How to Travel
with Your Bicycle

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by Alan Bragman, D.C. Contents Excerpt Delivery

$9.95 eBook RBR Publishing Company 26 pages 18 photos PDF file size: 575 KB

Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, there is no excuse for not having your bike with you and enjoying rides at your destination.

Well, actually there could be several excuses . . . until you have the know-how from this advice- and fact-packed eBook by world-traveling cyclist Alan Bragman, D.C.

Dr. Bragman includes his insights and guidance about many modes of travel -- by personal vehicle (five types of car racks are evaluated), airplane, train and bus. Special attention is given to air travel and how to avoid exorbitant charges when checking a bike as baggage.

"The great thing about traveling with your bike is that you can be a cyclist anywhere you go," writes Dr. Bragman. "The world's roads await! This eBook provides the information and tips that will help you handle the challenges."

Also valuable is Dr. Bragman's guide to travel bikes. He provides information and photos of the various types, with special emphasis on bikes that fold into normal suitcases but assemble quickly to fit and ride as well as your favorite full-size bike.

How to Travel with Your Bicycle includes "how to" instructions and checklists for packing bikes, equipment and clothing to make sure riding at your destination isn't thwarted by something lost or forgotten.

Dr. Bragman concludes with his tips for finding routes, rides and cycling companions at your destination. Plus, he shows you a new way to never get lost even on roads you haven't ridden before.

This eBook contains 18 color photos and 44 hot-linked websites that take you directly to additional information if you're reading while online.

In this excerpt from page 21, Dr. Bragman summarizes several of his tried-and-true tips about bike cases and how to pack them.

EXCERPT: Travel Tips

Whenever you fly with your bike you are subject to additional fees for special handling, oversize luggage, overweight luggage and anything else the airlines can dream up.

 

If you're using a bike box you really can't disguise what you're trying to check in. But if it's a coupled take-apart bike or a folding bike, keep mum about what's in the case. You want it to look like any normal suitcase -- don't put any markings, decals or special instructions that will call attention to the contents. If asked by an agent what’s inside, begin a lengthy list of contents and leave bike parts as the last item.

 

The best way to avoid hassles when flying in the U.S. is to make sure the case weighs less than 50 pounds and use curbside baggage check-in. If checking your case at a counter inside, make distracting small talk with the agent so he or she won't pay special attention to the case.

 

Packing the Case

• Nowadays there is a decent chance your case will be opened by TSA inspectors, so don't lock it. If they determine there's a bunch of metal inside and they can't get it open, they're unlikely to let it go on the plane.
   

• Wrap long bungee cords around all parts, equipment, and bags in the case so that if the bike is lifted up during inspection everything will stay together. There is nothing worse than arriving at your destination to discover that you can't ride because some key component is gone.
   

• To keep from losing small items, put them in plastic bags or containers and place these in a larger nylon bag that can be securely sealed.
   

• Luggage is subject to being dropped, thrown, turned upside down and crushed -- remember that gorilla "baggage handler" in the old suitcase commercial? So anticipate abuse by adequately securing and padding everything in your case.
   

• Place a plastic or wood spacer (available from bike shops) in the fork's dropouts so the blades are less likely to be bent by compression or other trauma. Do the same for the rear dropouts if your bike is shipping with that wheel out too. .

A dozen additional tips follow, then begins the checklist for packing cycling clothing and personal items.

TOC: How to Travel with Your Bicycle

Introduction   Bike Racks for Vehicles Spare Tire Rack Truck Bed Rack Hitch or Tow-Bar Rack Trunk Rack Roof Rack       Shipping a Bike AirCaddy       Renting a Bike     Commercial Bicycle Tours     Travel by Train United States Canada Europe       Travel by Bus     Travel by Air     Full-Size Travel Bikes Ritchey Break-Away S and S Couplings       Folding Bikes Dahon Airnimal Bike Friday       Travel Tips Packing the Case Clothing and Personal Items     Finding People and Places Excerpt