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Holidaying with your bike can present challenges to even the seasoned traveller, but as always there are tricks to avoid too much grief when heading to places far-away.
Beg, Steel, Borrow
It's a little counter intuitive but start by considering if you really, really need your own bike abroad. Good quality bikes are readily rentable in many destinations and some shops will buy back your bike at a guaranteed price. Both are useful options to input into the 'cost and hassle' calculator.
Planes, Trains and Bike Bags
The Ground Effect Tardis or Body Bag turns your road bike, mtb or 29er into a manageable bundle for manoeuvring about airports and train stations. It provides some protection in the cargo hold and helps deceive the ‘luggage nazi’ at the check-in counter. Urban trains like the Metro in Paris and London's Underground exclude bikes during peak times and on some lines. So a bike bag supplies necessary camouflage for smuggling your conveyance across town. When you get to where you're going it collapses into a compact A4 package – easily stored in your rental car or pannier. Opened out again it gains brownie points as a picnic rug or ground sheet around the campsite.
Bike Fondling Fee
Airlines are often punitive in their treatment of excess baggage and some will slap on a ‘bike handling fee’ at the drop of a helmet. Air New Zealand arguably has the best defined and most liberal policy. For domestic travel you're limited to a single piece of baggage at 25kg – your bike travels at no extra cost within that allowance. A light mountain bike tips the scales at 11-12kg so that doesn’t leave much room for the kitchen sink. You’re also entitled to 7kg of hand luggage, so load your handbag with anything heavy that won’t be construed as a weapon.
On international flights to or via the USA, you're allowed a luxurious two pieces at 23kg each. For Asia it’s a skinny 20kg in total – although Air NZ allows an extra 10kg for your bike. Many other airlines appear to have a discretionary weight allowance for your bike – wisdom dictates that you negotiate that before confirming your tickets. Domestic travel within the USA and low cost carriers like Ryan Air in Europe can levy hefty fees. Seek clarification before committing to your itinerary.
Very French
For all the French enthusiasm for cycling, the SNCF (the national rail network) makes travelling with your bike difficult. That's a bummer because France is one of the great cycle touring destinations – and joining up interesting rides by train is inherently sensible. The rules on bikes are fuzzy, and enforced inconsistently. Officially only a few local trains take bikes (identified on the timetable with a wee bike symbol). For long distance trains like the TGV, the best bet is to disguise your steed in the compact Tardis and nonchalantly stack it with the rest of the luggage on the racks at the end of each carriage. This equally applies to the other high speed trains in Italy and Germany.
Insurance
Travel insurance covering your health and possessions is accepted wisdom when heading overseas. Before you commit, read the relevant bicycle clauses carefully... some policies will cover bikes only up to low value or exclude them unless they are locked and inside (difficult if you’re camping). There may also be limitations if you plan to compete or participate in an organized ride. Most NZ travel agents use Mike Henry Travel Insurance. They appear to have flexible policies and can cover your bike for more than the standard $1000. Details at www.mikehenry.co.nz
Let Me In
Coming home is always a great feeling. Border patrol however presents one final hurdle. Keen not to let any exotic bugs in, officials will want to inspect your bike, shoes and tent. To expedite re-entry it's worth cleaning all this gear to within an inch of its life. Then stash it all in your bike bag so it’s easy to locate and declare on the way in.
Bon voyage.
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