Well Don,\u00a0\u00a0 I have traveled quite a bit with my bike and I would be glad to pass on some of my observations.<\/p>\n
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The Luggage:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The travel case I have is a Trico Sports Ironcase<\/a>.\u00a0 I have been quite happy with the one I have have since 2005.\u00a0\u00a0 It was first called into action for a trip to Copper Canyon in Mexico<\/a> but it has been used for trips to the East Coast<\/a>, Japan<\/a> and the Pacific Northwest<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 When I first bought mine, I got it as part of group buy deal that run me $200.\u00a0 These days it retails for around $329.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I will say this about the case.\u00a0\u00a0 I have yet to have one of the airline baggage gorillas damage this case or the contents.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Packing these things are pretty particular and the TSA nearly always want to take a look in the book.\u00a0\u00a0I have gathered this from the\u00a0numerous times of getting the “We\u00a0looked in Bag” note from\u00a0the TSA.\u00a0 I typically\u00a0mention\u00a0 at the counter that the arrangment of the stuff in box is pretty particular\u00a0and I would like to be prsent for the TSA\u00a0looksee.\u00a0\u00a0 It typically depends on the airport you are at wither they will accomidate the request or not, but I pack the box with the thought of this happening in mind.<\/p>\n Notice that my lightweight short-travel XC bike will fit with the fork still in the headset.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 With my longer-legged and slacker geometry bikes (6″ and 7″ travel forks) I have had to remove the fork from the headset.\u00a0\u00a0 If you have to do this I highly recommend that you take a piece of string and runn it through the head tube and tie all the bearing\/headset bits together.\u00a0 Also place any spacers back on the steerer tub and screw the headset cap back on to make sure the bits don’t go off an unplanned adventure.<\/p>\n \u00a0The Airlines and Luggage Fees:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The only consistent thing about the airlines (particularly United with whom I do most of my flights through) is that they are inconsistent.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0You \u00a0should however plan on paying the worst case scenerio costs which are steep.\u00a0 The Ironcase box along weighs 31lbs so unless you have a road bike (and since you are my site, I’m assuming\u00a0we are mountain bikes) you are going to be over 50lbs.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Being over 50lbs makes your luggage overweight.\u00a0\u00a0Being over 70 lbs puts you in the excess weight catergory.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0My Intens Uzzi (7.5\u00a0” travel go do stupid stuff rig) weight in at 34lbs toss in a helmet, shoes, and multi-tool to put thing back together and you break the 70lb threshold.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Here is an old story<\/a> about getting my Tricocase packed under 50lbs<\/p>\n United currently can\u00a0 hit you for a Special Item Fee (currently $100) as well as overweight fee ($100 if between 51 and 70lbs, $200 if over 70lbs)\u00a0 This is for each direction!\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 So that plush downhill couch could cost you $600 bucks for the trip.\u00a0 I have only gotten smacked for the special and the over 70lb fee once.\u00a0\u00a0 I moved enough stuff around after that to get the box under 70lbs.\u00a0\u00a0 I have sometimes gotten as lucky as\u00a0to have the box \u00a0just checked as regular luggage for no special fees whatsoever.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 More commonly I have often only got charged the Special Item Fee.\u00a0\u00a0 It all depends on the airport, and the person at the counter.\u00a0 Being nice and cordial, calling them by there name on thier badge, and generally doing the social engineering\/Dale Carnigie thing may help to keep you from getting both of you ass checks slapped while the airline has thier way with your wallet.<\/p>\n Alternative\u00a0 Shipping<\/span><\/strong>:<\/p>\n USPS<\/strong>:\u00a0 Big thing here is you have to get the weight under 70lbs and you can not let the width go beyond 10.5″ (This is part you sandwich down with straps)\u00a0\u00a0 $107 each way for a shipment for San Diego to North Carolina and will typically take 8 days.\u00a0\u00a0 For you folks that have access to military bases, USPS ships to all the military bases and you can ship through them parcel post on the cheap.\u00a0\u00a0 It cost me just $68 to ship my bike to Japan once.\u00a0 Once, I missed the fine print when it said it could take up to five weeks to get there.\u00a0 They meant it!.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n UPS<\/strong>:\u00a0\u00a0For this type of box, you will be paying for billable weight\u00a0(96\u00a0lbs) versus the actual wieght.\u00a0$170 each way for a shipment from San Diego to North Carolina and will typically take four for days.\u00a0 This is a fairly good way to ship, but you should call ahead to the local UPS store you are going to go through first as some stores and less educated on thier polices than others and may balk at the case.\u00a0<\/p>\n Don’t use bike luggage:\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>A carboard box and bubble wrap weighs a lot less than 31lbs.\u00a0\u00a0 This could get your package down under 50lbs to reduce your airline luggage fees but it could also make your bike more likely to get damaged enroute.\u00a0 Particurly if bike gets handling by this gal <\/a>or this luggage chimp<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 If you are going to go the cardboard box route, I would suggest talking to your local bike shop and have them set aside one of thier boxes after thier next incoming shipment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0The Renting Equation:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Sometimes bringing your own bike is the obvious choice, for a whole slew of reasons.\u00a0\u00a0 However often times I have to weigh my options when it come to the cost.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Some of the things I think about\u00a0when it come to renting are: How long am I going to be at my destination<\/span>; How often do I expect to ride<\/span>;\u00a0\u00a0What\u00a0kind of riding<\/span> am I looking to do (what\u00a0kind of bike do I think I’m going to need); what\u00a0are the cost of the\u00a0rental<\/span> offering\u00a0at my destination.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rental Costs:\u00a0\u00a0 In most places you are going to be paying a premium for a a full-suspension bike that is not of the department store genre.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 $50-90 a day is not uncommon.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hardtails are cheaper but you are most likely looking at\u00a0 $25-30 bucks a day.\u00a0Now for you folks who have access\/priviledges on military bases the Outdoor Recreation Centers typically have hardtails for rent at the best rates you will find anywhere.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You also need to factor in the time required to\u00a0go get the bike and return it.\u00a0\u00a0 So if you want to grab and afterwork ride, you really need to rent it the day before and you may not be able to get back to shop prior to closing.\u00a0 You may have to rent a bike for two days just to get in a full day of riding particularly if you want to go someplace that takes a bit of driving.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Riding Style\/Required Bike:\u00a0\u00a0 A lot of my travel biking is work related these days.\u00a0\u00a0 When I am on “The Man’s Dime” I typically ride more more within my abilities.\u00a0\u00a0 I would feel pretty bad if I jacked myself up out on the trail that impacted by ability to do my job.\u00a0 So with that it mind maybe a hardtail is all I need and then maybe I will just rent a full-suspension bike for just a day or two if I want to go do some more aggressive type riding.<\/p>\n Here are a\u00a0few of examples:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n #1. \u00a0A couple of years ago I was going to be in the Seattle area during the summer for six weeks.\u00a0\u00a0 With the long days I expected to be able to get in at least one ride during the week after work and one a\u00a0ride on Sundays.\u00a0\u00a0I was also contemplating a run up to Whistler for a couple of days should the job go well and were ahead of schedule near the end.\u00a0\u00a0 So at least 12 outing and maybe some downhill fun bonus days.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 $50\/day rental x 12 days = $600 bucks.\u00a0\u00a0 Okay I’m taking the bike.\u00a0<\/p>\n #2\u00a0 I had a four week trip to Japan coming up.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I was mostly going to be riding the local trails on the Muria Pennisula where the Yokosuka naval base where I was going to be working.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Once again I was planning on two bike rides a week, but know that it was nearing the raing season that might not happen.\u00a0\u00a0 Additionally, there was some talk with some folks I know there of a potential trip to the Fujimi Panaorama Downhill MTB Park<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 I could rent a hardtail on the base for $130 for a month (killer deal) and it runs about $100 to rent a full blown downhill bike and the protective gear for the day Fujimi.\u00a0\u00a0 $230 was a no-brainer I left my bike at home.<\/p>\n Closing:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Just get on a bike when you are somplace out of your normal haunt.\u00a0 It is good times for sure.\u00a0 Airfare luggage fees and short length trips make it really tough to justify the cost.\u00a0\u00a0 Then again luggage is typically a reimbursable buisness expesnse \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.mountainbikebill.com\/blog\/wp-content\/imagescaler\/eb00fd9cb611bdfbadcac94cb6f3eb9a.jpg?resize=840%2C560\")
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