In article <[email hidden]>, usenet- [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:I would like to hear from other GRR owners who have taken their bents overseas.
Well, if you don't mind comments from someone outside of this elite group, I'll share my
experiences. I mean how many GRR owners have taken their bike to Europe?
Quoted message said:First off I plan to camp. If I use 2 standard airline bike boxes will I be able to put the
frame and some camping gear in one box and the wheels, seat, and the rest of the camping gear
in the other?
Why Camp? Unless you are going to some place really expensive like Germany or France, the rest
of Europe is pretty cheap to stay in Gasthaus/pension/small hotels. ($14 for a double in a
fogado in Hungary).
I think you would be wise to familiarize yourself with IATA regs on luggage. You get two free pieces
per person (not including carry-on personal items). A bike can be considered one of those free
pieces. Anything else costs extra. Each piece can weigh no more than 70 lb (32kg). The weight
restriction _may_ not apply to bikes. (it did not apply in 2000). No piece of luggage can exceed 62"
(length X girth) except the bike.
No camping stoves that have _ever_ had fuel in them are allowed on any flight. Do you still
want to camp?
Quoted message said:Will the airlines try to charge me for 2 bikes? Yikes!!
See the IATA regs above.
Quoted message said:
Is it true that Continental Airlines still has a bikes travel free policy?
AFAIK, Continental has never had a Bikes Fly Free Policy. Their current fee is $100 each way.
Possibly the highest of all the Domestic carriers. Continental gate agents will try to charge for
bikes on international flights even though this is contrary to IATA regs. What the gate agent says
is the rule if you want to get on the plane.
FWIW, I will never fly Continental again if I have another choice in airlines. Flying to Europe on
Foreign Carriers (Austrian Air, British Airways and KLM are my experiences) are better than any
domestic carrier since they are by nature more bike friendly.
In August 2000, I went to Vienna for a two week trip to Slovakia and Hungary. I flew from Houston to
Dulles on Continental and From Dulles to Vienna on Austrian Air. Continental made me pay $75 for
their domestic leg and forced me to recheck my bike (only the bike) in Dulles because that did not
want to admit that Austrian Air would accept my bike with charge. On return, Austrian Air checked my
bag free from Vienna to Houston even though I had to clear customs in DC.
Quoted message said:I might need an extra-large GRR frame. Will a frame this large fit in a standard airline box if I
strip off everything?
My bike to Slovakia was a LWB RANS Stratus not unlike your GRR. Just as fast but less expensive. I
learned how to transport it from a GRR owner. He recommended using a Tandem travel case. I got mine
from BikeProUSA.com It cost new $650. Since I no longer have the Stratus, I would be happy to make a
deal. My 86" Stratus fit into the 75"X25"X10" BikePro tandem case. I had to remove the seat, faring,
H/B, pedals and front wheel but thay all fit inside. The 38lb bike, the ~40 lb BikePro tandem case
and a helmet weighed 85 lb. (see IATA regs on 70lb luggage weight limits). It was accepted as a free
piece of luggage/bike in 2000. I am not sure if the same would apply with the struggling airlines of
today. The tandem case was 6 feet long. Most European and American Taxis can not manage luggage of
this size into and out of an airport. Plan accordingly. I bought a Toyota Sienna to get my bike to
the airport in 2000. US minivan taxis often have a plexi barrier between the luggage area and the
passenger seat. This case will not fit these taxis. When I flew to Va., my uncle met me at the
airport with his pick-up truck. I hired a special Mercedes package van in Vienna.
You will need to make arrangements at your destination to store your bags while on tour. Luggage
storage in airports for a week or so are often prohibitively expensive. Hotels will often store bags
for free if you book both the first night and the last night of your trip with them.
Here are some Photos of from that trip: clee.orgGetting ready.JPGOpen ↗
clee.orgSonnenblumen.jpgOpen ↗
The trip to Slovakia was the third flying tour with the Stratus and the first/last to Europe. Just
after my return to the US, my Lightning Voyager arrived from LCD. All my flying trips since have
been with it. It meets the 62" limit for non bike domestic luggage. It flys free on domestic
flights. (At least it did before domestic carriers reduced their weight limits from 70 lb to 50 lb.
Domestic flights are not subject to IATA regulations). The packed voyager with kickstand and seat
bag weighs 54 lb.
--
Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager clee.orgclee.orgOpen ↗
- Bellaire, TX USA -
