Biking in Sri Lanka
 

Wife and I are headed off to the gorgeous island of Sri Lanka . Will be staying our usual 3 months of Jan, Feb and March. I am a new rider (less then a year) and want to take my Trek Single Speed District belt drive bike. Has anyone shipped bikes overseas and if so, is it a big pain and also has anyone ever rode a bike in Sri-Lanka...? Cheers, Jerry

Enjoy it, you'll have a great time, no doubt at all.

Haven't cycled there yet, but it was the inspiration for getting folders. Had the ambition of taking them on the train from Kandy up to the tea plantations around Nuarya Elya, and then whizzing 50 kms steady downhill!

(Falling off the folder has delayed this plan for a year, but it's still on the agenda!)

Any tips or suggestions when it comes to shipping a bike 1/2 way around the world..? I fly United to London then Sri Lankan Air London-Colombo. Uited told me its a flat $200.00 fee to send a bike in the proper bike box..Any input folks..?

Have you thought about renting a bike?

Consider a Bike Friday or Xooter swift folder ?

I'd actually feel pretty safe doing that now that the Tamil Tigers have been crushed.

Yes things have really changed alot in the last 2 years or so. I have been going to Sri Lanka since 1976 when I was a Marine Guard at the American Embassy in Sri-Lanka. Have fallen in love with the place and now since my wife has retired recently, we are now spending the 4 coldest months of the year (Ohio) in sunny Sri Lanka. But with as many times as I been there, i had yet never ridden a bicycle and that is going to change on this trip. I will be sending my Trek District Single Speed and leaving it there in Colombo.

My son works in the Maldives. I sent him a link. He reciently spent some time in Sri Lanka I have ask him to comment on your request

This is my sons quote

"Um, if you've seen the roads and traffic in Sri Lanka I think only
those with a death wish would attempt it."

I'm sure there will be various views on this, so I'll just offer my experience which is emphatically not advice!

Putting bikes in a solid bike case, like the 'pro-case' I have - expensive in airline charges as the case, even without anything inside, is an economy ticket's weight allowance. However, in my experience, the bike has arrived safe

Putting bike in a cardboard carton such as those obtainable from a bike shop or an airline terminal - no additional airline charge, and in each of 5 journeys a badly damaged bike. Plaited forks, gearsets kicked horizontal, spokesets whisked. Wouldn't do it again

Bike recognisably a bike inside transparent bubble wrap with pedals removed and re-installed on the inside, and handlebars turned 90 degrees in line with the top tube - no charges, no damage, the handlers seemed to respect and recognise what they were handling

My Xoortr Swift folded until it fitted in a newspaper filled dive bag - not the slightest issue!

Hi James, Maldives are a lovely place. Have been there many times when I was a airline pilot for Sri Lankan.. I am also quite concerned about the traffic riding, however i plan on riding out station and not in the city.

United Airlines price quote shipping Bicycle
 

I have finally managed to get ahold of United about shipping the bicycle to Colombo, Sri Lanka and was told its $200.00 and the bike box must be 50lbs or less. So should not be a problem. I am sending my Trek District Single Speed and leaving it in Sri Lanka..

Yeah, now they're trying to get into Canada as "refugees" aboard tramp steamers. I hope they leave their animosities in Sri Lanka and truly start new lives here, if they're allowed to stay.

$200 sounds pretty steep to transport a bike, but that's how much I've saved so far taking my coupled Rodriquez fixie on two trips. Next trip is in October to Orlando. Sri Lanka sounds beautiful, but the roads and traffic (in Colombo?) not so. Food is supposed to be great, and so is the cricket (they're hosting its World Cup in 2011). Hope you enjoy a fabulous trip!

Luis

L.

Good! It sounds like you have things covered.

As an idea of what traffic is like i watched a TV show called Ice Road Truckers, They have a new version where they were in India driving trucks in NewDelhi. The cab of the truck is made out of wood http://www.tvgrapevine.com/index.php...kers&Itemid=78

I know some adventure company will have a bike ride on them some day