Cycling in Spain /flying with bikes

[Tom Hooper]

Ok going to Spain early feb way to cheap to turn down, hired a bike box for £25 only taking hand luggage.
Got my European health card what other insurance will I need and will I need cover for my bike?
Can I take gels and powders bars and tablets in hand luggage I have lots of ride food to be used up, anything I shouldn't forgot that could be easily missed off? (Not bike or passport)

Thanks never been abroad in bike so any tips welcome

 

[Martin McNeely]

If you don't mind me asking, who are you flying with. I'm also going away in February for the first time with my bike. Best of luck and enjoy. Your feedback will be interesting.

 

[Tom Hooper]

If you don't mind me asking, who are you flying with. I'm also going away in February for the first time with my bike. Best of luck and enjoy. Your feedback will be interesting.

I am flying with easy jet only flight i can get from newcastle to malaga, it was £70 to book a bike on the plane seems alot but box boke and wheels can add up i guess

 

[Herzog]

...
Can I take gels and powders bars and tablets in hand luggage...

Knowing how the border control staff can be at Newcastle airport, I'd recommend sticking them in the bike box.

 

[Martin McNeely]

I am flying with easy jet only flight i can get from newcastle to malaga, it was £70 to book a bike on the plane seems alot but box boke and wheels can add up i guess

That's how much Thomas Cook charge too, sounds the going rate. I'm intending to put my gels tabs and reco powder in my bike bag. The bike bag is huge I'm hoping this doesn't cause any bother.
My friend is going to belamadina and is struggling to find hire, he is also thinking about taking his own. Let me know how you get on and happy cycling

 

[50000tears]

Is it not cheaper to hire a bike abroad? I know you can hire some decent bits of kit and not just the Boris bike equivalent.

 

[Martin McNeely]

Is it not cheaper to hire a bike abroad? I know you can hire some decent bits of kit and not just the Boris bike equivalent.

For me it was more about service,two places in fuerteventura had decent reviews but the lack of communication and professionalism from both parties left me wondering if I would have any bike when I arrived.

Easy riders wouldn't return emails and when they did they weren't very informative.£70 for an aluminium bike with no guarantee of availability.

Hirebikesfuerteventura didn't know where my hotel was and charged £100 for a good bike plus £30 drop off service.

I previously hired in last Vegas from rentabikenow.com and it was simple cheap and excellent service. $20 for two days for a giant tcr. Unbelievable value plus a recovery service.
Sorry about the long winded reply but I like to share my experience so others can benefit by searching the forum.

 

[50000tears]

That is useful thanks.

 

[clid61]

Im off to Marrakech in April Easyjet , cost of bike travel is 70 quid , same as you hand luggage only , cram as much as you can into bike box ! oh and dont forget to let your tyres down !

 

[MarkF]

Ok going to Spain early feb way to cheap to turn down, hired a bike box for £25 only taking hand luggage.

Could have saved £25 and just picked one up in Malaga, lots of shops there are happy to give boxes.

The bike bag is huge I'm hoping this doesn't cause any bother.

Size is not an issue, I picked up an arranged box from here and it was way too big, at Malaga airport it would not fit through the regular machine and I was taken down several levels into the industrial area for it to be scanned, super helpful staff.

Is it not cheaper to hire a bike abroad? I know you can hire some decent bits of kit and not just the Boris bike equivalent.

On my last trip around Catalonia I hired a bike in Barcelona, well used but decent road bikes are available in plenty of sizes Trek/Giant/Orbea etc The cost was only 60 euros per week, unless I am doing a long tour I won't be flying out again with my own bike to Spain. This pic is from their website and a fair reflection of what I saw and used there.

 

[screenman]

This one is in Majorca.

http://www.2gocycling.com/bicicletas.php

 

[MarkF]

This one is in Majorca.

http://www.2gocycling.com/bicicletas.php

Nice stuff but I'd fly my own out at that cost. I know that I can now rent a decent (decent to me anyway) road bike in Bilbao, Madrid, Seville, Malaga and BCN for cheaper than I can fly one out. Considering the total lack of hassle that's what I'll be doing from now on.

 

[boydj]

I'd make sure that I had good travel insurance that covered the bike and medical costs resulting from cycling incidents. The EHIC card won't necessarily cover all treatment and you could end up seriously out of pocket if, for instance, you have to change flights for any reason.

 

[MarkF]

Tips:-

Every town, even small ones will have a Chinese shop "Todo Cien". In these you can get spare cables, brake blocks, lights, puncture repair kits etc For, as the name suggests, 1 euro.

A 1 Euro pack of Magdalena cakes can power you for hours, keep some with you.

Every village will have a water fountains, but make sure you use the right ones to fill up.

If you see beer advertised for 1 Euro, it's a swizz, it'll be a 25cl not a 33cl bottle.

 

[Tom Hooper]

Tips:-

Every town, even small ones will have a Chinese shop "Todo Cien". In these you can get spare cables, brake blocks, lights, puncture repair kits etc For, as the name suggests, 1 euro.

A 1 Euro pack of Magdalena cakes can power you for hours, keep some with you.

Every village will have a water fountains, but make sure you use the right ones to fill up.

If you see beer advertised for 1 Euro, it's a swizz, it'll be a 25cl not a 33cl bottle.

Thanks you especial for the beer tips! Just need to source insurance now