How to Fly with Your Bike

Welcome to the Bike Bulletin. Hop in our draft for good things ahead.

—Sam Westby @samcwestby

Here’s what we have today.

• ‍✈️ UPDATE: 1 week until I fly to Europe

• 🌍 RIDE: Trans-Cuba: La Ruta Mala

• 💡 TIP: How to Fly with Your Bike

• 🎥 WATCH: Cycling from Finland to Singapore

• 📖 READ: My First Bikepacking Adventure by Kelly McPherson

• 🚲 ARCHIVES: The 1949 Schwinn Black Phantom

• 📰 NEWS: Bike network expansion, bikeshare facts, and more

ON THE ROAD

Less Than 1 Week Until Europe

I fly to Barcelona on Monday, the 12th, to start 45ish days of riding around Europe! It will be a fun summer. I’ll keep sending this newsletter every Thursday, and this section will be my updates from the road.

Here is my full itinerary. It should be 2,000-3,000 miles (3,220 - 4,830 kilometers) of riding:

1. Barcelona + Girona for a few days

2. Andorra + France

3. Brussels, Belgium, by the first week of June

4. I have a conference in Maastricht, Netherlands, right after

5. Bike to London to see some friends

6. Then get to the Alps and Dolomites. Ride from Switzerland to Vienna and climb every big pass in between.

7. Fly back to Boston by the end of June

Plus, my dad will join me from Barcelona to Brussels. We’re running back the 2023 Transamerica ride. It’s gonna be a blast.

I’ll post daily 1-minute recap videos on all platforms (like usual), and am experimenting with 25ish-minute weekly recaps on YouTube. How hard could it be? I haven’t done much with the long-form style, so I’ll be asking for feedback in later weeks.

In the meantime, I’m looking for inspiration. Are there any YouTubers, vloggers, etc. that you enjoy watching? 10-30 minute videos. If you have any in mind, send them my way by replying to this email. Also, include why you like them!

Here are my links: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Strava

ROUTE ON MY RADAR

Trans-Cuba: La Ruta Mala

Here’s what you’d be getting yourself into.

• 860 miles (1,384 kilometers) with 32,500 feet (9,906 meters) of climbing

• Designed by Logan Watts and Joe Cruz

• Dirt roads, remote farms, mountains, and Cuban culture.

• Friendly locals, excellent music, and good food

• The official Bikepacking.com guide

BIKE TRIP TIP

How to Fly with Your Bike

It’s super easy.

1. Most airlines treat sporting equipment like a regular checked bag.

2. American, United, Delta, and Alaska don’t charge extra. I’m not sure about non-U.S. carriers.

3. International might be different. I paid $130 to fly with my bike to Barcelona

4. Go to a bike shop and ask for a bike box. They always have extra and will likely give it to you for free.

5. Disassemble the bike. Seat, handlebars, pedals. Let some air out of the tires.

6. Pad and protect everything. You don’t want anything rattling around. Straps are your friend

7. Once you get to the airport, just go to the baggage counter and drop it off.

8. Add an AirTag or Tile to track your precious cargo.

9. When you land, find your bike in the “Oversized Baggage” section.

Boom. That’s all there is to it.

Here’s my video with the same info. I made this after the Tour Divide.

WHAT I’M WATCHING

Cycling from Finland to Singapore

Over nearly a year, 15,000 kilometers, and 21 countries, watch two guys (and eventually a third) go on a massive journey across the world.

Watch on YouTube.

WHAT I’M READING

My First Bikepacking Adventure by Kelly McPherson

Near-death experiences inspired Kelly McPherson to bikepack unsupported. She had previously done some long trips, fully supported by her husband, but never alone.

An experienced bikepacker took her on a trip, and this article details her experience. There were struggles and things she would change, but McPherson concluded that bikepacking's difficulties are outweighed by its rewards of friendship, adventure, and the powerful sense of accomplishment.

Read on Cycling West.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

The 1949 Schwinn Black Phantom

The "finest, most complete bicycle in the world". You can buy one today for only $1,500.

• 8,624 uses. The number of rides taken on NYC CitiBike #32606. That is an average of 10 times per day over the 806 days it has been in service. CityLab claims this is the most uses of any bike in the entire bikeshare fleet. (Bloomberg)

• 95 km. The expected expansion of London’s bike network over the next 3 years. (GB News)

• Cancelled. Nashville, Tennessee, ended its contract with Bikeshare company BCycle, citing the loss of federal grants. (WKRN)

• 1% profit. The “anti-profit” San Francisco bike shop’s 2024 finances. (Mission Local)

A Note From Sam

Reply to this email and let me know what sections you liked / topics you’d like me to write about.

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Find Sam on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Strava