My friend Ann takes her bike wherever she goes, even if
the trip isn't about biking - like her Christmas trip to
Arizona to visit her parents. We discussed the advantages
and compared some expenses. In the end, I went to do a
little research to find out what would be the best way to
go when traveling by airplane - ship your bike in the cargo
hold of the plane, ship it ahead of time by UPS, or rent a
bike when you arrive at your destination.

Among the three options, renting was clearly the least
favorable. Mainly because it's not your bike, and it's
likely to be a poor to middling fit as well a being a
clunker compared to your own equipment. What's even worse,
is that renting is expensive. Low end rental is about $45 a
day (USD), but that can vary and rentals might not even be
available where you're going.  The better the bike, the
more you pay. If you rent and ride a couple times during
your visit, you're likely to have come out even at best
with the cost of shipping or flying your own bike. If you
rent more than a couple of times, you definitely should
have shipped your own bicycle.

Shipping a bicycle in the cargo hold of the airplane
you're on is a good option, and might be the best choice
depending on the circumstances. The advantages of carrying
it with you on the plane include have your bike with you
continuously.  You won't be without your bike for the
several days it takes when shipping by UPS. Depending on
the type of packaging you use for the shipment, disassembly
of your bike is minimal.  You can get by with as little as
taking off the pedals and handle bar. Usually, the cost is
about $40 each way.

The option I prefer is shipping via UPS. Depending on the
beginning and end points, the shipping charge is often less
than the cost of carrying the bicycle on the airplane. For
example, you can ship a bike from New York to Chicago for
around $35.  To me, the low hassle factor is the biggest
benefit here. No wrestling the crate into the taxi, no
ending the flight by waiting in long lines at baggage
claim, no packing troubles with the small trunk of the
rental car. Instead, the bicycle is nicely delivered to the
door. You have a tracking number, if you like to check in
it while the bike is en route. You need a good shipping
carton, of course, but if you travel with your bike even a
couple times a year it is worth making the investment.

Here is a summary of shipping carton possibilities,
organized from most expensive to least. For around $340
(USD), you can get a rigid bicycle 'suitcase' that will
last a lifetime.  To pack your bike into one of these
requires taking off both wheels plus the handle bars,
pedals, and seat.  Next is a waterproof bicycle box for
about $200. These are durable, and if space to store a bike
container is a problem, these have the added benefit of
being collapsible for convenient storage. The corrugated
cardboard shipping boxes are also collapsible, but I don't
recommend them.  Primarily because they are relatively
expensive (about $140) when you consider the fact that they
only last for a handful of trips. The durable waterproof
and plain cardboard rectangular boxes both come with
handling straps, tie-downs, and foam chocks. Bike
disassembly involves removing the pedals and handlebar. The
final option costs about $80. It is a triangular corrugated
cardboard shipping crate. I like these because there is no
disassembly, only the quick release of front wheel and
seat, which are easily held in place with the tie-downs
that are designed into the crate.

For more details about shipping crates and rates, go on-
line. Enter the term 'bike shipping' in any search engine.
You'll find that traveling with your own bike is affordable
and fairly low hassle. If you haven't taken your bike with
you on trips already, try it. You'll like it.

Daniel Lebarge is a contributing author to <a
href="http://firstbicycle.com">News from First Bicycle</a>
, the leading resource for bicycle information. Visit
Daniel's archive of articles at http://www.firstbicycle.com

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