How To Fly With A Bicycle

In June, I’ll be traveling to California for nearly a week of bike riding around Lake Tahoe and the California wine country. As much as I’d love to ride to the Sunshine State from my Hoosier home, my wife would be so angry after so many weeks away, I probably wouldn’t have a home to go back to. So it looks like I’ll be taking my bike on the plane.

For touring cyclists, flying with your bike is often a necessary evil, much like airport security searches or flossing. It can be fairly expensive, costing $50 or more each way for a domestic flight and more than double that for an international trip. I’ve had friends who spent more money transporting their bike than they did on their plane ticket. Although it would have been cheaper to buy a separate ticket for their Specialized Roubaix – not to mention a quieter traveling companion than the screaming baby in 12E – in no way is it going to fit in a tiny coach seat.

I travel enough that I bought my own bike box. If you decide to go that route, expect to pay at least $400 for a hard-shell bike case. I was able to find one used at a swap meet, splitting the cost with a buddy. We’ve never needed to use the box on the same weekend, but have an arrangement in place in case we do. (Google Amok Time, then imagine two middle-aged dudes duking it out instead of Kirk and Spock.) Many bike shops will rent bike boxes, starting at about $10 a day.

Traveling with boxes can be a hassle. For most bike boxes, you need to remove the pedals, handlebars and sometimes, the rear derailleur. If you have minimal maintenance skills, it’s a fairly easy process, assuming you have the right tools. When putting the bike back together in your hotel room, double-check everything, even parts you didn’t dismantle for your journey. When it’s time to ride, slide a good multi-tool into your jersey pocket, just in case. During a recent trip to San Antonio, my stem came loose mid-way through the ride. Although I didn’t have my multi-tool with me, we were close enough to a bike shop that I was able to pick one up to fix my oversight.The boxes themselves are big and bulky, a massive pain to transport to and from the airport. I can slide my bike box into the rear of my Subaru with no problems, but if you drive anything smaller, you may need to beg a ride from someone with a truck. When you get to your destination airport, you’ll need either a larger rental or cab to get to your hotel; many airport shuttles don’t have room for a box of that size.

One more thing: before leaving baggage claim, open the box to ensure nothing was damaged in transit. Although Homeland Security agents are known for their delicate nature, they’ve been known to be fairly haphazard when repacking things. After one recent trip, I noticed the agent had closed the box lid on my wheel skewer and the tip of my cassette. Luckily, no real damage was done.

There are ways around the hassle, although not the expense. If you travel a lot, a coupler bike might be your best option. Coupler bikes break down into smaller sections, allowing you to fit a full-size bike into a regulation-sized suitcase, thereby eliminating the oversized luggage fee. A custom frame builder, like Tim O’Donnell of Shamrock Cycles, can build a steel-framed travel steed or retrofit your current steel bike. Expect to pay more than $3,000 for a fully equipped custom bike with S&S Couplers or $500-plus for a retrofit. The case will be additional $400 or more.

Renting a bike at your destination is also an option, especially if you’re headed to a major cycling destination. Just be sure to reserve the bike well in advance if you ride an uncommon size or plan to attend a popular event. My tiny wife rides an equally small bicycle, think one size bigger than a Barbie fun bike, and it can be challenging to find one the correct size. In San Antonio, we spent nearly $200 on a four-day Trek Madone rental for my wife, while my Cannondale SuperSix from home cost me $100 in total airline fees.

If you’re planning to ride just one or two days, pack your gear and pedals and rent a bike. Anything longer – or if you’re very particular about your bike fit – bite the bullet and bring your own.

[Photo by ActionSteve via Flickr]

Travel company to host third annual cycling film festival

Ciclismo Classico, an adventure travel company that specializes in bike tours, has put out a call for entries for their third annual film festival to be held later this spring. The event gives aspiring filmmakers the chance to show off their skills, while also earning them an opportunity to win a cycling trip of their choice.

The event, which is the only film fest in the U.S. dedicated solely to bike travel, will take place May 17th in the Regent Theater in Arlington, MA. The evening will feature some of the best short, independent films that highlight the joy and adventure of two-wheeled travel, whether that’s around the block or around the globe. The only stipulations are that the film must be between 3 minutes and one hour in length and focuses exclusively on cycling travel.

The entry fee for the competition is just $25, although entries received before February 1st receive a $5 early-bird discount. All submissions are due by March 1st and the selection committee will notify the filmmakers of their inclusion in the festival by early April. The ultimate winner, which will be selected by a grand jury on the night of the festival, will receive a Ciclismo Classico cycling tour valued at $2600. An additional winner will be awarded at the event based on an audience vote as well.

Whether you’re an amateur who enjoys making your own movies, or the next Spielberg looking for your big break, this is a great opportunity. Not only do you have the chance to screen your short film in front of a live audience (other than your mom!), but you could also go home with a free trip too.

Bike Tours Direct to add 10 new countries to tour offerings


US based tour organizer Bike Tours Direct has just announced they will be adding rides in 10 new countries to their slew of tour offerings in 2012. Originally catering to bicycle tours throughout Europe, Bike Tours Direct will be expanding their riding options to include cycling holidays through destinations such as Jordan, Mexico, South Africa, and Vietnam.

With connections to over 200 different rides in what will now be over 40 countries, Bike Tours Direct represents numerous overseas cycling companies and places riders directly with tours run by local operators. The aim of the local partnerships is to not only keep money within the local communities, but also to provide riders with the most authentic and enjoyable experience possible by placing them in the care of knowledgeable local guides.

Though the company doesn’t plan to lay out it’s new website and offerings until November, examples of tours currently available include an 8-day jaunt through the fjords of Norway, 8 days of biking and boating through the Seychelles, or a 6 day venture across the Carpathian Mountains of the Ukraine. Impossible to quell any sense of wanderlust while perusing their list of offerings, the expanding list of options going into 2012 just gives this author at least 10 more reasons to simply get up and go off the grid for a little while.

[Photo courtesy: gabriel amadeus, Flickr]

VIA Rail Canada brings back bike trains for summer season

Traveling with your two-wheeled best friend just got a whole lot easier. Since 2007, VIA Rail Canada has provided seasonal bike racks on select VIA Rail departures, as part of its mandate to provide more environmentally sustainable, affordable passenger transit. Now, the racks will be available yearound, and increased baggage cars mean that cyclists can connect to even more cycling destinations.

By taking VIA (Canada’s national rail service), you can access thousands of miles of cycling paths running from Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Quebec City, London, Windsor, Jonquière, and Senneterre. Popular cycling trips include Quebec’s La Route Verte (2,671 miles), the Greater Niagara Circle Route (86 miles), Ottawa’s Capital Parkway Network (136 miles) and Ontario’s Waterfront Trails (559 miles).

Using the bike trains is easy. Check your buddy at the counter for a small fee; VIA staff do the rest, reuniting you on the platform at your destination. For a full listing of VIA’s Bike Train schedules click here.

[Photo credit: Flickr user cycle.nut66]