If you plan to bike through Europe or Asia, you will need to know how to travel with your bike. If not, then be prepared for a bumpy ride. Here is some information on what you need and how to pack everything up so that you can enjoy the journey without any hassles.
Pack Your Bike
When you pack your bicycle, make sure that it is clean and dry. If possible, put the tires in water overnight to remove any air or dirt from them. You can place a piece of cloth over the seat before putting on plastic bags to avoid getting anything dirty. Pack with padding around areas where metal parts are so they don’t scratch each other up while being handled by baggage handlers during transit. Ensure all accessories, including lights attached securely, so they do not fall off accidentally when handling the bag. Keep important documents like passports and visas tucked away safely inside the inner pocket of your backpack or panniers for easy access throughout travel. Remember that if travelling internationally, some countries require you to have the pedals removed from your bicycle.
Protect Your Bike
Make sure that you use a hard shell container for storing and transporting your bicycle. If not, then pay extra attention to how baggage handlers handle it, so they do no damage while being transported via plane or other means. Ensure all accessories, including lights, are attached securely since any tampering will void the warranty on the equipment. You should also consider purchasing travel insurance or cyclist insurance which can help cover damages in case of accidents during transit due to mishandling by airports’ staff. Finally, do not overpack panniers since this will only add bulk, making them more likely to bump into each other. This can cause damage and add additional weight if too much stuff is packed inside.
Carrying Your Bicycle
When travelling by plane, you can carry the bike as a piece of checked baggage. Before doing this, however, check with the airline to see if they have any additional fees or requirements that may need to be met before checking in the bike. If not flying and using other modes of transport, including buses or subways, keep them inside hard shell bags for protection during transit. It is best that these are carried on top of luggage racks rather than being placed underneath since they will get more easily damaged when stacked under heavy objects making it impossible to retrieve until reaching your destination, thus adding unnecessary stress while travelling.
Packing Gear
If you plan to take a flight, then the ideal size luggage you should use will be based on how much weight is allowed. For example, if flying with United Airlines, they have weight restrictions like one bag cannot weigh more than 50 pounds (23 kg) plus another 25 pounds (11 kg) for each additional bag. Thus packing everything into two bags would allow 75 lbs per checked in baggage allowance, accommodating lots of stuff, not just bicycles. However, if travelling by train instead, it may be best to pack smaller items like clothing into hardshell cases or duffel bags. This will be more efficient since most train services have a generous weight allowance so you can carry as many pieces of luggage as possible.
When travelling, it is always a good idea to plan ahead and prepare well in advance for any eventuality that may arise during the journey. This includes packing your bicycles with care into their respective containers. By being prepared well, you can enjoy your adventure more.