My first piece of advice is not to do it 3 hours before you need to leave for your flight, especially if it's a Sunday and an Easter Sunday at that. [What do you mean Capitol Hill Bikes doesn't open until noon? What do you mean Frager's is closed? Frager's should not be able to be closed. That's like the firestation being closed]. I almost didn't get the handlebars off.
I followed City Bikes instructions which were pretty good.
But from there SWA was pretty easy, even if they did charge me $50 for the oversized box, and it was the last piece of luggage of the plane. Skycap's are the way to go. The Yaris, btw, can carry you AND either another person or a bike in a box, but not both.
So far so good.
Update: Bicycling magazine has some info on traveling with a bike, including best and worst airlines.
Depending on your destination, it often makes more sense to rent a bike. Often vacation spots have bike shops that rent decent bikes.
Pack your bike shoes, and bring your clipless pedals, and then install them on the rental. I found that was pretty satisfying way to replicate my own bike while on a trip out west last summer. Much better than biking in jogging shoes.
Posted by: KillerV | April 05, 2010 at 04:35 PM
That's what I'm doing for Bike NY, but for this trip I'm doing a triathlon and wanted my own bike.
Posted by: Washcycle | April 05, 2010 at 04:47 PM
The shop I work at almost always has a cardboard shipping box available for free. They will also box it for you for around $50 and may even ship it for you if they are not too busy, but that has not been the case lately...
Posted by: O2 | April 06, 2010 at 09:04 AM
You need a good folding bike.
Posted by: KenF | April 06, 2010 at 12:30 PM
Good luck at the triathlon!
Posted by: Chris | April 06, 2010 at 01:41 PM
I have a good folding bike, it's just that I need a different kind of bike for the race.
Posted by: Washcycle | April 06, 2010 at 02:53 PM