All,
Will be in Perth (WA) 17/11/05 - 10/12/05 and am hoping (SO permitting) to particpate in IMWA on 27/11. Flying from UK via Dubai and costs of getting bike over there are prohibitive with Emirates i.e. £27 per extra KG excess baggage which = +£500 each way box included!
Any suggestions as to how best to get my bike over there or would hiring be the best way forward? If hiring would be the best way, can anyone put me in touch with a local tri/bike shop who could accomodate?
Cheers!
JC
Follow the Yellow Brick Road???
I am SO sorry.
Thanks. Senses dulled after a long teleconference so didn’t quite catch on at frist. But then LOL!
I too am racing at IMWA, coming from Canada, I will have to check my bike with my luggage, should cost about $300 each way. As far as I know there is little to no chance to hire a decent bike down there (I have family there and they have done some cursory checking). You could buy a bike in town, then sell it after the race. Otherwise look at shipping via FedEx/UPS via ground - means no bike for weeks before the race, but it will be a lot cheaper.
AP
I flew San Diego to Sydney 3 months ago and there was no charge whatsoever for the bike on the flight. Did you check with the airline, they usually do not charge for international routes.
Mike
Not what I’m being told re: Air Canada. Maybe my legs on AirNZ will be free. But I’m planning for the worst, hoping for the best. I think it will depend on what our total luggage weight ends up being. Aside from race gear, I’m only packing bikinis and flipflops, so I should be OK 
Bummer it’s winter in OZ
.
When we lived in OZ, we flew Paris-Brisbane often and never paid anything for our bikes with
Qantas
Air NZ
BA
Singapore Airlines
Thai
Once Qantas damaged a wheel. They said ‘oh, we are so sorry’ and they paid for a new one within one week…
I’m from Canada dude, Nov in Aus will be like summer for me (I’ve been there in Nov before).
AP
Hey AndyP, hows it going?
When we raced in IM NZ we did not pay for any stages but we checked in at YVR direct to Auckland via LAX. It was Air Canada and NZ national air line. here is the section from Air Canada site - (http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/baggage/checked.html#r0s0)
Note charge is only levied on domestic or NA flights on Air Canada. I printed and took this along to the counter just in case.
**
Sports Equipment subject to Excess Charges
Air Canada carries the following sports equipment as excess baggage at a reduced fee. Please note it cannot be substituted for the free baggage allowance.
Bicycles
There are fixed charges for the carriage of bicycles on North American routes: *within Canada - $ 65 CAD - One Way * *to/from United States - $65 CAD/$ 50 USD. - One Way *
The bicycle must be prepared as follows, prior to arrival at the airport: fix the handlebars sideways and remove the pedals. Place the bicycle in a rigid and/or hard shell container specifically designed for shipping. If not packaged in a container, Air Canada will provide a plastic bicycle bag and will accept the item with a limited release form (to be signed at check-in), releasing Air Canada of liability. Bicycle suitcases containing collapsible bicycles are also accepted.
Excellent, that’s more $$ for the wine & surfing post-IMWA …
Training is going well, have my 1/2IM on the 7th, very excited that I will be racing soon, and very anxious to see how well I perform compared to prior years… Maybe one Sunday after Spokane, we can hook up with Khai & Leo for a no-drop ride (ha ha you bastards will drop me as soon as you get the chance! ;-))
I don;t know what this forwarding of bike stuff is all about. I live in Perth and have flown all over the world to race, I have never been charged excess baggage. Try a different airline, with Qantas you are allowed 30kg, if you have more than that you are carrying too much. Although I once flew with 50kg and was still not charged. I don’t think it is worth the bike shops time to hire bikes out, you would need a high end bike in the correct size, what do people pay to hire a bike for a race ? I have never seen it done in Australia, probably becuase we don;t charge excess baggage often.
Blacky,
Thanks for the input. Unfortunately I’m committed to flying with Emirates. I contacted the airline and in a true UK style, they weren’t particularly helpful. They did indicate that excess baggage costs alot per KG and then in a truly helpful fashion said that they ‘might not charge anything’ depending on how full/heavy the flight was! Not a gamble I’m prepared to take I’m afraid.
So - as the primary reason for the trip was initially a holiday and bike hire looks unlikely, it looks like I will have to revert to plan A to keep the Mrs happy, but we WILL be spectating on the day.
AP - I’ll look out for you and give you a good cheer along the way!
JC
What size bike ?
Hi guys
I’m also in Perth - get back to work Blacky and stop baiting the yanks.
However - I’ve always found that if traveling with any extra weight it helps to get to the airport extra early. ie before the plane starts filling up, as once the weight starts increasing for the flight you are more likely to be hit for extra baggage.
cheers
Currently riding a 52cm Trek 5200. In other words - I’m a short arse!
Upgrade, if possible. Bikes fly for free (at least internationally - my experience) when in business class.