bikes

How do I get my road bike to the UK?
I was going to buy a new one, but the prices are too high. I will get along with my old one.
Anybody ship on the plane?

Go to your local bike shop & ask them to pack it up for you - they usually take it apart, put it in a box and you can carry it to the airport...it goes on as one item.  Then when you arrive, take it to the local bike shop and they'll put it back together.  I haven't done it myself, but a friend did this with no problems.

I did that myself about 10 years ago--not very difficult at all. I then packed the bike in cardboard, with lots of tape.
My recommendation is to make sure there's enough cardboard--maybe two or three layers--so that the bike doesn't get scratched when it gets tossed around.

Thanks y'all. I was floored by how much they cost new these days.

i had mine taken apart and shipped.  BAD IDEA.  t was stuck in customs for WEEKS......i finally have it but have no room to store it!  so it's still in box, in in law's garage. 

I flew into London Gatwick with my bike on US Airways. I read the fine print for their Transatlantic flights and found that if I simply taped my handle bars and pedals, I could take the bike along in place one of my two carry-on bags for no cost at all. They did try to get me to pay something at the airport, but I had a printed page with the airline policy and got my bike to Britain for free.

However, three months later I came back over with another bike, which I took on American Airlines (which we chose to fly for the PETS Program). American Airlines charged $100 to carry the bike over, and forced me to box it. The box cost $20.

I'd recommend US Airways for the bike, though check the website and see if the fine print hasn't been changed.