Anyone pack their bicycle as luggage then ride about Europe?

Every airline website lists their fees for oversize luggage and sporting goods, like golf clubs, skis, and bicycles. Check the "baggage" area of whatever airline you are thinking of using.

I had some friends who took a tandem bike on a trip that started in Wisconsin and headed west and around the world. They did ultimately land in Europe and enjoyed. They did a tandem as they thought it would be safer and less to keep track of. I googled cycling routes france and found some UK publications and a list for maps and routes. I then googled it for the UK and found even more. I think you'll find some terrific resources. You might also post this to the Lonely Planet forum. BTW I had a couple of friends who took a tandem on a round the world trip and were always able to have it accompany them on their flights.

Pam

we travel with our tandem. Have been on 5 trips so far to Europe. It is S and S coupled, meaning it comes part and has to be put back together.

The tandem fits into 2 suitcases that meet airline requirements for over seas travel. Once packed, each suitcase weighs less than 35 pounds.

There are lots of resourses on the interent for bike routes...or you can try some self guided tours (that is what we do)

To do self supported touring, you do need planning before leaving, as you plan to camp. self supported touring means you will need paniers for the bike, and careful packing to make weight.

There is an organization call "WarmShowers" that bikers sign up (no charge) and around the world there are bikers that will allow you to A. Camp on their property B. stay in their house free of charge. Some include meals, some not.

you can sign up, and start to email members for more info. these are avid bikers who open their homes to travelers. As I mentioned, this is available world wide, some here in the US, and lots in Europe.

One source for route ideas is the Lonely Planet guide to biking in France, now a bit long in the tooth but the routes (if not the restaurant reviews) are still good.

If it's out of print, try a library.

One key to avoiding the fees is not to let them know you have a bike. Ours fit in a standard, large, rolling suitcase. We haven't done any camping but B&Bs in small villages are very reasonable.

Frank, how do you get the wheels into a suitcase? Do you have a special type of bike?

In the late 90s, I took my bike with me when I moved to Europe. I took it with me to the plane as I was told by my company that it was much cheaper to bring the bike as luggage than to ship it with the moving company. This was before all the airlines charged for every little thing. It was still expensive back then so I cannot imagine what it is today.

I paid a fee and the airline provided a box to put the bike in. I had checked with the airline in advance about this. To fit the bike properly in the box, you need to be able to remove the pedals and also have tools to turn the handlebars so that they are in line with the bike. Packing at the airport was a bit stressful. One of my colleagues had his bike boxed at a bike shop and they did a much better job than I ever could have.

One other thing to consider is what you will do once you arrive at the airport. I had to arrange for a special taxi that would hold the bike.

Two years ago, we flew Air Transat with our tandem. It was accepted free-of-charge within our allowance for checked luggage. We packed our personal luggage in two MEC paniers that zipped off the rack to become backpacks - very handy for locking up the bike and going sight-seeing whenever we saw something interesting.

We planned the trip ourselves, starting in Amsterdam, looping through Belgium, Luxembourg, a bit of France, down the Mosel Valley to the Rhine, then back North through the Netherlands to Amsterdam. We joined a club in the Netherlands called "Vrienden op de fiets", or "friends of the bicycle." Similar to the warm shower network, our membership provided us with maps of the cycling routes and contacts for homes to stay in. Germany has "Bett and Bike" and I imagine there's probably a club in France too.

We planned our route by identifying places we wanted to see and also looking at organized tours to see their routes, which were often rated for difficulty. We rode most of the route, occasionally taking the bike on the train to cover longer distances or excape stormy weather. It was a fantastic way to travel and definitely won't be our last European cycling adventure.

Ron, don't want to start an argument but wheel size has little to do with performance. Bike Friday -- foldable and packable -- makes an excellent touring bike that will out perform most larger wheel bikes. Being able to pack one bike quickly and easily into a standard, checkable suitcase solves a lot of problems and saves a lot of fees.

Have taken my Bike Friday to Europe several times. Packs in a standard suitcase put the rest of my stuff in duffel bag. Unpack bike and assemble 15 min put wheels on suit case, connect trailer arm, put duffle bag stuff in new trailer (ex suitcase) and pedal off. Only problem I ever had was very narrow control posts on one English bikeway that trailer would not fit through so had to tilt by hand and pull through. Bike Friday is made in Eugene by Green Gear Cycle........have fun
Jocko

not true Frank......I was smart before I got the Friday :>) Jocko
ps I am on my second one

Jocko,
I checked out the Bike Friday bikes online. Cool! What a great idea to have it pack into a suitcase that turns into a trailer. I definitely have a case of bike envy now.

Maggie, there is one draw back to Bike Fridays. There are certain cult tendencies that endow the rider with certain superiority attitudes. There is no turning back when you cross the line.