Originally Posted by
spinnaker
It is HIGHLY unlikely you will have access to your bicycle anyway. Too much of a security risk to the airline.
Does Russia operate more like Europe or the US in this regards? In the US, your first airport of arrival into the country, you must collect your baggage and go through customs/immigration, before rechecking it, so you could theoretically have access to it. Can't recall seeing that method anywhere in Europe, but I don't know how Russia operates.