Flying Abroad With Two Bikes

Cumulonimbus

Hi there

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of doing this? Have been on a road bike holiday in the Alps the past couple of years and was thinking about taking both road bike and MTB this summer. I suppose it isnt as nuts as it might sound at first although it still involves paying for another bike case, struggling to the airport with them, paying for another bike, etc. Unless it is a 50/50 road/MTB holiday for 10 days then it might not be worth it - easier to take the bike that i am planning to use most and hire out the other bike on a couple of days. Obviously it'll depend on what we plan but i was just wondering if anyone had any experience of doing this?

kayakerchris

having taken one bike, I would suggest that you are in urgent need of psychiatric help.

sancho_panza

if you have a car, drive. I've done just that many times. Used to live in Edinburgh and drove to Bedoin and back one Easter - 14 days, four of which was driving; car camping and having none of that flying bollocks made it all worthwhile. Now live in western Switzerland so it's no longer an issue.

Cumulonimbus

kayakerchris wrote:

having taken one bike, I would suggest that you are in urgent need of psychiatric help.

Yeah that was my reaction when i first thought of the idea as my experience of flying with a bike was pretty awful! Was hoping to learn from that experience though and maybe it wouldnt be as nightmarish as it at first sounds.

Cumulonimbus

Sancho Panza wrote:

if you have a car, drive. I've done just that many times. Used to live in Edinburgh and drove to Bedoin and back one Easter - 14 days, four of which was driving; car camping and having none of that flying bollocks made it all worthwhile. Now live in western Switzerland so it's no longer an issue.

Yeah, non-driver here. If i could drive then i would do that as it would be easier both travelling there and also when over there. Well done on that trip though, sounds epic!

cougie

I've flown with one bike many a time. It's a pain in the ass !
Two bikes for one person is madness. You'll probably put your back out lugging them around.

Take the road bike and rent an MTB ?

nferrar

Yeah I'd go with trying to rent one of them. You'd probably have issues with all that luggage anyway with some carriers (e.g. if you can add a second bike with Easyjet does that then allow you to go over the 50kg total allowance?)

Cumulonimbus

Cheers guys, looks like i will wimp out and take the road bike and hire out an MTB where necessary. For a few days i can rent out a much more expensive MTB than i would be prepared to buy, at a price that isnt too exhorbitant and maybe also try different types of MTB, such as a downhill bike. Be interested to hear from anyone who has managed to do two before though

ilsassocycling

I've flown with a bike a good few times and found it alright, just allow a bit more time to get the bike checked in etc..

I invested in a scicon box about 12 years ago and its still going strong, you just take the pedals off, whip the bars round and its done. A solid box and you know your bike will be fine. They are a wee bit more expensive but how much is your bike, how many times might you use it? I'd say for me it was £300 well spent as not had a mark on any bike while club/team mates have had nightmares with padded bags... It's also pretty light too!

cougie

I've seen a double hard case on my travels - a husband and wife used it so both their bikes went in the one case. Fairly hefty though - It may go over the safe handling allowance they have nowadays ? Oh and both their bikes were for the road.

DaveMoss

Sancho Panza wrote:

if you have a car, drive. I've done just that many times. Used to live in Edinburgh ............. ........ Now live in western Switzerland so it's no longer an issue.

But what about when you want to ride your bike in Scotland?