TommyBing

I'll be living between France and Canada for the next several (2-4) years, making one or two flights per year back and forth.

I have a carbon CX bike that I put around 200 miles a week on and would like to continue this forever.

What is the least expensive way to move my bike back and forth?

The only reference point I have is a friend who has a soft case that looks nothing like a bike bag, and is never asked about it at check-in, he's also a rewards member and can check two pieces on international flights at no charge. He's never had a problem. (In about a dozen trips) But the idea of my carbon bike in a soft case being treated like standard luggage is crazy scary.

So do I get a hard case and declare it as a bike and pay $100-$150 for it? If they break it do they replace it?

10 trips is $1500, which could make for a pretty sick n + 1 singlespeed winter bike.

So I guess these are my options: 1) soft case, no fee, damage risk; 2) hard case, fee; 3) get a bike in France, keep it in France, bring it back when I come back home to stay.

What do you folks do that have taken several international trips with your bike(s)?

Machka 

I have done a lot of flights with my bicycle.

If you fly Air Canada, you can transport your bicycle for $50/flight. Look at the Bicycle section on the Air Canada website.
https://www.aircanada.com/en/travelin...uip.html#-bike

Chances are they won't ask you if there is a bicycle in the box. They are smarter than that. Instead, they'll ask you, "Where are you planning to ride the bicycle?" And in many airports, someone will take the box away from you to pass it through the X-ray, then return it and tell the check-in agent that there is a bicycle in the box.

But you don't want to suggest that it is anything but a bicycle or they'll charge you oversized fees which are quite a bit more than $50.

These days, economy Air Canada flights only allow 1 piece of luggage, so if you can get what you need into the bicycle box (keep it underweight), and in a carry-on bag, that's the cheapest option.


However, if it were me, I'd be tempted to go with two bicycles ... one in Canada and one in France.

TommyBing

For the first (and last) flights I'll need several pieces of luggage. Otherwise my individual return trips to and from will just be a simple carry-on and the bike.

Do you have any advice between a hard case and a soft case? My price range is under $500 USD.

When you say "box" do you literally mean a cardboard box?

Thanks for your advice!

fietsbob

I just brought my Touring Bike , It was big and so I used Cardboard boxes,
I abandon them where I arrive, get new cardboard cartons when I leave.

you with the Gofast Bike won't have racks and Mudguards and all that
so you can get it into a hard case that you own, knocked down further ..

since you will have 2 places on either end to store it.. May get sick of the extra charges then have a bike in each place.

sreten

Hi,

You could buy a B'Twin Triban 3 in France, or presumably
any number of classic used road bikes in France, they are
known to be somewhat keen on road bikes in France.

The Triban 3 is nice :

https://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/tech/...u-pay-for.html
https://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/tech/...u-pay-for.html

And costs about $500 new.

rgds, sreten.

lucille

Not sure I'd like to be carrying a full size bike back and forth. Just getting to and from airports is a pain, paying $50 or more each way, and there's always a chance that it will get damaged. I travel with my bike (Bike Friday that fits in a suitcase), but in your case I'd save myself stress and money and get another bike.

Machka 

When I say "box", I mean cardboard box. Like the kind you can often get for free from your local bicycle shop.

I have used a hard case, but you've got to have a place to store the case when you get to your destination. I've only gone that route for 4 flights. For all the rest I've used cardboard boxes.

In your case, using a hard case might be OK because you may have a place to store the hard case. And I would go hard case rather than soft case.

If you'll be carrying a lot of luggage on your first and last flights, expect to PAY. On a relatively inexpensive economy flight with Air Canada, you'll be looking at $175/bag for anything over 1 checked bag.


As with the idea of buying a bicycle when you get to France, I would also encourage you to think about buying other stuff when you get to France. Two of the times Rowan and I have gone to France, we've travelled quite lightly, and then have bought clothing and things (including our tent on one trip) when we got there from the Decathlon and GoSport stores. Those Decathlon stores are great!!

lucille

Actually, I was curious myself and looked up AC's luggage fees. $100 for the second piece and $225 for each after that. Craziness!

Machka 

It's gone up since the one and only time I've travelled with an extra piece of luggage. I was choking on $175 then.