Flying with a bike....

[kenyonchris]

My new DH and I decided to fly to California from DFW for the Breakaway ride...which brings up a new problem....getting the bikes there. I can crate the things and ship them ahead of us, but I worry about what will happen to them enroute AND when they get there. The other option is to borrow or buy travel cases take them with us...our flight is a direct one on American. There are alot of options out there as far as cases go, they run the gamut in size and price. My husband's Madone is 60cm, my smaller Pinarello is 51.

Lastly, is there special insurance we can get that will cover the things en route? It is probably $20,000 worth of bikes and components.

Anyone? Anyone?

[OakLeaf]

I'd feel a lot more comfortable shipping them than flying with them. Get the hard cases regardless, especially if you have the chance to borrow or rent them. Plus, you don't have to schlep the cases through the airport along with the rest of your luggage, which is a MAJOR plus. If you're staying in a hotel, let the front desk know to expect the boxes - they do that all the time, often with photography and video gear, or salespeoples' samples, that are worth at least that much. Insure them through the shipper just like any other parcel - outside of shipping, your homeowners'/renters' may cover them, but definitely check - often they require a rider for sporting equipment over a certain value, and you'll want replacement value anyway.

I ship mine in a Thule case twice a year, sometimes more. Coming up on the sixth time, no problems yet [touch wood]. Use plenty of pipe insulation on the frame and foam or bubble wrap on other stuff, swipe some drop-out spacers from your LBS, take the RDs off even if the case instructions don't require it, and cinch everything down tight.

[ginny]

I flew across the world with my bike not that long ago. I bought a used hard case from someone advertising on Craig's List. You would be surprised how many people want to sell bike cases (after storing it, I can sort of understand). Anyway, I got one of the performance cases - it was decent - I can't complain and my bike arrived in one piece. As to insurance... I'm sure you can get it, but I can't help you. I also know people who ship them ahead and arrange with some bike shop to accept the bike and maybe put it back together for them. I know people have figured out ways to ship bikes pretty cheaply, but both times I have shipped a bike, it has cost half a fortune... if you are going to pay like that, you may as well take it with you.

[pumpkinpony]

I've shipped mine FedEx in the past. Much cheaper than the $100/segment charges from the airline I was flying. And I didn't have to hassle with it at the airport. You can add insurance on the shipping - mine was only worth a fraction of yours though so I don't know how much that would add to the cost.

I just used a cardboard bike box, which I can usually find out behind the bike stores for free on their delivery days. A hard case would be nice though.

[featuretile]

I honestly can't think it would be worth it to ship and risk such expensive bikes. For what that costs, couldn't you just rent some really good bike in CA? Perhaps it would be worth it if you were going to be riding for weeks, not just a day or a few (I don't know how long the Breakaway is). That's why I just bought a Bike Friday that I can bring with me. It's probably not fast enough for what you want to do. Good luck!

[OakLeaf]

I honestly can't think it would be worth it to ship and risk such expensive bikes.

FedEx handles stuff worth that much all the time. My DH is a photographer and buys a lot of stuff mail order. (Now, as I've said before, I wouldn't ship a roll of bubble wrap across town via UPS....) It' s not completely without risk, sure, that's why I advocate using a hard case even if the shipper will take a cardboard box. But nothing is completely wtihout risk.

[kenyonchris]

I honestly can't think it would be worth it to ship and risk such expensive bikes. For what that costs, couldn't you just rent some really good bike in CA? Perhaps it would be worth it if you were going to be riding for weeks, not just a day or a few (I don't know how long the Breakaway is). That's why I just bought a Bike Friday that I can bring with me. It's probably not fast enough for what you want to do. Good luck!

I guess we could do that (and will do that to do some mountain biking)...but our bikes are set up for us, with our garmins and such, with the pedal retention systems we like, with the saddles we like, and the groupsets we like. We want to do it in the LEAST risky way, but on such a big ride we really need our own bikes. I am sure that this is done all the time, so hopefully we will figure it out and it will all get there...one way or another...in one piece.

[OakLeaf]

When people I know have rented bikes, they bring their own saddle, cleated shoes and pedals. That would at least eliminate those variables, if you're thinking about it.

[kenyonchris]

Yeah, DH was home for our lunchtime spin (10 mile quick ride) and I shot the idea of renting a bike past him...he looked at me like I had grown a second head. But of course he is a racer, so everything has to be perfect.

[galfromdownundr]

Not fast enough ... actualy, BF just delivered a 16 lb Pocket Rocket Pro to this 73-year old guy who was at the front of the pack on PACTOUR Desert Camp http://www.bikefriday.com/desertcamp2010 every day:

Bob Kenner. Shown with Lon Haldeman. He rocks!
I managed to stick on his tail at a steady 22 mph on a demo 16" wheel Speeding tikit for about 10 miles. Bob said I started to "get the wobbles towards the end at 23/24 mph" - due to uh, a comparative lack of fitness. Lon did a quick calculation in his head and said "you should have been able to stick on at 28 mp/h!!!!!". Need more Sustained Energy in my bottle! Was also great to meet some TE gals in teh lobby fore and aft Week 3 of camp.

[galfromdownundr]

Speaking of flying with a bike ... here's Bike Friday's first ever TV ad, featuring Rob English jumping out of a balloon at 102,000 feet and unfolding a tikit!
http://community.bikefriday.com/fred...fridayfreefall
Thanks to all the generous customers and supporters who made it happen!

[moonfroggy]

everytime i see the title of this thread i think of the wright brothers and hope to find that someone on te is making some sort of plane with their bike.

[Blueberry]

According to a mailing list I'm on (I haven't verified) - Seems Delta is now charging $200 each LEG for a bike *even if it's in a regular suitcase and under 50 lbs.* Just re-affirms my preference to fly Southwest wherever possible.

[Thorn]

We travel enough with our bikes that we both have S&S coupled bikes (fit in a 26x26x10 case that, with bike, weighs in at 47.5lbs). We stopped flying Delta/NW because of the rumor that Blueberry mentions although we've never had anyone question anything except the weight of the case. This summer we are travelling again on Delta (only airline that would do the route we wanted). We'll see. But, of course, I'm travelling with "mechanical parts".

That said, I have two things to add to the thread--Southwest was great. Their literature states coupled bikes that are underweight and within size travel as regular luggage. I'd never flown them before (they've only recently stretched to Milwaukee) and it was by far, the best flight experience I've had in a very, very long time. If you can fly Southwest, really consider it. You have to book directly on their site and they charge only $50 for oversized bike boxes.

The second is that we've been flying with the bikes for a while. The bikes always make it (although we've had suitcases not arrive on time). The bikes have have not been damaged. And, thankfully, the TSA has also seen no reason to open the cases and inspect them, either (probably my biggest worry is that the TSA will open, attempt to unpack and not repack correctly).

For some reason, I feel better having the bikes travel with me. There is no basis for that fact. Shipping has its own set of risks. In the end, do the research, and transport the bikes in the way that gives you the best warm, fuzzies.....well, the lesser bad feelings and worries?

[OakLeaf]

(probably my biggest worry is that the TSA will open, attempt to unpack and not repack correctly)

Definitely a concern. They've been into DH's camera cases a couple of times, and once they didn't even latch the latches. Thank goodness nothing fell out or got damaged. With lenses, at least, it's obvious how everything goes back together.