Thorn Tree travel forum

Packing a bike in 2 boxes to avoid airline fees?

Anyone have any experiences with packing your bike into 2 separate boxes to avoid those STUPID and HARASSING fees? 1 box for both wheels, the other form-fitting to the frame (with the forks removed), and other luggage stuffed all inside the frame, in the corners of the wheel box, and in the carry-on? Both boxes should be pretty much at or below the "62-linear-inch" rule, and well within weight limits for most airlines (20-50 lbs per item, plus carry-on).

Its a bit more work and an extra tool or two, but to save hundreds of $$ and open up more airlines for travelling, I'm willing to try it out...

Here's a link of someone who's done it a few times:

http://www.efn.org/~rick/bike_box.txt

I imagine it would work for many riders, particularly those with smaller frames (mountain bikes) and on the lighter-side of packing... more »

bike maintenance on a long tour

I'm looking for advice and opinions on bike maintenance on a long tour.

First set of questions relates to the drive chain:

There seems to be two schools of thought on this - one appears to be change the chain often and try to get maximum life out of the rings and cassette and the other is ride it all into the ground and replace the lot (the logic being that all those chains add up to the same cost over time). Is the second option sheer laziness? How long can you get out of a cassette and rings (on a pretty heavily loaded bike travelling on dirt and gavel about, maybe, 30 - 40 % of the time)? Or is that question a bit like asking how long is a piece of string?

I've ridden something approaching 9000 kilometres over the last 5 and a half months and I have to replace my cassette and two smaller rings now - they were brand new when I started - could I have done better than that?
... more »

Biking the Dalmatian Coast

Hi LPers!

We are looking to bike part or all of the Dalmatian Coast (Croatia) in the summer. We'd really appreciate any recommendations on good routes, start and end points, tips, resources, etc!

Thanks so much,
Sophie (Canada)

Route planning for Southeast Asia

I am leaving for Bangkok on Nov.30th with my bike. I would like some advise from the group on my route planning. I am very flexible.

Route:

Bangkok-Pattaya continuing along the coast to Hat Yek. Cross into Cambodia. Take speed ferry to Sihanoukville.

From here either continue on to Phnom Penh or stay along coast and go to Ho Chi Minh City. If I go to Phnom Penh I will continue down the Melkong Delta to HCMC. I want to ride around S. Vietnam for a while and than either fly to Singapore and travel north thru Malaysia into Thailand or back to Bangkok and travel south staying along the gulf side to Malaysia and then crossing over and travel along the Andaman Sea.

What would work best from the stand point of rain, wind, terrain and any insider tips. This is my first time bike touring and will take a very relaxed pace to enjoy everything. I have 3 months returning ho... more »

Visual Report From a RTW Journey In Burkina Faso & Mali...

Besides wonderful Moroccan food, the odd cold beer, 0 km cycling days, cruising around the walled medina, thinking about plans for the European (and last) leg of the WT-Expedition, I'm enjoying superfast internet here in Essaouira on central Morrocco's Atlantic coast, and thus, I've made some new photo albums for you (and me too).

As always, I recommend you click the 4-arrow icon in the lower right hand corner of the album itself, to view the photos full-screen, with the text box activated. Choice is yours.

1. Slideshow from Burkina Faso (95 photos)

2. Slideshow from Mali (100 photos)

You can also see the photos on Flickr (Burkina Faso pi... more »

Sulawesi, Rantepao to Palopo, do not even try

It took me more than one day to cover the last 40 kms to Palopo coming from Rantepao.All the way down and..., muddy. I had to push my bike, walk with my stuff. Not funny but I did it after all. Road is blocked after heavy rain that killed 13 people 1 week ago. Road will be closed 6 months or more

roads and ferries in cambodia

i'm on a bicycle and currently in svay rieng, se corner of cambodia, right near vietnam

1. i know angkor wat is the must see sight of cambodia, but which road would be less populated, from phnomh penh to siem reap to thailand or from pp to koh kong to thailand?

2. if the latter, does anybody know how many ferries i must take to get to koh kong if i take hwy 3 to hwy 48?
thanks,
okokok

I need bike boxes in Trivandrum? Bangalore airport llockup for cycles?

Will be in Trivandrum early Dec to fly to Sri Lanka and need 2 bike boxes

Is anyone leaving them behind or can I go to a cycle shop. Will most likely stay at the beaches south of the city.

After SL we have a 16hr layover in Bangalore before flying back to Oz in January and would like to leave the bikes there for the day while we go to the city. Is there a lock up facility at the airport??

Any ideas??

Fred