Help us find decent touring bike rentals in Amsterdam or a better plan!

jacobean: Yeah, we thought about canceling our tickets but they are non-refundable and the terms a very restrictive: $200 cancellation fee and the $603 credit has to go toward a flight of equal or greater cost. For the sake of any MeFites who have not yet bought their tickets, here's a http://www.ibike.org/encouragement/travel/bagregs.htm detailing each airline's policy. Thanks for the tip about http://www.bikeaccess.net/. I'm going to do some digging around. muddgirl: Unfortunately, a standard bike frame exceeds http://www.nwa.com/travel/luggage/checked.html of 62 linear inches (length + width + height). We are considering just taking them with us and hoping the person who checks them let's us squeak by but since the policy has recently changed we're wondering if they're going to be stricter. rsk: It's good to hear someone's personal experience. My reading of the link seems like we will get charged. There's this: "Taking along a bicycle always involves a charge." and this: "The http://www.klm.com/travel/gb_en/travel_information/baggage/baggage_allowance/baggage_allowance_details/bagagge_piececoncept.htm will apply." wyzewoman and adamrice: Yikes! That's what we're afraid of. Please keep the suggestions coming.

I think maybe you should take a few steps back in your thinking here...Check out other airlines. AMS is a major European hub - alot of international airlines fly into it. Find out their policies. Check out www.bikeaccess.net for more info.

A college friend of mine lived in Amsterdam for a while and frequently used Mac Bike, can't speak to the elite-ness of the hardware, but from what I understand the service and locations are great. http://www.amsterdam.info/transport/bike-rentals/macbike/

When my friend flies with her bike, she dismantles it a little bit (takes off the front and back wheels, handle bars, seat, any baskets, and so on), sticks it in a big box or two, and flies with it as checked luggages. AFAIK, she's never had any problems as long as it conforms to the checked luggage rules.

I flew Lufthansa/United from the US to London just after Christmas with a bike packed as muddgirl describes. It wasn't a problem at all at check in; they just counted it as 1 of my 2 allowed items of checked baggage. Unfortunately I changed plans in Frankfurt and they did manage to lose it for a day. It was delivered to my house the next day, in one piece fortunately. Looking at the KLM http://www.klm.com/travel/gb_en/travel_information/baggage/exceptional_baggage/index.htm#6 they say "a bicycle is considered 1 piece of baggage." I interpret that to mean that a bike box would count as 1 of your 2 allowable checked items. Btw, before I flew I called United and they told me they would charge me as well, but when I showed up at the airport all was fine -- no additional charge.

I wouldn't assume the box trick will work, though. My brother tried it once, and on one leg of his trip they asked him "Is that a bike in that box?". He said yes, they charged him the (not insignificant) fee. He got into a bit of an argument with them - it's an awfully silly rule, but unless you are willing to lie if need be, you might have trouble.

Airlines can be pretty arbitrary about charges and boxing requirements, even in my limited experience. Some airlines will sell you a box (for a lot) some require you bring your bike boxed. I had one trip where the airline sold me a box on the outbound leg, but I just handed the bike unboxed to a baggage handler on the return (same airline). I really wouldn't make any assumptions about what you can get away before showing up at the airport. If you have a reasonably nice bike, it would pay to box it yourself (or have a bike shop do it) with pipe insulation over all the tubes, etc. There are quality bikes you can get specifically for travelling. http://www.bikefriday.com/ makes compact, take-apart bikes where you can even get a suitcase that converts to a trailer. http://www.sandsmachine.com/ make a coupling system that framebuilders use on more conventional-looking bikes. Either of these options will be more expensive than a conventional bike, but if you travelled a lot, you'd make it up in reduced baggage fees and hassle. I'm kind of a bike snob, and I'd be happy with either of these options.

A lot of it will just depend on who you're checking the oversized bag with. This happens a lot with kayakers who try to check whitewater boats, and you just pray that you get a benevolent ticket agent. Aside from that, I'd see if you can find a local cycling club. They should have an idea of where you can buy a bike, or maybe if you're lucky you can find someone to borrow one from. As for personal contacts, try a search.

I live in Amsterdam, but I ride your standard city bike (no gears, foot brakes, ride upright etc) so I am no use as far as telling you where to hire rather than buy a touring bike (plus I know bloody nothing about bikes really). However, it must be possible to hire one somewhere. I suggest that you contact http://www.bikecity.nl/, as I know they speak great English (yes, most younger people here do, but writing is a different matter) and ask them your question politely (as I'm sure you would anyway). There's a contact form on their web page. Don't forget to ask them not just if they can help you out with suitable bikes, which they probably can't, but if they can give you a tip as to where you could rent one. If that's a no go and nobody else has a better idea, then post again and I'll think a bit harder :-)