Recumbent trikes on planes

[Redmountduo]

Hi
anyone transported trikes overseas by air?
Looking at a tour of the USA and wondered about possible costs etc.

Many thanks
John and Dawn

 

[steveindenmark]

Hi John and Dawn,

It may be an idea to contact the ICE trike Company. I would imagine they will have sent trikes over to the USA and I am sure they will help. They are a good bunch of guys.

Steve

 

[Redmountduo]

Good idea Steve.
Many thanks

 

[ThompsonCrowley]

Hi
anyone transported trikes overseas by air?
Looking at a tour of the USA and wondered about possible costs etc.

Many thanks
John and Dawn

Hi. I had my trike whilst travelling in Europe. It was okay taking it on the ferry from Newcastle, but once I got there it was a nightmare to try and get a lift with it. It was too big for trains, too expensive on planes, couldn't fit in a car. The only thing I could do was pedal it, which was fine until we got to the end of our trip. Ended up having to sell it so that we could catch the TGV to Barcelona. There's probably lots of options available, albeit pricey ones, I just recommend that you plan this out before you start your trip rather than leave it as I did. But a comfortable ride none the less!
tom

 

[Amanda P]

Don't some of the ICE trikes fold and pack up into a big suitcase? If you don't already have trikes (although I'm guessing from your username you do) it might be worth looking into those.

Otherwise - good luck. I think you're going to need it.

 

[vernon]

Hi
anyone transported trikes overseas by air?
Looking at a tour of the USA and wondered about possible costs etc.

Many thanks
John and Dawn

Most airlines have a size limit for bicycles/sports equipment. The size limits vary between each airline. Some are simple - they accept bicycles with the pedals removed and the handle bars turned through 90 degrees and the bike placed in a plastic bag. It was a nightmare trying to sort out flight to Europe and internall within Europe this summer. Some insist in the bike being placed in a cardboard box - a box that new bikes arrive in at bike shops are usually small enough though I found that Ronian Airways would not accept my box when I tried to book a flight the box was too long. Turkish Airlines have two different size limits depending on whether the flight was deemed to be internal or International - I guess this is because of different sized planes.

I reckon that a recumbent with compound the problem if it can't be broken down to meet the size limits of the airline that you intend to fly with. There is no substitute for contacting the airlines that you are considering and finding out what their individual size limits and packaging rules are.

You can read about the trials and tribulations of one recumbent rider here. It seems like a lot of hassle and more than a bit of good luck in getting your recumbent onto public transport.

Have you considered posting your query on recumbent forums? Try this one or this one.

 

[Amanda P]

These guys took their Hase Pino tandem and a Bob trailer to the States with Virgin Atlantic - but it was a splittable tandem and they did some ingenious packing. Virgin have weight limits but don't impose a size limit, I think. Possibly that's the way to go?

 

[Tigerbiten]

It's a question of how much the trike can be/you want to split it down.

With just the seat off and the back boom folded over, my ICE Sprint will just fit in a soft bike bag.
It's a bit heavy to carry like that but I can do it to travel on inter city trains with it.
Take the wheels off and remove the front and back booms from the crucifix, etc, etc and it will pack down a lot smaller.
Plus you can split the weight between two boxes.
But then you will need to rebuild it when you arrive.

 

[Brains]

97% of stuff moved internationally goes by ship.
I would not even consider flying someting as big as a couple of trikes across the Atlantic. Ship them, they will be there for your arrival (along with as much gear as you want to send). It means you fly with a walk on bag, so no waiting around at the baggage conveyor in the USA
It will still take you the usual 3 hours to et through American passporrt contol though.

I don't know what you route is, but you may find it a lot easier and cheaper to start your trip in Canada