Eriol

Does anyone else here do a lot of traveling for business? I'm away at least one week a month to different locations throughout the US and I'm just wondering what everyone does while there away. I ride my bike everywhere, including to work when I'm home and go crazy when I'm away. My company pays for a rental car, however I would much prefer a bike. I dont like the idea of transporting it on the aircraft (BTW do airlines usually charge for this), but I could probably convince my company to pay for a rental bike. I was wondering is this feasible and are there a lot of places that offer this capability. Plus the logistics are a nightmare, all the luggage still need to get to the hotel. Just wondering what everyone does
I see rental car companies all over the airport and wish there were other alternatives.
Thanks

wahoonc

Look into a folder my personal favorite are the Bike Friday's I have not seen bicycles for rent outside of the beach type cruisers available in resort areas. What I would conive todo would to be A) Get hotels that have transportation vans. B) Get a Bike Friday and get the company to reimburse you for the cost of the rental car you aren't using, and apply it to the BF

Aaron

godspiral

you need to add a folder to your wish list
Bike Friday has a cool concept that converts its flight packing case into a hitch trailer, so you can put your other bag in tow.
A bit expensive for me, but since you were talking about convincing your company of features

Blackberry

Yes. Bike Friday. I love mine. You'll love yours.

cgchambers

I travel all the time, sometimes 3 weeks a month in the summer. I can't stand it, not riding etc I just feel like crap. I have to drive on my road trips because I carry a LOT of equipment. I have started hitting the exercise bikes in the hotel, then I at least get to ride something, my day goes much better at least. Wish I had better advice.

bikelover52

ya i agree

oboeguy

I hear that Bike Fridays pack into suitcases really well. In fact, I met a guy at the Five Boro Bike Tour 2005 who said he's and executive who travels a lot and either FedEx's his Bike Friday to himself (!!!) or packs it in a suitcase. I'm working on packing our Dahons into suitcases. The fold of the Dahons is awesome for "pick up and go" carrying -- much better than the BF -- but it takes some disassembly to get them into a stadard (i.e. not $80-oversize-charge-inducing) suitcase.

Eriol

oooo I like it. I wonder if I can convince them to just buy me one with the stipulation that they wont have to pay for a rental car again...........worth a shot

thomson

I am in a similar but much less frequent situation. My office is in Dallas and I fly there once a quarter. I was thinking of approaching the boss with a reimbursement equal to the rental car cost each quarter. In 3 or 4 quarters, I will have paid for it.

I like the Bike Friday for its case. I am concerned though that it is just slightly larger than the airline limit for free baggage. Anyone fly with Bike Friday's in their own case care to shed some light on this?

gbcb

I agree with those suggesting a folding bike. For air travel, you might want to consider doing a gate check -- that is, you give the bike to the agent at the gate, just before you board the plane. You see people doing it with strollers and wheelchairs. From what I've heard, Brompton folders lend themselves to this sort of thing very well because they have roller wheels, so you can easily move them around even when they're folded up.

You might want to look around the Folding Bikes forum for more information. Hope you find a way to make this work!

Blackberry

I have never had a problem with the Bike Friday case. It is a Samonite "Flite" rolling suitcase that has never garnered a second glance from a gate agent. It has always travelled as standard luggage with no additional charges. Check it out: https://www.bikefriday.com/main.cfm?f...&Category=Shop