Originally Posted by
staehpj1
... have you looked into possibly using shipbikes.com or bikeflights.com? ....
Shipping a bike between USA and Europe raises customs duty issues. For international travel, it is best to have the bike on the plane with you when you clear customs.
And it can be a hassle if you clear customs at a layover airport, where you may have to reclaim your luggage and then re-check your luggage again.