Traveling with your bike
From biketrip.org
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[edit] Packing your bike for transportation
Using transportation with your bicycle is not uncommon. You may not want to enter or leave a big city on your bike, or go to a far away country or come back home. In most of the cases it's possible, there's just a few rules to respect.
[edit] Airplanes
Most airline will carry your bicycle but it's always a good idea to call them to check. Now not all of them will do it for free, a 50 to 100 US$ fee is not unusual. All of them will ask you to do the following operations :
- Deflate the tubes
- Lower the seat
- Remove the handlebar
- Remove the pedals
Now it needs to be protected and that's where the trouble begins. If you take the plane from home you have more options that taking the plane in a place where you cycled to.
- The hard box. That's the best for your bike, a strong box with internal padding that will protect your bike. It's bulky, impossible to fold and usually expensive. This choice is good only is you're leaving from the airport you arrived in. In that case you can leave the box in a hotel or even at the airport itself and pick it up when you come back.
- The cardboard box. It's the box used by bicycle manufacturers to ship their products to the retailers. You can usually get them for free in a bicycle shop. This provides good protection by itself, but you need to add protection on your bicycle. Make sure the sensible parts (derailleurs, gear shifting and wheels) are protected. Bubble wrap is a good idea, a big piece of foam (polystyrene...) under the rear derailleur and the front chainring is a must. If you can't find foam, an old tee shirt will do the trick. It's also a good idea to protect the saddle. Don't hesitate to stuff the box with gear like water bottles, tent, sleeping mat... The advantage of such a box is that it can be discarded easily once arrived at destination.
- The bicycle bag. It's expensive, provides low protection and you'll have to carry it while cycling... so it's not the best choice especially for non round long trips.
- Plastic wrap. Sometimes you won't find a box or won't have time to search for one. Here a trick that helps a lot but should only be used in emergency cases since it doesn't protect much of the bike. Go to a food store and buy 3 or 4 rolls of plastic wrap usually used for food. Also buy some tape and whatever protection you can find (foam, bubble wrap, fabric...). Unmount everything possible on your bike (handlebar, wheels, racks, pedals, seat post) and tape or tie everything to the frame. Place the protections you found and wrap everything in plastic wrap. Don't go easy on the wrap, the most the better. Believe it or not, it works pretty well. One big advantage is that the bike gets so compact that it's very easy to take in the airport shuttle or a taxi. It doesn't look much like a bike anymore so most airliners won't charge you for it. You can even say it's a wheelchair and that travels for free. Just remember the protection is very bad, it's not unusual to get bended derailleur or broken cables that way...
[edit] Trains
Taking the train is usually easier. Most of the time, when no reservation is required, your bike will travel for free. Sometimes, your bike will need check-in and won't travel with you, like in China for example. Some trains have a special car for bicycles. Take all your bags off, your cyclocomputer and, if hanging your bicycle is required, don't forget to empty your water bottles. In any case, it's always a good idea to chat with the train conductor before boarding. If there's no special car, be careful when your bike is leaning against a door, they don't always open on the same side.
[edit] Boats
Boats are a treat for cyclists. They never require you to take off your bags or wheels. It's also rare to pay an extra fee. Be careful on the access ramp since it's usually very slippery, make sure you're in low gear before attacking it. There's usually plenty of ropes to attach your bike so it won't move, if not you can use one of your straps. If cars line up before boarding, don't hesitate to pass everyone and get in front of the line. You'll usually board first. Disboarding is usually tricky, it's usually a better idea to disboard last, just so no big truck will try to pass you on the ramp. Many big harbors ramps led directly to an highway so make sure you know where you're going.
[edit] Bus
Buses are a real bitch. There's no rule about an extra fee, it depends on the company so if you have the choice between companies, don't take the first one that has a free seat, another one might take your bike for free. Some will ask you to take off wheels, handle bar and so on, some won't. Keep your straps on hand so you can attach the wheels on the frame if you need to.
[edit] See also
- Travel with Bicycle - George Farnsworth's great website about traveling with a bicycle. List of airports, airlines, train companies...
