Originally Posted by
sandybar
One more important point on biking in Rome:
YES, you can get to the Fumiciano airport, with your bike, on a train. HOWEVER, it's a moot point, cuz' you're going to want to box your bike before your get to the airport - there are NO bike boxes (that I could find) at the Fumiciano Airport in Rome.
After some on-the ground research in Rome I learned that there is a regional train that leaves from the Tiburtina Metro stop in Rome for the airport, which allows bicycles. Great! The Lonely Planet "Biking Italy" book that just came out has some vague wording about major airlines often having boxes available for bikes. I called United Airlines the day before I left and they said if they did not have a box that I could get one from Lufthansa. Well, I can tell you that nobody at the airport has bike boxes. Everyone I asked just shook their head and said that's something the American companies do. I even hopped a shuttlebus (with my loaded bike) to a different terminal to ask about boxes there, no go. Instead of a box they give you a large, heavy duty plastic bag. After desperately seeking a bike box for over an hour I had to give up and use the plastic bag. I removed the pedals, dropped the seat, bled the air from the tires and turned the handlebars. Luckily I had a roll of 3" wide heavy duty packing tape, which helped secure things, but I still felt like I was giving a lamb to the wolves when I checked it in. Amazingly, my bike survived with no major casualties! (And I had 4 connections, including a customs inspection). However, I can't recommend the experience. If you're flying out of Rome the only option I see is to secure a bike box, pack your bike the day before, and bite the bullet and pay the exorbitant taxi fare to the airport. Not sure how much it costs, but it's a 45 mile trip so it's bound to be pricey.
I remain convinced that the best way to take your bike on a plane is to turn the handlebars sideways, take off the pedals, drop the seat and roll the unwrapped bike up to the check out counter. The baggage handlers can see what they are handling and take appropriate precautions, whereas with a cardboard box or opaque bag they just see a cardboard box or nylon bag and they will pile things on top of it. Putting the bike in a clear plastic bag works almost as well. I also prefer to cycle to and from the airport, it's a lot cheaper than taxis, trains and shuttle buses, and it's nice to get a little exercise before sitting on a plane for a few hours. My routine is to cycle to the airport, find a quiet corner, shift all my gear into one duffel bag except one pannier that I use as carry-on, and do the handlebars/pedals/seat routine with the bike. Then I find a restroom to change out of cycling clothes and take a sink bath, and head for the check in counter. This has worked for me at London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Dublin, Florence and Catania. I use Google Earth, Google Maps and
www.viamichelin.com to find bicycle routes to and from the airport.
I also try very hard to minimize the number of connections I have to make, and I try to allow plenty of time between flights if I do have to change planes. That way the baggage handlers deal with the bike as little as possible, and they aren't in too much of a hurry when they do.