Using Europe transportation with a boxed bicycle

I'm also willing to ship my bike out there if anyone knows a fast (1-2 days) economical way to get it there.

The days of not charging exorbitant fees are over. Which is why we have shift to Bike Fridays. Fast and economical are words that do not pair well. Paris to Lisbon is a long ways. My experience is buses will take the bikes especially if boxed. That would be your cheapest and slowest way The train schedules will show a little bike picture if you can roll on bikes in a special luggage car.

We've traveled in Italy and England with our tandem bike. it is packed in2 suitcases, not a box, and those suitcases are within allowances for the airlines. that being said, we have taken our tandem on trains, leaving the cases at the end of the car, or in any open space we can find. On the buses, the cases are stored under the bus with all other luggage. If your boxed bike is oversize, you will have issues with that. Some buses may not allow it, as they will fill the storage with regular suitcases first, if no room, the bike may have to be shipped for additonal charges. As Frank mentioned, you can put your bike on the train in special "bike" cars....you can see which trains allow that on the board at the train station. You will have to buy a "ticket" for the bike, it's not free. If your bike is in a box, it will be too large to bring on and keep by your seat on a train. Is your bike S &S coupled? That is the way to go....as the bike fits in a suitcase, not a box! Are you doing a self contained bike trip, or self guided? Or just want the experience of riding a bit in Europe? You might want to consider just renting a bike in the Lisbon if that is your final destination. If you are riding first in France, rent one there, then arrange for another in Spain. Airlines will charge you for sure if it's boxed. Be prepared to pay up to $300 for that bike - one way. The airlines are great at ripping us off now for anything that they consider to be "oversized" and a boxed bike will be. (unless you are a frequent flyer, then you can get some allowances)

Taking the bus would really be ideal for me, but Eurolines website says they do not take bikes. I wonder if they would make an exception if their luggage compartment was not full? Or does anyone know of a bus company that is bike friendly? The train is also agreeable, but I can't tell which ones (if any) might take them. Unfortunately my bike cannot be broken down much and I need it for a long bike tour. I'm really hoping to avoid flying. Thank you all for your thoughtful responses.

Curious, Kevin, is this your first touring trip? Assume it is your first for Europe? As you are finding out it is as important for your bike to be set up for touring as it is for you. The old days, especially in Europe, when you could remove the pedals, turn the bars, drop the seat, flatten the tires and put the bike in a plastic bag provided by the airlines are long gone. And the bike arrived in good shape. The problem you have with the bus is no bus goes all the way to Lisbon so would you be using different bus companies with different policies. I think train is you best bet and take it as luggage in as small box as you can make it fit. And if you are going to do this frequently you need a different bike set up.

Not all train services accept bikes either. Some accept free of charge, some have time limits (no peak-time bike transport), some will transport them for a fee subject to availability, some will just outlaw bikes (and other big sporting gear for that matter).