BluesDawg

Since it is about 1600 miles from where I live in Georgia to Glenwood Springs, CO, I am not likely to make the trip by car. I have never dealt with taking a bike on an airplane flight, but I understand it can be costly and a hassle. Someone (tsl I think) mentioned Amtrak. I have never traveled by train, but my wife and I have often talked about taking a trip that way sometime. I know that there is Amtrak service to Atlanta, but I have no idea where to start looking for information about it.

Some things I need to know include:
Is it possible to travel by train from Atlanta to Glenwood Springs?
What kind of accommodations are available? (i.e., sleeper cars etc.)
How much would such a trip cost for 2 people and 2 bicycles?
How long would it take?

If anyone could point me toward a website where I could learn about this, I would be most thankful.

DnvrFox

https://www.Amtrak.com

DnvrFox

Route: 20 Crescent
Departs: Atlanta, GA (ATL) Approximate Duration*: 13h 49m
Arrives: Washington - Union Station, DC (WAS)
Service or train number change in Washington - Union Station
Route: 29 Capitol Limited
Departs: Washington - Union Station, DC (WAS) Approximate Duration*: 17h 35m
Arrives: Chicago - Union Station, IL (CHI)
Service or train number change in Chicago - Union Station
Route: 5 California Zephyr
Departs: Chicago - Union Station, IL (CHI) Approximate Duration*: 24h 53m
Arrives: Glenwood Springs, CO (GSC)

BluesDawg

Thanks, Dnvr. Hmmm, Georgia to Colorado via DC and Chicago. Looks like I'll be driving or flying.

BikeWNC

I have done that drive so many times. It's long and Misery (Missouri) can be painful but if you have the time it's not bad. Figure 3 days each way by car. If you have never driven across Kansas before it is worth the trip to do so.

DnvrFox

Ship your bike by UPS??

When we travel by plane and have extra stuff, we shipit on ahead to the UPS (or siimilar) office in the city to which we are traveling. Then you don't have to carry it through the airport, etc., etc.

They did misdeliver our bags once to where it was sent, but we eventually got it.

fly into Denver, rent a car, drive to GWS and pick up your bike???

Rick@OCRR

I would fly in but UPS my bike there first. Is is okay to bring a spouse even if she's not quite 50 yet?

Rick / OCRR

BluesDawg

I sure hope it is. Mine is not quite 40 yet.

Rick@OCRR

Okay BD, you win so far! Do we hear from any 50+ rider who has a spouse not quite 20 yet?

Rick / OCRR

jppe

BluesDawg-just went through the various options myself on my trip to Tucson. I had planned to ship my bike before I left and have it arrive at my motel in Tucson. A friend loaned me a cardboard box. I took the box to UPS and Fedex and neither would ship it ground, but would ship it freight. The issue wasn't the weight but the size of the box. Freight is $400+ to Tucson and probably the same to Co.

The box is a sky caddie that interestingly had a Fedex ground sticker on the box from the delivery of my friends bike earlier this year.......It is wedge shaped so very wide on one end for the bars to fit in. UPS gave me an option of using their cardboard bike box which was more rectangular in shape. The total cost for shipping and the box was around $150. Shipping was probably $110-assuming they packed it. When they pack it they guarantee it. (all the prices above are one way!!!)

I decided to go ahead and buy a bike case and bought a Trico Sports Ironcase. While that was the more expensive option, I felt better about how the bike would be packed and cushioned and now have a container I can use for future trips and the option of taking it on the plane and not worrying about it getting dinged up.

It cost me $104 one way to put the bike on the plane with me on US Airways. While it was a hassle dragging it through the terminal, the case arrived at the customer service area at the terminal the same time my golf clubs and suitcase arrived which I liked.

I looked at driving out and back myself but it gets pretty ridiculous. When you figure 6 days/nights on the road with meals, hotel/camping and gas, flying and getting there in just a matter of hours isn't too bad. I did it summer 2007 and was out and back in 10 days. The last couple days got really, really long. Good luck with finding a reasonable solution.

BengeBoy 

Sporting gear shipping --

www.sportsexpress.com

Atlanta to Glenwood Springs - 1 standard size bike - $81 one way.

DnvrFox

BikeWNC

I'll most likely fly to Denver with my bike, wife and daughter, rent a car and stay with my sister-in-law there in Denver. The problem for me is I would like to get to Junction to see my brother. Maybe I need to stay a few weeks.

BluesDawg

This is not looking good.

Tom Bombadil

How much riding do you plan to do out there?

If it isn't too much, then I'd consider renting something after you get out there. Or if anyone else participating from the area has a bike in your size, perhaps they could bring it. Wouldn't be perfect, but it would be much simpler than all of the hassle of shipping it out and then back. Take your saddle to make sure you have something comfy to sit on.

BluesDawg

Maybe the 2nd Annual ride will be on the east coast. I guess I got caught up in the excitement of the idea and didn't think about how much it would really cost to take a trip like this. When I start looking at it realistically, it's far more than I need to be thinking about spending on a vacation. Oh well, it was fun thinking about it, but it's not going to happen.

DnvrFox

Basic costs - one person

Round trip - Atlanta - Denver.$385 (United and other airlines, as of today)
Bike shipping round trip.........$162 (Shipped to GS - Sports Express - or rental for four days @ $40 per day)
Rental car Denver 5 days
......w/discount....................~$225 TO $275, (DEPENDING ON CAR, ETC.)
Basic Motel 5 nights...........~ $400 https://glenwoodmotorinn.com/rates.htm (w/senior discount)
....................................... ~$1,172 - $1,222

plus whatever in the way of food, gas, etc.

Add another $385 for wife.
Airline Rates: https://www.orbitz.com/App/ViewFlight...e=interstitial

BluesDawg

Roughly the math I was looking at. Plus a few hundred for food,entertainment and shopping, plus about a 20% "reality factor". Would that I could, but there's no way to fit that into our 2009 budget. I'll have to catch y'all some other time.

DnvrFox

Louis

I hear you, BD, that's why I've hesitated to respond. As tempting as it is, this ride is out of my reach.

Bud Bent

I'm not too crazy about a 16 hour drive either, but trying to fly with recumbent bikes is even more daunting. I have an excellent bike rack which fits my wife's 40 mpg Corolla. I would just have to dedicate one full day to going and one full day to returning. Seems doable if I save some vacation days for it.

DnvrFox

Another option:

One could fly directly to Aspen (i.e., $546 round trip from Atlanta) - a one-stop flight, not rent a car, take the bus from Aspen to Glenwood, rent a bike in Glenwood and bicycle, use public transportation (or get a ride from other participants who drove) in Glenwood.

https://www.rfta.com/

Yen

Take heart, you're in good company -- most of this won't be going. The turnout is much lower than I expected.

BluesDawg

To the contrary, I think the number of people planning to go is surprisingly high. That is one reason that it is so tempting. I'll be keeping this idea on the back burner just in case some unexpected turn of events makes it more of a possibility. That is highly unlikely for several reasons, but if I have learned anything in my life it is "never say never".

DnvrFox

I am amazed at the interest and turnout so far. I fully realize that some of the folks expressing interest won't be able to go, and, likewise, there are some folks who will turn up who are just standing by right now.

What did you expect?