So, you have decided to travel by bike, but you still need to get to the starting point of the journey yourself and deliver your iron friend. For these purposes, you can use the services of airlines or rail transport. Every company has some requirements that need to be met in order for you to be allowed to transfer the bike. First of all, the bike must be packed in a certain way. You need to approach this responsibly, the packaging should be as strong as possible, because, once on the bottom baggage compartment, your bike will be littered with the luggage of other passengers and may be damaged, and upon arrival at the place, instead of immediately going along the bike route, you will have to spend time on repairs and restoration. You can put an inscription on the package with a bicycle saying that there is a fragile object inside, they say, it helps.

Preparation for transportation is as follows: it is necessary to remove the saddle, pedals, front wheel, the wheel must be wound with tape to the frame, or attached with special fasteners, slightly lower the tires, turn the steering wheel parallel to the frame, reset the rear switch to the last star (the largest).Pack the bike in a cardboard box or plastic box. In some European airlines, such boxes can be purchased directly at the airport for 20 euros or so. You can also use a soft case, it is lighter and more comfortable, but less protects your bike from breakage during transportation.
Adhering to these rules, you can carry bicycles on trains. For example, in Russia, there are no clear rules regarding the transportation of bicycles, the general rules for baggage transportation apply to bicycles, that is, the dimensions of baggage should not exceed 180 cm in the sum of length, height and width and fit on the luggage space. In unsorted form, the bicycle will not be accepted in the luggage. Not in all countries you will be allowed to carry a bicycle on the train, it is advisable to find out the conditions of transportation in advance, although most European railway companies allow the transportation of bicycles for little money, and some even for free, at sites specially equipped for this purpose.

Which route to choose?

Before you go on a bicycle trip, you need to calculate the distance that you plan to overcome. In one day on flat terrain, being in normal physical shape, a cyclist can overcome 60-120 kilometers. If you are a cyclist with experience, you can master 250 kilometers, but setting such records, you do not leave yourself time to enjoy the surrounding views and explore the sights encountered along the way. If you travel without luggage, your speed will be about 25 km / h, having a backpack behind you, your speed will drop to 15 km / h. The best choice would be to plan your route so as to be able to regularly take breathers and restore the spent strength, well helps to relieve multi-day fatigue swimming. Thus, in a week of cycling, you can overcome 400-500 kilometers. It is not necessary to go on a bicycle trip directly from the doors of your home, it is advisable to get to the starting point of the trip using a train or other transport.

How to protect a bike from theft while traveling?

Although a bicycle is not a luxury item, but a means of transportation, stealing it can be as simple as any other thing.So vigilance should not be lost even in prosperous Europe, not to mention other parts of the planet, where you could get on your two-wheeled friend. How can you protect yourself from theft? The old and proven method is a chain and a lock, fastening the frame and the wheel, for example, to a pole, with a high degree of probability you will find your vehicle where you left, but this method is bulky and inconvenient.

However, it is worth remembering that this is protection against petty crooks, such protection will not stop a professional thief. You can use a special cape, under which the model of the bicycle is not visible, this method is used by many experienced cyclists. The more nondescript the appearance of your bike, the less likely it is that someone will like it. However, only by parking in an absolutely deserted place, you can be sure that no one will get on your bike.

If you, nevertheless, did not save your bike, you need to contact the police, it is unlikely to specifically look for it, but it can be seized from intruders if they get caught on another theft or are detained for some other reason.

Although a bicycle is not a luxury item, but a means of transportation, stealing it can be as simple as any other thing.So vigilance should not be lost even in prosperous Europe, not to mention other parts of the planet, where you could get on your two-wheeled friend. How can you protect yourself from theft? The old and proven method is a chain and a lock, fastening the frame and wheel, for example, to a pole, with a high degree of probability you will find your vehicle where you left, but this method is bulky and inconvenient. You can use more technically advanced means – electronic locks, motion sensors, sirens, etc.
However, it is worth remembering that this is protection against petty crooks, such protection will not stop a professional thief. You can use a special cape, under which the model of the bicycle is not visible, this method is used by many experienced cyclists. The more nondescript the appearance of your bike, the less likely it is that someone will like it. However, only by parking in an absolutely deserted place, you can be sure that no one will get on your bike.
If you, nevertheless, did not save your bike, you need to contact the police, it is unlikely to specifically look for it, but it can be seized from intruders if they get caught on another theft or are detained for some other reason.