Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Bike on trains in Tokyo

Hi guys. I'm taking my bike with me to Tokyo for a few months. I think I'm going to put it in a spare box from the LBS and have it FedEx'ed over before I leave. Once it gets there, I'm going to be traveling with it by train from time to time. I've heard people on the internets saying that a rinko bukuro (bike bag) is required for taking bikes on trains in Japan. I couldn't find anything on google when searching for りんこ袋. Anybody know what this is and where to get one?

Does it look anything like this? (http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Bike-Cover-Racing-Bikes/dp/B000FIAUT8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1201968499&sr=1-2)

Also, would such a bag be sturdy enough for international transit as well?

Performance has a bike bag (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=20104&estore_ID=1523) that is pretty cheap and looks handy except you have to remove the bars. Seems more like an airplane-travel bag than a train-travel bag. How much bike disassembly do these rinko bags require to fit the bike?

What trains are you wanting to take it on? If its subway or local trains, just ride the bike, not the train. Otherwise, youll need the bike in a box or a bag on all trains at all times. They dont care what kind.
You almost def dont want to ship your bike to Japan. Itll cost you half the price of the bike. Take it on the plane for free. If you do ship it, you def want a box or boxes.

JAL lets you fly with your bike with no extra charge btwn the us and japan. be careful as many airlines now charge for bikes.

try searching "輪行袋" it's "Rinkou" not "Rinko."

I brought my now-gone pista to japan last summer. FORGET about riding train with bikes in Tokyo. It's impossible. I mean, physically impossible. There is no ****ing room even for your backpack on trains. If you are getting out of Tokyo and taking less busy lines, you can put your bike in a bag, and take it with you.

It's very Japanese, but what they need is simply the fact that "bike is in a bag" and it can be poly trash bag, cotton bag, or fancy ones. They don't care. Oh and I think you'll have to take a least front wheel off.

I've heard some sight-seeing-centered lines now allowing cyclist to be on board without bike bags.

JAL lets you fly with your bike with no extra charge btwn the us and japan. be careful as many airlines now charge for bikes.

try searching "輪行袋" it's "Rinkou" not "Rinko."

How about ANA (run by United) - do they charge for bikes?

Thanks for clearing up the spelling.

What trains are you wanting to take it on? If its subway or local trains, just ride the bike, not the train.

I should have "around Tokyo". This would be for longer into-the-country excursions　(around 富士山、etc). For in city riding, I'll just ride there.

As for taking it on the plane - do they really let passengers take semi-disassembled bikes into the cabin?

It's very Japanese, but what they need is simply the fact that "bike is in a bag" and it can be poly trash bag, cotton bag, or fancy ones. They don't care. Oh and I think you'll have to take a least front wheel off.

Front wheel off, stem loosened and bars turned to the side is the way I saw most people put them on a train. That's what my foldable Bridgestone does, too. Also, if you're not running clipless pedals, you might want to take those off as well.

I've seen some people get away with just "covers". The bottom wasn't fully closed, but you couldn't see the bike underneath. That would probably only work on subways or local trains. I wouldn't try it on a Shinkansen or something like that.

How about ANA (run by United) - do they charge for bikes?

Thanks for clearing up the spelling.

ANA is not "run by" United. They code-share, but ANA is very much its own company (thankfully).

In my 4+ years living in Tokyo and surrounding areas, I never once saw a bike on a train. How long are you going to be there? I would suggest leaving your bike at home and just get around using other forms of transport.

^ 6 months, working full time salaryman-style (yes I realize the term is antiquated...). Hence, I plan to make full use of my bike on the weekends :)

Ah, I see. Then it seems worth it.

I have a rinkou bag (an "Ostrich"). Any of the larger bike shops, any Tokyu Hands, some more general outdoor shops (Mont Bell, etc) will have them for 3-7,ooo yen or so.

I wouldn't want to bring my bike into the train during really busy times, but you can do it. I have used mine to bring my bike to Yokohama from Tokyo on the Toyoko line. Usually I have got off at Nakameguro or Shibuya and built it up to ride home, but once I took it through Shibuya, then Shinjuku, did a small errand, then back on the Keio line to where I live. I generally take off both wheels.

Rinkou bags are great!

Avoiding busy times is key. I lived on the Toyoko line (Jiyugaoka), and bringing a big bag on the train during morning rush hour is pretty much impossible and any attempts to squeeze in will highly annoy those around you. Local trains tend to be less crowded than express trains. Go during off-peak hours and it shouldn't be too much trouble. Get on the train at either the last or first car and you'll find a nice open space to put something big. There are no seats at the very front of the train and the very end.

I will try to avoid rush hours, but are things as rushed on the weekends as during the week?

nateintokyo, which one of the Ostrich bags (http://www.ostrich-az.com/catalog-p13-rinkou01.html)do you use? The ones designed for "racing bikes" seem kind of expensive. The link I posted above for the Performance TransIt bag seems like the same thing but much cheaper.

Weekends should be fine. The train can get kind of crowded mid to late morning with people heading to shopping areas and such, and late night is kind of a mess, but it should be fine. Do you know where you're staying?

I'll be in the town of Sagamihara, Kanagawa-ken. Will check the "tokyo" thread for bikeshops and such. Will definitely be on the lookout for a keirin frame as well :D

As for taking it on the plane - do they really let passengers take semi-disassembled bikes into the cabin?

No! I think by "take it on the plane" he meant as checked baggage. No airline will let you take a bike into the cabin no matter how much it's disassembled.

Enough is enough! I have had it with these mother****ing bikes on this mother****ing plane!


sorry, i had to. :)

Haha, so much for riding up and down the aisles at 30,000ft...

Anyways, a related question. I've read that you're not allowed to lock up your bike just anywhere in some business districts, but leaving my bike during the day at one of the massive parking lots at the train station seems risky because it will be squeezed into/piled on top of thousands of commuter bikes or possibly "recycled" if it's found that it is not properly registered or expired. How do I avoid this happening to my bike?

http://fiets.seesaa.net/article/57295444.html
http://fiets.up.seesaa.net/media/IMGP0660.JPG

I'll be in the town of Sagamihara, Kanagawa-ken.

Military?

I don't remember what exact model my bag is (and it doesn't say on the bag), but I got it at Tokyu Hands in Shinjuku and I think it was about 4,000. It is a smaller/lighter one, and requires both wheels off. Not too hard though--after the first two times it was pretty quick. After I got the Ostrich I saw the Mont-Bell ones and thought they looked pretty good too.

As for not getting ganked/ 撤去'd, just don't park near a train station during the day or early evening. If you do, don't put your bike near the shopping bikes, but instead on the street side of railings (and hopefully not get nicked by a car!). I've never had a 'nice' bike removed, only shopping bikes. Part of it is parking habits, and part of it is that the guys load up the bikes that are easiest to get--I've seen them leave bikes attached to immobile objects with pricey locks while the shopping bikes are lift and go.

Also, you can go to any bike shop and spend ¥500 and get your bike registered. Sometimes thats not a bad idea. Considering youll be there for half a year, if the cops stop you (and they eventually will believe it or not) itll be a pain in the ass situation if your bike isnt registered.

Also, you can go to any bike shop and spend ¥500 and get your bike registered. Sometimes thats not a bad idea. Considering youll be there for half a year, if the cops stop you (and they eventually will believe it or not) itll be a pain in the ass situation if your bike isnt registered.

And when you get it registered, bring some paperwork to show it's yours - receipt, courier bill, customs form, etc.

And when you get it registered, bring some paperwork to show it's yours - receipt, courier bill, customs form, etc.

You know i had heard that, but i once reg'd a bike without any paperwork at all.

Guys here buy motorbike covers at the 100YEN MART and use that.....otherwise buy a 6000YEN bike bag.
But yeah, just ride your bike everywhere, unless going long distance. It is much more fun, cheaper, and often quicker too.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm sure I'll have more gaijin-related questions for you later :)

****, i gotta go home for a few. it's getting kinda close, and i'm kinda bummed.

Hit me up anytime when you get here. I live in Tama which isn't that far from Sagamihara:)

Hi guys. ...

Also, would such a bag be sturdy enough for international transit as well? ...

hey kmart,

looks like you've got a lot of answers already, but i'll just add my 2 cents.
i've been using an ostrich ロード520輪行袋 (Road 520 Rinkou-bukuro) like this one here (http://store.shopping.yahoo.co.jp/charaway/ostkaw10681110.html) for the past 5 years or so all over japan, okinawa, and ishigaki-jima. it works great on trains, and even flying domestically, since ANA, JAL, and Skymark do a great job of handling bikes. just for extra measure, i add a little bit of foam that i cut out from those blue camping ground pads you can find at just about any home center in japan. i would never use it for international flights, though, the way american, united, etc. throw around baggage. for that i use a trico iron case (although for one-time use, i've had success using corrugated cardboard oem boxes). as a previous poster wrote, don't fedex it, check it in as baggage, and there shouldn't be a charge for it. if they try to charge you for it on international flights, which they've tried to do with me a few times, insist on them re-checking with their managers because bikes should be no charge as long as they're one of your 2 allowed check-ins. on the local trains, the ostrich road-520 or even the less expensive road-320 folds the bike to be pretty compact, so it's kind of standing upright, with both wheels taken off and in separate "sleeves." this takes up less room than some of the cheaper sacks that just cover up the bike, and you'll have less chance of locals being annoyed at you for taking up so much space on the train. i've used mine all over greater tokyo to mt. fuji, nikko, hanno to the west of tokyo, etc. definitely well worth it! the difference between the road-520 (Y9,800), road-320 (Y7,800), and then the cheaper ones from there is the sturdiness of the fabric. i got the most sturdy one becuase i live here and use it all the time. you'd probably be fine with the 320.

cheers! - rj

Having traveled several times between the US and Japan with a bike, I would recommend using a cardboard bike box for the overseas travel part. I don't think it will be a big hassle to get it from Tokyo station to Sagamihara.

In Japan, I just remove the wheels and tie them on each side of the frame, turn the handlebar and tape two garbage bags around the bike. That way I have no bike bag to carry if I'm riding from the station. On the trains people are pretty tolerant. After all, Japanese carry surf boards and snowboards on trains. Getting though the ticket "turnstyles" might be your biggest challenge if there's no person at the gates to let you through.

Just northwest of Sagamihara (and do-able by bike) is the Tanzawa mountain range. Give Yabitsu "toge" ('toe.gay', between Atsugi and Hadano on the Odakyu line) a try. I once saw a Keirin racer training on it with his fixed gear bike. He passed me!

I'm in the Shinjuku area every weekend bringing my bike-in-a-bag from Kyoto.

Gale

i really like the TIOGA COCOON...
http://www.selectit.jp/item_acce/xpac-tou/tioga/cocoon01_05.jpg
it's not very small, but you don't have to worry about taking the back wheel off... just remove the pedals and the front wheel and you're good to go. i carry the front wheel separately... strapping it to the frame is mendokusai (to much hassle).

good luck avoiding rush hour... happy travels!