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Conference noted::bicycle

Title:	Bicycling
Notice:	Bicycling for Fun
Moderator:	JAMIN::WASSER

Created:	Mon Apr 14 1986
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	3214
Total number of notes:	31946

183.0. "TAKING A BIKE ON A PLANE" by 49191::ABEYA () Wed Dec 03 1986 09:42

    Reading 15. I found that most cyclists wanting to take their bike
    on a plane go thru an awful lot of trouble like dismounting part
    of the bike and putting it into a (possibly expensive, heavy and
    bulky) box. 
    
    I did a lot of touring, as well in Europe as in Japan where I
    took my own bike.  My luck was that I flew Swissair, which
    might be the only airline taking your bike AS IT IS (they just
    recommend to deflate somewhat your tires because of the difference
    in air pressure).  My bike was driven to the plane with a special
    van, put into a special compartment on the DC-10, and when I
    arrived in Tokyo the whole Swissair ground staff was aligned to
    welcome me, then one guy ran to the tourist office and came back
    with about 5 lbs of documentation, while some other ones came back
    with drinks and food for about 3 days !!  If you fly a plane where
    there is no special compartment (for shorter distances), they
    might ask you to put something around the chain in order to protect
    the other luggage, in which case I use this plastic tubes sold
    for the BMX bikes chains.  
    
    Should you plan to take your bike on a SWISSAIR trip, call their
    office at the departure Airport. Should you have any problems, 
    ask for the Station Manager who is the top Swissair guy in a
    location.
    
    Ironically, while I had no problem at all carrying my bike from
    Geneva to Tokyo, it was almost impossible to have it shipped from
    Kyoto to Tokyo... (I finally got it on a truck, in a box).

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
183.1	Use your Cateye to measure frequent flyer miles	ULTRA::SEIDEN	2 out, 2 strikes, 2 run lead...	`Wed Jun 17 1987 17:39`	6
	Does anyone know of a way to rent a Bike Carrier box for transport on a plane? This is for a trip within the states. The cost of buying one seems excessive since the need is so rare. Some have suggested that the airline will supply a box for a bicycle. This seems risky. After all, it reads "Delta gets you there", not "Delta gets your bike there".
183.2	I hate busrides!!!!!	NAC::CAMPBELL		`Wed Jun 17 1987 19:44`	11
	I've had my bike shipped on both a bus and a plane (at different times of course) and had no problems both times! I basically just got a bike box from a bike store and "made" the bike fit in. On the bus, Greyhound will supply a box. Its pretty big and again I had no trouble making it fit. Once when I flew I didn't even put the bike in a box, I just tied the handlebars to the frame so it wouldn't fly around and again had no problem! Stew
183.3	good luck	NOVA::FISHER	P-B-P qualified	`Thu Jun 18 1987 10:45`	5
	Greyhound supply a box? Only at some terminals. Not the one I tried to use (Syracuse). Rentals are available from some bike shops. Around $50 the first week.
183.4	Airlines supply adequate boxes	ULTRA::WITTENBERG		`Thu Jun 18 1987 13:01`	23
	Re: .1 I've flown on Northwest airlines using their boxes, and Aer LIngus using I'm not sure whose boxes. I found the airline (or Amtrak) boxes to work quite well. Many airlines will provide them (free on international flights, $20 on domestic flights for the bicycle, including the box). Bring some scrap cardboard to use as reinforcing: roll it up into a tube with the corrugation parrallel to the long axis of the tube and use the tubes to prevent the box from crushing near delicate parts of the bike (both deraileurs). Get a plastic piece that fits in the fork to prevent it from being bent (It replaces the front axle, any bike store will give you one, as they come as packing on all new bikes.) You'll have to take the front wheel off, turn the handlebars, and remove the pedals. There's even room in the box for some spare parts, and if you work at it possibly a panier. Just allow some time and bring your own tape and scrap cardboard to prevent your front wheel from scratching the frame. --David
183.5	Weather's great. Having fun. Wish my bike was heree	ULTRA::SEIDEN	2 outs, 2 strikes, 2 run lead	`Wed Jun 24 1987 16:53`	6
	The price has risen to $30 on domestic flights, and the airlines will in fact supply a box. The bike is also insured along with the rest of your luggage (does the American Tourister gorilla ride a bicycle?) Belmont Wheelworks rents carry boxes at $50 for a 10-day period.
183.6	Is it cheaper to rent a bike?	UNIVSE::QUAN		`Wed Jul 20 1988 22:19`	12
	It sounds like it's really expensive to transport your bike on a flight ($80 with a carry box from Belmont), how much are bike rentals at various places? Are rental bikes in good operating condition usually? I'm going to Seattle, does anyone know of a decent bike rental place in that general area? I'll be touring around all over, so anywhere in that area would be fine. Does anyone know of good biking routes outside of Seattle? TQ
183.7	Shipping your Bike	CACHE::THOMPSON	Don Thompson	`Fri Jul 22 1988 19:58`	15
	I shipped my bike when I went to England. I pickup a bike box from a local bike store for no charge (cardboard...not plastic...fugi boxes was very tough). The airline charges seem to be dependent on the attendent on duty. On the way to England I had to pay shipping for the two legs of the trip (I change airlines). Friends I traveled with were not charged. On the return trip, none of us were charged. Before the trip, I made inquiries to various airlines for charges and they ranged from $25 to $50 per trip. I payed $25 for Northwest and $35 for a charter flight. Good Luck, Don
183.8	Usually no fees for 2 pieces of luggage	TPUNIV::BOURASSA	Pierre Bourassa - Montreal	`Tue Jul 26 1988 12:55`	11
	I took my bike twice to Europe in the past 4 years and I never had to pay anything for carrying it with me. The airlines usually allow you to have 2 pieces of luggages checked in. I simply carefully the bike in a cardboard box (obtained from a bike dealer, they are happy to get rid of them in the spring, when the bikes come in). My second piece of luggage was my 2 rear bags strapped together. Have a good trip Pierre.