Travelling with the bike

Dr Crippen

Howdy folks apologies if this has been asked previously but I was wondering if you might be able to help?

I plan to cycle across a part of Spain this summer and I was wondering if you had advice on bringing the bike. For example, the better airline to use for the safety of the bike. The level of cost involved or any general advice you could offer.

Any help would be really appreciated and thanks

Qualitymark

And if I may piggyback, can you take a bike on the Galway train, and how do you go about it?

OldBean

Qualitymark wrote: »

And if I may piggyback, can you take a bike on the Galway train, and how do you go about it?

Two options.

1) Book online in advance, check the bike tab (€6) and book a seat near the bike storage areas so it doesn't get nicked/other peoples luggage chucked on top of it.

2) Book a ticket, wheel the bike on and just grab a seat nearby.

Fian

I am amazed at the cost of "bike bags" for airline travel tbh. Hard to understand why they are so expensive.

Unless I knew I would be travelling with bike frequently I think it probably makes more sense to hire, rather than buy a bag and pay airline charges, especially if only going for 1 or 2 weeks.

Dr Crippen

Yeah seriously was it that pricey Fian?

Feck it I will be cycling a good distance and would prefer my bike but i must look into the cost further so.

Is there a box supplied by the airline or am i imagining this?

jon1981

Dr Crippen wrote: »

Yeah seriously was it that pricey Fian?

Feck it I will be cycling a good distance and would prefer my bike but i must look into the cost further so.

Is there a box supplied by the airline or am i imagining this?

I was cycling in Majorca a few weeks back, rented a nice carbon for a few days. When I was in the airport I saw a lot of folk coming through with their own bike boxes.

I did see 2 guys wheeling 2 bikes that had a small bit of foam wrapped around the cross bar and the handlebars seem to be loosened and tied at right angles to the frame. I wouldn't fancy transporting my bike like that if that's how they loaded it on the plane.

Dr Crippen

Okay cool thats good to know too.

How was Majorca?

I think, a guy I worked with brought his somewhere and I remember he used a bike box, i will definitely get one.

Wishbone Ash

Dr Crippen wrote: »

.... For example, the better airline to use for the safety of the bike...

Baggage handling services are usually contracted and they operate for many different airlines so it is futile to assume one airline is safer than another.

Dr Crippen

Right fair enough, i suppose boxing it will be key. Thanks for the heads up

L'Enfer du Nord

Bike shops will box it for you for a fee, my LBS also rents out bike bags. Some routes don't require you to box it, handy in a way, but I flew the Bruxelles without boxing it and the front derailleur was damaged, broke completely about week into my trip. Luckily I was cycling in relatively flat lands.

Biggest pain for me is if I'm on a cycling holiday in Europe and not staying in the same place, what am I supposed to do with the box or bag. On the other hand without a box or bag the risk of damage is even higher. I'm actually planing to travel by sea/land/tunnel to France this summer just to avoid box/plane issues.

Dr Crippen

Yeah thats a great idea actually, boat and train sounds great.

I will definitely look at those boxes, i am cycling with a few spanish cyclists so i reckon they would be able to help me pick up a box for the return flight, fingers crossed.

We will have a car following us so i might even be able to hold onto the box, oh if i won the lotto

ford2600

I'm doing a solo trip starting in NW Spain and crossing to Girona(if Ryanair put flight on).

I plan to use cardboard boxes from lbs to pack bike before I go and the same from Girona or Biarritz(after a spin in the Pyreenes). Threads on here before and elsewhere on how to pack bikes

Dr Crippen

Great thanks i will do a search on those, thanks for the heads up

ozzy jr

I'm also looking into doing a bit of cycling in Thailand. Really want to bring my own bike. Will probably hire a box and ask the hotel I stay in the first night if I can leave the bike there. I'll stay there on the last night and pick it up.

I'm concerned about getting my tires pumped up on arrival. As far as I know they have to be deflated and I doubt I'll be able to take my CO2 cartridges on the plane. With the hand pump I have, I can't get enough pressure into my tires for a comfortable cycle, and I don't want to have to carry my foot pump. I think airports should invest in this type of stuff, like in Adelaide Airport,

nak

ozzy jr wrote: »

I'm also looking into doing a bit of cycling in Thailand. Really want to bring my own bike. Will probably hire a box and ask the hotel I stay in the first night if I can leave the bike there. I'll stay there on the last night and pick it up.

I'm concerned about getting my tires pumped up on arrival. As far as I know they have to be deflated and I doubt I'll be able to take my CO2 cartridges on the plane. With the hand pump I have, I can't get enough pressure into my tires for a comfortable cycle, and I don't want to have to carry my foot pump. I think airports should invest in this type of stuff, like in Adelaide Airport,

No need to deflate tyres, certainly not all the way. CO2 not allowed. I have a mini track pump for commuting and traveling. You could leave a pump in the box.

Dr Crippen

I spent a couple of days just reading up and researching and I thought this was very good

http://cyclingtips.com.au/2014/06/flying-with-your-bike-tips-from-a-baggage-handler/


These guys caught my eye too, if like me you don't have the cash to be paying for one

http://bikebagrentals.ie/aero_tech_evolution_TSA.aspx

Tigerandahalf

Just to add to this. What are hotels like in Ireland for storing a bike? Is the underground carpark chained up the best option?

Dr Crippen

That I don't know no harm in picking up the phone and talking to them I reckon and it depends where you are going in Ireland too.

07Lapierre

We stayed in Belfast for the Gran Fondo NI last Satuday. Hotel had no problem with us keeping our bikes in our room.