Traveling With Your Bike By Air

[emanon]

I am starting to lay plans for a trip. I've never wanted to take a bike by
air before, so I don't know what is required. Any suggestions where to
start? The trip is within the US and because of the distance involved and
the time I have, air travel is the only practical alternative.

[David L. Johnson]

emanon wrote:
> I am starting to lay plans for a trip. I've never wanted to take a bike
> by air before, so I don't know what is required. Any suggestions where
> to start? The trip is within the US and because of the distance involved
> and the time I have, air travel is the only practical alternative.

Some airlines will allow you to take your bike, in a box, for a fee.
Oversees some will allow it for free, such as British Air, but domestic
flights in the USA tend to charge for the box.

You can get a bike box that protects reasonably from Nashbar. That's
what I used. It's big, big enough for anyone's frame with the
handlebars, seat, and pedals off. I could have used a smaller box for
my 56cm frame, but this is what I could find.

Get a hard-shell case, not a soft one. Soft ones squish, which could be
bad for the bike. Pack the bike with hubs clamped in the dropouts -- I
prefer real hubs to the plastic inserts, since they are held in there
better. If you don't have old hubs hanging around, local bike shops
will. Remove the rear derailleur from the hanger and tape it to the
chainstay.

--

David L. Johnson

You will say Christ saith this and the apostles say this; but what
canst thou say?
-- George Fox.

[Will]

On Jul 15, 10:47 pm, "emanon" <ema...@erehwon.com> wrote:
> I am starting to lay plans for a trip. I've never wanted to take a bike by
> air before, so I don't know what is required. Any suggestions where to
> start? The trip is within the US and because of the distance involved and
> the time I have, air travel is the only practical alternative.


You might want to look into shipping the bike via UPS and picking it
up at one of their locations. They have drop/pickup points everywhere.
Plus you have tracking... so you know, before you get on the airplane,
where the bike is.

[Peter Howard]

"emanon" <emanon@erehwon.com> wrote in message
news:8_2dnQ7DlPkY_eDVnZ2dnUVZ_h7inZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>I am starting to lay plans for a trip. I've never wanted to take a bike by
>air before, so I don't know what is required. Any suggestions where to
>start? The trip is within the US and because of the distance involved and
>the time I have, air travel is the only practical alternative.

http://openlearn.open.ac.uk/file.php/1329/T173_1_028i.jpg
Well, there are significant aeronautical engineering and fabrication
challenges to be overcome and the pilots of successful craft to date have
been very fit athletes with previous experience as pilots.
If you have limited time I really think you'd be better off taking a
scheduled airline service. If you're still hellbent on trying it I suggest
you start from a high hill.

PH

[Frank Krygowski]

On Jul 15, 11:47*pm, "emanon" <ema...@erehwon.com> wrote:
> I am starting to lay plans for a trip. I've never wanted to take a bike by
> air before, so I don't know what is required. Any suggestions where to
> start? The trip is within the US and because of the distance involved and
> the time I have, air travel is the only practical alternative.

This is a good place to start:
http://www.gfarnsworth.com/BikeAccess/Default.cfm?Index

This one seems to concentrate more on international flights:
http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/travel/bagregs.htm

But either site may be out of date, since rules are changing as fast
as oil prices. I suggest browsing the airline's sites, looking for
links to "baggage," then "special items" or "sports equipment" or
"oversize baggage," etc.

I'd also suggest printing out whatever information you find. Although
I've never had much trouble*, I've heard stories of misinformed (and
uncooperative) ticket agents.

*If you do box your bike, do it very, very well. I watched our
"Fragile, This End Up" bike boxes being stacked sideways on the roof
of a baggage truck, then being thrown to the ground! Amazingly, no
damage.

- Frank Krygowski

[Ron Wallenfang]

On Jul 15, 10:47*pm, "emanon" <ema...@erehwon.com> wrote:
> I am starting to lay plans for a trip. I've never wanted to take a bike by
> air before, so I don't know what is required. Any suggestions where to
> start? The trip is within the US and because of the distance involved and
> the time I have, air travel is the only practical alternative.

I've used several options:

1. My kids bought me a hard case as a present, and I use it when I
fly round trip with the bike, as I have done on several trips to
Europe. But most often, I fly to a bike trip starting point and bike
back home,

2. Once, a companion went by bus (Milwaukee, WI to Portland OR, no
less) and took both bikes with him. We put them together and biked
back.

3. Most often, I've had my LBS pack the bike in a TREK box, which I
abandon after putting the bike together after the flight.

4. Twice, after I bungled the assembly job one year (overtightening
the front fork) and needed an emergency repair the third day out, I
had my LBS pack and ship it via UPS to a bike shop at the other end.
The shop re-assembled it and I picked it up there and started my trip

[Jorg Lueke]

On Jul 15, 10:47 pm, "emanon" <ema...@erehwon.com> wrote:
> I am starting to lay plans for a trip. I've never wanted to take a bike by
> air before, so I don't know what is required. Any suggestions where to
> start? The trip is within the US and because of the distance involved and
> the time I have, air travel is the only practical alternative.

Can you rent a bike at your destination? It might be less hassle, if
not cheaper.

[Mike Jacoubowsky]

| Some airlines will allow you to take your bike, in a box, for a fee.
| Oversees some will allow it for free, such as British Air, but domestic
| flights in the USA tend to charge for the box.

A customer two days ago said BA is now charging as well. And International airlines are sometimes the most-expensive, with AirFrance leading the way, charging 100 euros for even short flights within Europe, as well as overseas. The days of free bike travel Internationally are likely over as everybody is scrambling to enhance revenue in the wake of $140/barrel oil.

| You can get a bike box that protects reasonably from Nashbar. That's
| what I used. It's big, big enough for anyone's frame with the
| handlebars, seat, and pedals off. I could have used a smaller box for
| my 56cm frame, but this is what I could find.

You may also be able to get a super-durable cardboard box that has padding inside as well as straps from a local high-end Trek dealer. Trek uses them to ship their high-end bikes. These boxes sell wholesale from a major industry supplier for $50, but you can probably score one for a lot less. We give away the standard boxes for free, but charge $10 for the (used but functional) Trek super-boxes to cover the hassle of having to store them.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com


"David L. Johnson" <david.johnson@lehigh.edu> wrote in message news:0v-dnTKYlLLx9-DVnZ2dnUVZ_v_inZ2d@ptd.net...
| emanon wrote:
| > I am starting to lay plans for a trip. I've never wanted to take a bike
| > by air before, so I don't know what is required. Any suggestions where
| > to start? The trip is within the US and because of the distance involved
| > and the time I have, air travel is the only practical alternative.
|
| Some airlines will allow you to take your bike, in a box, for a fee.
| Oversees some will allow it for free, such as British Air, but domestic
| flights in the USA tend to charge for the box.
|
| You can get a bike box that protects reasonably from Nashbar. That's
| what I used. It's big, big enough for anyone's frame with the
| handlebars, seat, and pedals off. I could have used a smaller box for
| my 56cm frame, but this is what I could find.
|
| Get a hard-shell case, not a soft one. Soft ones squish, which could be
| bad for the bike. Pack the bike with hubs clamped in the dropouts -- I
| prefer real hubs to the plastic inserts, since they are held in there
| better. If you don't have old hubs hanging around, local bike shops
| will. Remove the rear derailleur from the hanger and tape it to the
| chainstay.
|
| --
|
| David L. Johnson
|
| You will say Christ saith this and the apostles say this; but what
| canst thou say?
| -- George Fox.

[Alex Colvin]

>> I am starting to lay plans for a trip. I've never wanted to take a bike by
>> air before, so I don't know what is required.

>You might want to look into shipping the bike via UPS and picking it
>up at one of their locations.

I've used SportExpress to ship my bike to/from bike tours. They use Fedex,
but handle inurance and pickup/dropoff arrangements.
<www.sportsexpress.com> You'll still need to handle boxing and assembly.


--
mac the naïf

[Stephen Harding]

Frank Krygowski wrote:

> *If you do box your bike, do it very, very well. I watched our
> "Fragile, This End Up" bike boxes being stacked sideways on the roof
> of a baggage truck, then being thrown to the ground! Amazingly, no
> damage.

I remember actually watching my bike (in a box) from the
window of the airplane being transported on the conveyor
belt to the cargo hatch and having it fall off the belt,
picked up and tossed back on over other baggage!

It arrived at SeaTac airport with the box beat to hell
but the bike itself unscathed.


SMH

[emanon]

My thanks to all for the information. That's alot to mull over! As of right
now, the two leading options, in no particular order, are getting a hard
shell case for use as luggage and shipping the bike to where I'm going.
Maybe a combination. I have to admit, the option of riding back is
appealing, but I thought airlines frown on one way tickets these days :-{)}
That would also mean shipping an empty hard shell case back home! Hmmm . . .
now if there was a hard shell case that converted to a trailer . . .

[Stephen Harding]

Ron Wallenfang wrote:

> Europe. But most often, I fly to a bike trip starting point and bike
> back home,

I also am now using the "get-the-bike-to-start-and-ride-back"
method of doing a tour.

I used the train once in the past but it seems AmTrak is not
as amenable to bikes as they once were.

Last year I tried renting a car from one airport to another
putting the bike inside and it worked well (after first
investigating train and bus options).

This year I am planning on again renting a car, driving it
up to the airport in Bar Harbor, ME and riding back home.

I'd prefer a train or even bus, but the logistics of transfers
and arrival times makes them not always viable options.


SMH

[Mike Jacoubowsky]

"emanon" <emanon@erehwon.com> wrote in message news:M_SdncEyt6op1RzVnZ2dnUVZ_vOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
| My thanks to all for the information. That's alot to mull over! As of right
| now, the two leading options, in no particular order, are getting a hard
| shell case for use as luggage and shipping the bike to where I'm going.
| Maybe a combination. I have to admit, the option of riding back is
| appealing, but I thought airlines frown on one way tickets these days :-{)}
| That would also mean shipping an empty hard shell case back home! Hmmm .. . .
| now if there was a hard shell case that converted to a trailer . . .

Southwest and Virgin America (and there could be others) have fares that don't penalize you for flying one-way.

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

[ZBicyclist]

> "emanon" <emanon@erehwon.com> wrote in message
> news:M_SdncEyt6op1RzVnZ2dnUVZ_vOdnZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> My thanks to all for the information. That's alot to mull over!
>> As
>> of right now, the two leading options, in no particular order,
>> are
>> getting a hard shell case for use as luggage and shipping the
>> bike
>> to where I'm going. Maybe a combination. I have to admit, the
>> option
>> of riding back is appealing, but I thought airlines frown on one
>> way
>> tickets these days :-{)} That would also mean shipping an empty
>> hard
>> shell case back home! Hmmm . . . now if there was a hard shell
>> case
>> that converted to a trailer . . .

There are some hard shell cases for folders that convert to a
trailer (see Bike Friday site), but I don't know of any full size.