Flying with a bike....

[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.

[michelem]

Here's some more info on airline travel w/bikes (from RoadBikeRider.com 2/25/10 newsletter):

United We Grumble

Now that some airlines are making passengers pay for using a pillow or blanket, maybe it's not surprising that the fee for flying with a bike has risen too.

A protest page on Facebook is taking United Airlines to task for charging $175(one way) to check a bike as luggage on a U.S. domestic flight.

That sky-high fee has been in effect for more than a year. United's regulations require the bike to "be contained in a durable, protective case, bag or box" and the whole shebang can't weigh more than 50 lbs. (23 kg).

Protests or boycotts notwithstanding, in these hard times for airlines it's unlikely United is going to lower the fee. It's not just picking on cyclists, either.

United charges the same $175 to check a surfboard, vaulting pole or set of antlers (no kidding).

If you're flying with your kayak or caged pooch or kitty, it's $250 -- each way.

If you don't like United's bike fee, you could fly Southwest. America's No. 1 airline charges $0 for a bike that weighs 50 lbs. or less and fits in a hard case no larger than 62 in. (length + width + height).

Says the Southwest website, "A $50 each-way charge applies to bicycles that don't meet the above criteria. Bicycles packaged in a cardboard box or soft-sided case will be transported as a conditionally accepted item."

Southwest specifically mentions Bike Friday and Co-Motion Co-Pilot travel bikes as qualifying for the $0 fee when checked as one of 2 free pieces of baggage. Other airlines might waive charges for them too.

Tip: When checking in, if you're asked what's in your hefty travel-bike suitcase, say "exercise equipment" rather than "a bicycle." You're not lying and maybe it'll save you a hassle as well as significant coin.

Tip 2: How to Travel with Your Bicycle, an eBook by world traveler Alan Bragman, has loads of information about packing bikes and how to transport them on planes, trains or automobiles.

http://www.roadbikerider.com/431.htm#DISPATCH

[OakLeaf]

Just so you know, my Thule case is right around 30#. So technically I could put my bike in it and come under 50#, but I'd have to carry my re-assembly tools, shoes, seat pack, etc. in separate luggage to beat the airlines' overweight charge. Shipping it means I can put all kinds of cr*p in the box with it, use clothing as extra padding for the frame and wheels, and only pay incrementally for the extra weight... and have that much more stuff that I don't have to schlep around the airport.

As far as the 62" size limitation, it's smaller than it sounds like. Measure and add. I don't even know if a bare unboxed frame would meet that. I know we don't fly with our large suitcases any more, and when we went to buy new hardshell luggage soon after they started enforcing the size limits, even a lot of the "medium-large" suitcases were 64" or 65".

Plus, depending on how many bags you're already checking, I think most airlines sock you quite a bit for bringing more than two - even if you pay a small fee for those first two.


Also, whether you're shipping or schlepping, CO2 canisters don't fly. Buy new when you get there. A simpatico LBS might even let you borrow a couple and return them if you don't need them.

[ny biker]

FWIW, the bike club I belong to has several hard-shell bike boxes available for club members to rent when they're traveling. If any clubs near you offer something similar, it might be worth the cost of membership to take advantage of the rental.

[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.