Shipping Bike Fed Ex or take it on the plan

[shootingstar]

Wow, triskelion. Good advice.

Just curious: when one ships by FedEx, do you actually have to state that a bike is inside that box/container?

No, I haven't purchased any travel insurance when travelling by plane or air for lost baggage. I fly at least 2-3 times per yr. All these shipping problems, remind me how worthwhile it is for me to keep a bike locally with another family member, in other cities, where I visit family in Canada annually. We have taken bike trips out from those cities when I visit.

But then, when I've flown with my bike, my bike is worth ....ie. under $1,200. Ok by me! I'd rather not obsess over a lot more expensive bike. It's worth it for me to fly with a bike for certain situations if the bike touring vacation is long enough, since renting a bike that fits me with the proper gearing and weight is very difficult for my size. This has been true for even bike friendly cities where there are bike shops, more cycling culture. In Europe it's a drag for me to find a bike that fits. It amuses/amazed me in Copenhagen, I kept on seeing bikes that were way too big for me in bike shops there.

What would be interesting here for TE members, if they are comfortable to leave their bike in a bike train car if ie. they were travelling several hundred km. by train anywhere in Europe. And those train cars aren't necessarily looked after by an train employee during the train ride. People just go and get their bikes, get off the train. Sometimes you can lock up your bike and other times it's not that simple/possible. If you're bike has panniers locked on, of course, it's less of an incentive for anyone to steal an expensive touring bike when it's loaded already with panniers.