icyclist 

I'm headed to Italy – and a few days in Paris - this summer with my brother (we're coming from the U.S.), and I'd like to take my bike rather than rent one.

Toss in the cost of the case and possible luggage fees for three flights, and I'm not sure it would save me any money over renting a good bike. I'd have my own bike, though. I could purchase a bike, as I must surely be due for a new one. However, that would blow a hole in a budget that isn't unlimited, and I'd have to figure out how to get the bike back to the U.S, anyway.

My thought for now is to purchase a hard shell bike case. I could keep the bike case with me throughout the trip, as we'll have a car (and we're spending nights over the course of two weeks in five places). That way, I'd have my bike and I could transport it to and from the airport.

I could use a cardboard bike box, but I'd have to find a second box for the two flights we're taking on the way home, and I'd have to transport the box (two if my brother does the same thing I do) to the airport.

Any advice for us? E.g, is it in fact too much effort to take a bike with me, when renting a bike seems easy enough?

Thanks in advance.

dmcdam

Taking your bike sounds like a huge PITA. Rent and consider it a chance to test drive some fancy new gear for your next addition.

bikerjp

I have no practical experience so this is worth what you paid, but while having your own bike it a plus I like to travel light and hauling the bike along would be a pain plus the potential for damage or theft. Plenty of people do, so I guess it depends on your priorities. I'd at least bring my own saddle and maybe pedals and fit numbers.

dgasmd

For short stays, I would say rent there, but for long trips like yours I say bring your own. I have been to France and Italy with my own bike. Its not as bad as BF makes it sound. Getting a cardboard box and disassembling the bike (assuming you know how to put it together well), could save you not going over the size limit, which is what is going to cost you money really. Buying a case, and a hard one at that, just for this trip is not something I would do. Try to borrow one from someone local and by all means I would discourage you from using a hard case. While they are very tamper resistant, TSA will have a problem putting stuff together and likely damage something in addition to the fact that you will have a very very hard time fitting one (nearly impossible with 2) in car rentals in europe unless you rent a service van (hugely expensive compared to regular small car). I know all of the above because I have been down that road more than once. They are also very hard to move around even the ones that have wheels. Try borrowing one that is semi soft. If you have a steel bike or a Ti bike, then even a soft case will do more than fine. The only one thing that worries me when using a semi or completely soft case is having carbon wheels as the wheels sit on the outside of each side of the bike taking the blunt of any trauma.

RedVVing19

Buy a steel break-away bike frame and have a travel bike?

Or if you want to get real fancy look at titanium with S&S couplers

rpenmanparker 

Keep in mind that a full size bike case is incredibly huge. something like 30" X 40". Considering European sized autos, I would say you would have to carry it on the roof. Not so if you are getting an SUV or minivan, but a normal economy sedan has no hope of accommodating a full size bike case. That's another reason why break apart bikes are popular, they stow in a smaller case. Not just because they can be carried without added fee on the airplane, but because they are also easier to handle back on the ground.

If you have time before your trip, you might look into a Ritchey Breakaway frame for about $1,100 if you are lucky. To save more money you could move all your parts to the Break Away for the trip, and then move them back when you get back home. No airplane fees. Probably break even and definitely you would be ahead on aggravation.

I don't like the Ritchey soft case, and personally I would sell it to lower the added cost of an S&S hard case. Besides the S&S case is truly airline compliant. The Ritchey is close, but not really. You have to hope the airline doesn't notice. But the Ritchey bike fits in the S&S case, so all is good if you can afford the extra dough.

gc3

It's already been said, but when did that ever stop me from restating the obvious....

Between buying a travel case and paying the extra baggage fees, you'll be out of pocket in the range of $1000 in no time. If you have some special rides or a tour planned or your bike fits your special needs (like you need something extra small or extra large), it might be worth having your bike. Otherwise just take your pedals and your shoes, and hope for the best with a rental. Me, if/when I ever buy a case, it'll be one that isn't a full-sized crate, but one where you just take off the handlebars and pedals, but it still oversized baggage. I think a frame with couplers is a great idea, if it is something you'd use with some regularity. Again, for me only, I'd want to get a nice titanium custom frame from someone like Kelly Bedford.

rpenmanparker 

Hard to disagree. I will say that steel Break Away is a sweet riding frame though.

hueyhoolihan

it all depends on how much enjoyment you may or may not gain from riding YOUR bike in addition to owning a hardshell bike case.

you can only tell us that.

if it were me, i would probably pay the price for lugging my own bike. i don't enjoy things as much when i rent. horseback riding, skiing, roller skating, bowling, sex, etc. and how many opportunities do you plan to have, like the one you are planning?

ride your own bike with your brother in europe and build memories.

OTOH, if you are even contemplating a new bike. forget about shipping to Italy and just BUY one in Italy. how much fun is THAT?

icyclist 

Thanks for all the good ideas.

chaadster

Don't take your bike.

If you were staying put for a couple of weeks with nothing but the intention to ride, I'd say do it. But trying to move around every couple of days and do a "let's go to Europe" trip...forget it. And two bikes? Forget it 3x.

Plan ahead, book your rentals, and go have fun.

cccorlew

I face the a related issue. I so very much want to ride in Italy. But my bike is, well, my bike. It fits. I have ome custom adaptations, the least of which is right/front brake set up. No way do I want to ride someone other bike. I worry about loss and breakage. But if I can't ride my bike, what's the point?

If I go, I take the bike and damn the cost. I'll save an extra year if I must.

Good luck!

Machka 

I don't understand why you think it would be easier to haul a hard shell bike case rather than a cardboard box. The hard shell case can't fold up flat but the cardboard box can.

Regarding expense, airlines vary. You'll have to do some research to find out the best value.

Start here: https://www.ibike.org/encouragement/travel/bagregs.htm but be sure to look up each individual airline. And keep checking the airline information. They change their regulations frequently.


I have flown with my bicycle frequently ... back and forth to Australia several times, back and forth to Europe a few times, through Asia ... When I'm in an airport and don't have my bicycle with me, I feel like I'm missing something. But after our Round-the-World trip, we've decided that folding bicycles are the way to go.

chaadster

If you're a special needs cyclist, that's one thing, but if you just think your bike is so great because it's your bike, you're missing the boat.

With rentals, you can have the right bike for every ride, whether that's a full kit road riding, or getting around an urban center. Rentals also mean when you don't want a bike, you don't have one to worry about or carry about.

I've done both in Italy, i.e. brought my own and rented. When you plan right, rentals are 100% as much fun with only 5% of the hassle, or less. They might even be more fun, because you get to ride to ride a new bike, but if you're a 'glass half empty' type of person...

Check out Veloce Bike Rentals; get a sweet Colnago and attack the Dolomiti in native style.

Edit: and to Machka's point, one can rent Bromptons from Veloce too.

speedwobbles

How much riding do you realistically plan on doing?
How big of a car will you have? Some of the cars over here are pretty small.

I had a friend from Canada come over to Grenoble in the fall and he brought his bike. But he stayed in the city for two months and rode every day, so it was worth it.

A note about buying a bike: look up the EU's tourist tax exemptions, you might be able to get the tax (I think it might be as high as 20%) back when you leave. Although you'd then be taxed going back into the US.

Gramin

Rent. Then when in Paris, head south to Nevers, pick up a 695, ride it like you stole it, buy it, come home.

lsberrios1 

I am going to Italy now on march and I have decided to rent. It is about 180 dollars for a week. The bike is an unknown brand to me but it has ultegra 6700 so it should be a good bike. I think that is much better than around $1000 if I were to take my bike, plus the risk of it breaking. I'd rent. I will be taking my saddle, pedals etc. but there is no charge for that. I am also taking all the measurements and then doing a fit myself. I can't wait to ride my bike over the mountains of the campagnia region! I am freaking excited.

njkayaker

Are you sure the box will fit in the car?

Sound like it would be expensive and a nuisance to bring a bike on this trip.

I'd rent. You might want to bring your saddle.

The itinerary seems fairly complicated. It doesn't seem like it's a "bicycling" vacation. I suspect you aren't going to be bicycling as much as you think you might.

I'd suggest figuring out what days/where would be the best to ride and rent for those days. Dragging around a bike box/bike onto multiple airplanes and in a car for a few days of riding seems crazy.

dave1442397

I've been looking into this too. I'm heading to Ireland for two weeks in August, and US Air charges $200 each way for a bike. I can rent something for the two weeks for around $400 and not have the hassle of boxing up the bike both ways.

Another option I'm looking at is just buying a used bike, ride it for two weeks, then sell it again. I could do that because I'll be at my parents' house, so leaving it there until it sells is no big deal. If I buy right I could break even, or at least spend less than $400...

cccorlew

lsberrios1
Are you doing an organized tour or are you on your own? No, this isn't anything to do with the bike, I'm just wondering.
Looks great by the way!

Looigi

We use an Aerus soft cases, smaller and much lighter than hard cases. With CF bike, gear, and accoutrements it's less than 35lb. Way easier to manage riding shuttle buses, taxis and rental cars. It light and takes up much less space when the bike is out of it too. That said, for most EU trips we rented rather than brought our own.

BillyD

I had a difficult time finding a road bike to rent within a reasonable distance from my hotel. Most shops are going to rent hybrids. This is something you might want to research before you depart.

Myself, I couldn't be bothered lugging my own bike with me.

rpenmanparker 

If it's your parents' house, why don't you have a bike permanently installed there? Do you not visit often enough?

KantoBoy

If you insist on bringing your bike:

https://pikapackworks.com/



Review: https://chasingwheels.blogspot.ca/201...avel-case.html

rpenmanparker 

That's nice looking and reasonably priced, but I can't find the dimensions of the case anywhere. Not for the purposes of bike fit, but for the purposes of transport. Anyone know? It is clearly too large for free airline shipment, but I wonder how it works in sedans for ground transport.