Best travel tips for flying to your dream race
Let’s be honest: these races sound like a ton of fun. But travel, especially with your bike, can be a nightmare. Here are some top tips for getting your bike where it needs to be.
Give yourself extra time if possible. Even without the current airline drama of cancelled and delayed flights plus long wait times at airports (and so many delayed or lost bikes), it’s always a good idea to give yourself a bit of extra time ahead of your race. Ideally, book a flight that gives you an extra day to adjust to the time zone, build your bike with minimal stress, buy any extras you need, and show up at the race rested and relaxed, not sprinting to the start line after getting delayed. The same is true for your return flight. It shouldn’t be so tight that a flat that takes a while to fix mid-race is the difference between making or missing your flight. Take time to enjoy the destination.
Fly friendly airlines.
Bike-friendly airlines (or at least, slightly-less-unreasonable airlines) include Delta, United and American Airlines, where the cost of travelling with a bike ranges from $0 to $100, and Air Canada ($50). Of course, there are always horror stories of grumpy clerks misreading the rules, so be prepared to appeal on-the-spot or later if that happens to you. Have the airline’s bike policy bookmarked or saved as screenshots on your phone so you’re ready to show them their own rules.
Don’t trust airlines with bikes?
And feeling sneaky?
You can try to fly with your bike dismantled in a big duffel bag plus a wheel bag, or use a hockey goalie bag. These setups may still result in additional charges, or your bike getting smushed. If you get caught, don’t tell them where you got the idea!
Pack all the flat-change gear.
It’s much easier to have your flat-change kit with you rather than buying everything on-site. Even if you usually use CO2 cartridges, bring a mini-pump, especially for long races where flats are common. psa: you can’t bring CO2S on planes at all. Plenty of people skate around this rule, but honestly, you’re probably better off just buying cartridges at a local bike shop at your destination. What you can bring is a small bottle of sealant, if you run tubeless. Use a toiletry kit bottle to ensure you avoid leaking and don’t waste space with the full container. Lastly, make sure you know how to use all the flat-fixing stuff you bring. Tire plugs can be super handy, but only if you’re experienced with them.
Don’t forget anything specific you need to build your bike. Remember the correct Allen key for getting your thru-axle wheels on and off, and of course, your charger for the electronic shifters. If you’re travelling with friends, consider comparing who needs what, and only packing one of each tool. You’ll save weight.
Take off your rotors.
Don’t skip this step or you risk needing to find a mechanic on race day because your discs are bent out of shape and rubbing badly.
Pad your bike well.
Use your hydration pack, coat, jerseys or any soft goods to keep your bike safe. You can always store other heavy gear in your regular checked bag or—with the exception of some tools—in your carry-on. Steal CX and gravel racer Maghalie Rochette’s trick and stick your foam roller in your rear triangle to add padding and support.
Check the weight.
I cannot stress this enough—know how much your bike bag weighs once it’s fully packed. You don’t need a luggage scale, just get on your regular scale without your bike, then pick it up and do the math. Some airlines require bags to be less than 23 kg to avoid an overweight charge that goes on top of the bike fee. Again, know the rules.
Lighten up.
Drop weight by putting anything heavy and carry-on friendly in your carry-on. Things such as bike shoes and pedals, food and drink mix, toiletries, extra tubes and tires—items that aren’t clothing tend to be heavier, so carry them on to avoid them contributing to your bag’s weight. Don’t put your helmet in your bike bag: it stays with you in your carry-on. This is nonnegotiable, as often, bike bags get compressed during travel and your helmet may end up crushed.
Nutrition.
On your travel day, make sure you’re staying hydrated and eating some foods that contain fibre (fruits and veggies) so you arrive at your race with your gut feeling good.