thinking something was lost in translation somewhere along the line... that sounds kinda ridiculous!) so i'd have to pack the bike in plastic wrap. yes, plastic wrap.

the bike was fine, probably better than when i shipped it in the cardboard box!!

have to say, though, if i traveled with my road bike (which i plan to, eventually) i'll invest in a case.

It sounds like for YOUR trip, renting is the way to go. But, in general, there are advantages to taking a bike, but there are two ways to do it safely. One is to buy a serious box like the trico iron case. We have done this when having the bikes with us is a major part of the vacation. Then its worth the $200 each airline surcharge. The other way to go is to have bikes that fit into airline legal suitcases so you can bring them with no surcharge. I have experience with both bike fridays and s/s coupled bikes. I will say the packing/unpacking of a bike friday is easier, but I prefer the ride quality of my s/s coupled bike. But, you do need to have some mechanical knowledge for all of these options, the s/s coupled biking being the most complex.

Fun Story about Bikes and Flying!

Years ago, when my hubby was pretty into mountain bike racing, there was a national in New Hampshire that he wanted to go to. One of the reasons he wanted to go was that his sister lives there and he wanted to visit too.

I can't remember why I did not go, but it was probably cause of work or something like that.

Anway, my husband is a small racer type guy (not short but pretty slight and lightweight). I took him and his bike (in a bike box from a bike shop) with his duffle bag to the airport in Oakland, California. We had called about his flight before we left the house and everything was okay, so I just dropped him off at the front door and drove away. So, this is when the saga began. Hubby goes into the terminal with bike box and baggage in toe and when he gets to the desk to check in, they tell him that the flight has been cancelled and that there is nothing else going out of Oakland. However, there is a flight out of San Francisco. There are several other people in the same boat as my hubby (sans bike boxes though) that need to get to San Francisco. So they all get together and grab a taxicab to take the trip over the Bay Bridge to get to the SF airport in time.

So, hubby drags his bike box and luggage out to the curb and much to his dismay, his bike box just won't fit in the trunk. So, the cabbie, just shoves it in and leaves the trunk open, flopping all around with nothing to tie it down:eek: :eek: and Hubby gets shoved into the back of a taxicab between a 350 pound woman and a 200 pound guy! :D I just have this wonderful picture of his sandwiched in the middle, travelling across the bay bridge with his bike box bouncing up and down in the back!

The amazing thing is, he and the bike box got to the airport in one piece and even made it all the way to New Hamphire unscathed! Great memories!:)

I realize the decision has been made not to bring the bikes, but just wanted to pipe in...

1) I find if you call all the shops in the area and tell when you're looking for a good bike to rent, you can normally find one to hook you up. Last time I went to Mississippi, I didn't expect to find a rental, and was pleasantly surprised to get a sweet mountain bike with all top notch componenets (XTR)

2) If you want to take your bike, and don't want to invest in a case, what about calling your local bike shops and seeing if any of them have rental cases? Some shops do this, and it saves you a little bit of money!

I have used my IMBA membership to get around the extra charge for my bike case. hmm just checked. It looks like they stopped/cancelled the program. Anyway, IMBA still has some great deals if you are travelling with your bike. (I'm strictly a roadie but because of benefits and for conservation, I support IMBA).

And if you do get a box, get it with wheels!!! It's a real pain trying to drag a box at the terminal, trust me. And don't just go with two wheels on one edge, trust me!!

After once or twice of disassemblying your bike and puting it back together, it becomes second nature so it isn't that bad. just practice before you have to do it own your OWN. Do it when someone else can show you on how it supposed to go back together for few times.

I used to go to Salt Lake City and train up in Wasatch Mtn. with my tough cat1/2 brother-in-law. He lives there. I think one of the Tour rider came from his club... They are all business. Great for training at altitude and hill climbs in SLC. gasp for air. Anyway, I never had any serious problem tooting back and forth between So. Calif and Ut. And with IMBA deal with airlines, I don't recall having to pay extra. Well that was back then. And before 911. You might want to check out some of the travel benefits from IMBA.

Renting a bike and taking it easy also sounds like a fun option. Less stress and hassle but still go for a fun ride.

smilingcat

I just want to ditto IFJane's comments. And there have been several times that I haven't paid any extra to take my bike. It's under the 50 lb weight limit. I think going on the early early morning flights lets you sorta sneak it through--the agents at the desk aren't fully awake at that time.

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Originally Posted by horsemom

I tried to fly with my bike- it was really fun for a secvond or two but then and boy did I crash big.....:eek:

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Yep, about two weeks ago, I tried as well. That led to my "road rash" posts!:D