Ciclismo Classico experiences?

[ace]

Yes, I initially thought I'd try to just do carry-on. Then I talked to my dad, who travels back and forth to Europe several times a year for biking, hiking and skiing trips. He definitely doesn't care what he wears, and is one of those "bring two pairs of underwear and wash one every night" kind of guys. He said no way could I do carry-on for a bike trip, plus a week in Florence (where we're going out for a few expensive dinners, so I want to look presentable). So I've given up that idea! I am bringing a couple pairs pants, a couple pairs shorts, 4 or 5 t shirts, long sleeve shirt, sweater, jacket, 3 biking jerseys, 3 biking shorts, sneakers, sandals, bike shoes, clipless pedals, helmet, camelbak, cycling windbreaker and rain jacket...plus some. I'm just hoping I can fit it all into one size up from a carry-on! My dad and his globe-hopping gf both said to get a wheeled duffel for a trip like this. Anyway, it's not like we'll be carrying the luggage onto and off trains all the time. Getting it from the van to the room shouldn't be too big a deal. But believe me, I am obsessing about it, too.

[Thorn]

I don't think I could do a biking (or hiking) trip with carryon only. I've done it for a week-long business trip but that was long before they started cracking down on security. My duffle at the time was about the size you mention and I got some...uh...err..questioning looks then. I bet now it would get pulled. You might be able to do it, particularly if you innocent.

We recently travelled in the US and they were taking the gel/liquid thing seriously. Quite a few people were indignant when their stuff was getting confiscated.

Now, I probably take a compromise. I still pack relatively light in a wheeled duffle (3 changes of clothes, not 2 and I have a pair of "dress" Tevas that double as kicking around and look OK with a skirt). Then I carry on a day pack/fanny pack with books, camera and a change of clothes. I tend to fly out a day early and take the attitude that, if need be, my luggage will catch up, or I have a credit card (as michelem said--I'm not travelling to the 3rd world).

That said, finding clothes wouldn't be my major concern, it would be things like sunscreen and toiletries. I have enough allergies that I have to be picky about what I buy. While I always make a point of going to the grocery store while in a foreign country to see the different types of foods (really, ace, you gotta try it if it isn't on your list!) and while I have visited the pharmacy in both England and Spain, when you don't speak the language, finding a non-allergenic sunscreen can be problematic. I can't carry enough on with today's rules, so I have no choice but to check my baggage.

Good luck, michelem. I stand in awe. But, one thing I learned while travelling to Mallorca--don't try to put the helmet inside your bag. The helment gets hung on the outside, thus not taking either weight or dimensions for your carry on limit.