Transporting Your Bike Overseas

[Mumrik]

Hi,

I'm brand new here. Just recently made my account primarily to ask the following questions. Though I expect to probably end up visiting often as I learn more about cycle touring, which I am also new to, so please bear with me.

I'm interested in taking a bike abroad, which means getting it on a flight, and then getting around the country I'm visiting on that bike, for many miles, and then back again. I have researched a bit on taking a bike on a flight and the types of cases one can buy and squeeze the bike into (of course requiring deconstruction). What has confused me is that 99% of what I find regarding international bike transportation involves large, fancy cases, often solid ones with thick protective padding. I can understand the appeal for this as far as protection is concerned, but what I'm left wondering is: if you're an adventure cyclist/cycle tourist, what are you meant to do with this case once you're there? Surely you can't lug something that big around throughout your tour. What appeals to me about bike touring is the freedom that comes with it, and that seems to demand a case that is thin, lightweight, and foldable, so you can just stash it on your bike and don't have to worry about where you're going to store anything. Yet from what it seems, there are not many of those out there or they are not popular for some reason. The very small number of the ones I have seen makes me wonder if they're not any good. Is that because of the durability of such cases or is it just because they do not provide good protection for your bike?

In sum, the question I'm trying to ask is, are there any lightweight, collapseable bike travel bags that you recommend? If my observation is correct that they are not common, why is that? What do you do to transport your bike when you travel? Apologies if this is a noob question of if this has been asked before here. Appreciate any help.

Thanks a lot!

[joefincher]

Hi,

I'm brand new here. Just recently made my account primarily to ask the following questions. Though I expect to probably end up visiting often as I learn more about cycle touring, which I am also new to, so please bear with me.

I'm interested in taking a bike abroad, which means getting it on a flight, and then getting around the country I'm visiting on that bike, for many miles, and then back again. I have researched a bit on taking a bike on a flight and the types of cases one can buy and squeeze the bike into (of course requiring deconstruction). What has confused me is that 99% of what I find regarding international bike transportation involves large, fancy cases, often solid ones with thick protective padding. I can understand the appeal for this as far as protection is concerned, but what I'm left wondering is: if you're an adventure cyclist/cycle tourist, what are you meant to do with this case once you're there? Surely you can't lug something that big around throughout your tour. What appeals to me about bike touring is the freedom that comes with it, and that seems to demand a case that is thin, lightweight, and foldable, so you can just stash it on your bike and don't have to worry about where you're going to store anything. Yet from what it seems, there are not many of those out there or they are not popular for some reason. The very small number of the ones I have seen makes me wonder if they're not any good. Is that because of the durability of such cases or is it just because they do not provide good protection for your bike?

In sum, the question I'm trying to ask is, are there any lightweight, collapseable bike travel bags that you recommend? If my observation is correct that they are not common, why is that? What do you do to transport your bike when you travel? Apologies if this is a noob question of if this has been asked before here. Appreciate any help.

Thanks a lot!

Hi

I usually get a box from a bike shop, usually free, and do some breakdown to pack it. When I get to my destination I can throw it away. When it's time to go home contact a bicycle shop near your departure point and repeat the process.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your travels.

Joe from Bangkok

Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk

[BrianW]

Hi, lots and lots of similar threads on this topic here and especially on the bikeforums touring section (http://www.bikeforums.net/touring/). I'd recommend doing some searches there to find lots of info.

In general, as Joe also said, for a point-point tour, a throw-away cardboard box is definitely your best option. Get another one at the finish of your trip. Sometimes, but not always, airlines have them available for purchase too.

[Pat Lamb]

A couple other points.  First, U.S. airlines typically require a box around a bike, although some foreign airlines will allow you to wrap a bike in a bag or clear plastic.  Of course, that doesn't help much when you're flying out of a U.S. airport with U.S. luggage gorillas loading the bike.

Second, if you already have a nice hard shell case, you may be able to spend a night in a hotel at your destination, have them hold the case for you, and pick it up on your last night.  This assume you're doing a loop tour, or perhaps taking a train to/from the other end of your ride.

[indyfabz]

Are there any airlines left that allow you to simply put your bike in a bag supplied by the airline? Back in '00 I flew back to the states from Spain on Iberia and British Airways with my bike that way.

During that seven week trip around Spain the campground where started and ended the trip agreed to hold my box for me. I only gave up on the box for the trip home because I didn't think I would be able to get a large enough taxi to pick me up at some very early hour for such a short ride to the airport. Ended up riding to the airport after talking to an Iberia agent they day before the flight and learning about the bag option.