TDR 2012

[mcmurv]

I'm contemplating racing south to north.  Anyone else?

Was there a northbound grand depart last year?  If so did that start at the exact same time as the southbound grand depart?  I followed the race fairly closely last year but I can't remember how things worked.  I'm just wondering as I think it would be cool to start out with other racers as opposed to a pure ITT. 

Fun stuff to think about!

Aaron:
I am also riding NOBO, but starting early.  Probably on or about 20 May, we have a baby due on 10 June. 

Yes, there was a NOBO GD at the same time, roughly, as the SOBO GD.

[KootenayB]

Elk Valley/Flathead snow update.

About 1.7 m (5'5") of snow the past week.  But snowpack data shows average year to date.

Check out this vid to see what the blower pow was like last week at Fernie Alpine Resort.
http://www.skifernie.com/video/videos.aspx

[Slowerthensnot]

I'm contemplating racing south to north.  Anyone else?

Was there a northbound grand depart last year?  If so did that start at the exact same time as the southbound grand depart?  I followed the race fairly closely last year but I can't remember how things worked.  I'm just wondering as I think it would be cool to start out with other racers as opposed to a pure ITT.  


Fun stuff to think about!

Thinking about a june 1st NoBo, however i may be talked into early if snowpack is looking ok end of feb...

[Area45]

Thinking about this again. Once it's in ya, well, it's in ya.

[phil_rad]

I hear ya!

[elobeck]

ya? Ya!

[dbclimb]

Can anyone give me information about shipping my bike to Canada?
Thanks,
Dave

[BobM]

Can anyone give me information about shipping my bike to Canada?
Thanks,
Dave

I know you can make arrangements for the Ski Shop in Banff to receive and hold it for you (and assemble it if you like).  I also know that a rider missed the Grand Depart a few years back because Canadian Customs decided to hold the bike for a few days for inspection.

[dbclimb]

Thanks Bob, i read about the bike shop on the site, but any information from people that have raced it before is always helpful.
 

[BigPoppa]

Thanks Bob, i read about the bike shop on the site, but any information from people that have raced it before is always helpful.
 

I would fly with it and avoid shipping like the devil.

I shipped my bike box back from Banff and just the empty box got stuck in customs for 2 months. I didn't get it until OCTOBER.

Like Matthew Lee says, "It's always better to travel with 'bird in hand'."

[dbclimb]

Thanks Big Poppa for the advice

[Norb]

Dave..........
  
If you can fly Southwest they will only charge you $50.00 for shipping the bike box.  Get to Banff early enough to put it back together, get some rides in and the kit whipped into shape.  As Big Poppa said, fly with your machine!!

[dbclimb]

Thanks for the advice about Southwest and the shipping cost. I plan on being there a week early
and checking the town out.
Cheers,
Dave

[robinb]

Some other inexpensive airlines for shipping bikes.  Air Canada and westjet only charge $50.

[DenisVTT]

Thanks for the advice about Southwest and the shipping cost. I plan on being there a week early
and checking the town out.
Cheers,
Dave

If you're into saving money, staying a week in Banff isn't exactly the greatest plan....  Just saying!

The money you save on the shipping cost might buy you a single room at the Y for one night. Maybe.  Assuming you don't add Internet access and breakfast....  

[THE LONG RANGER]

Frontier hasn't any fees on bringing along bikes

http://www.frontierairlines.com/customer-service/travel-support/baggage/special-fragile-items

and you're flying out of Denver, right? This worked for me, last year.

Some people saved money in Banff by camping out, which is convenient as it's inside a national park. The prices in town are exceedingly ridiculous.

[DenisVTT]

Frontier hasn't any fees on bringing along bikes

http://www.frontierairlines.com/customer-service/travel-support/baggage/special-fragile-items

and you're flying out of Denver, right? This worked for me, last year.

Some people saved money in Banff by camping out, which is convenient as it's inside a national park. The prices in town are exceedingly ridiculous.

Frontier flies to Calgary?

I did take Frontier last year (specifically for their no fees for bike policy) but I was nobo so I was flying to Tucson. If I recall, there was no Frontier service available for the return trip out of Banff.

PS: Agreed on the "exceedingly ridiculous" prices!

[dbclimb]

Justin, thanks for the information about flying out of Denver.
 

[THE LONG RANGER]

No, Frontier does not fly to Calgary from Denver, but they, "partner" with an airline that does. I did get to Calgary starting with Frontier, with a stopover in Tuscon. Even though I had to check my bags in again (including the bike box), I don't believe they charged me there for the bike.

Usually airlines partner up to expand the areas they cover and certain policies are extended over (grandfathered?) into that other airline. Good point on the return trip, though - it may be that the first airline that takes you up on that way has the say so for baggage policies.

Frontier's bikes fly-free policy is a nice surprise, especially after paying $600 for Delta to take my bike to Europe and back. I believe that was more than my ticket. Bastards.

As always, talk to the airline directly and see what their policies are, exactly. Your bike may count as a checked in bag, so if you have another bag to check in, you'll have to pay extra for that. BUT, if you can't fit all your stuff into a bike box and have it weigh < 100lbs + a carry on, you're doing something wrong   I'm not too proud to admit that Frontier's homebase at DIA and its bikes-fly-free policy is one of the reasons I stick to living in Denver!

[groundedkiwi]

I'm so grateful for the Southwest Airlines plug (yes we do charge $50 for your bike, much to my chagrin), but sorry we're not serving Canada (yet!).  Also don't forget, always two free (50lb) bags per passenger!
Cardboard throw-away bike boxes are best, pack well, and for-goodness-sake, CHECK IN EARLY!!!!!   (If you want your bike to travel on the same flight as you!)
TSA MUST still check the inside of the box.  Most airports now have oversized scanners for a box this size, but same may not.  If they do, it will possibly take extra time (again, check in early!). 
If they don't, they may (and will if they damn want to!), open the box.  Therefore make sure everything is tie-wrapped or taped together, so that parts don't fall out.  Although they're pretty good at re-taping your box back together, they generally don't have tape of a decent quality, no better than what you would get at Staples.  If you ask politely at check-in (and this will vary greatly with different airports), I have been able to monitor the inspection, and then re-tape my own box back together.    Whether you can do this will depend a lot on the location of their inspection station and how they're feeling on the day!   If you think you might be able to do this, remember to carry a sufficient amount of strapping tape with you and either some throw away scissors (you wont get through security with them), or plan on using theirs.

Good luck with the bike transport!  I hope to see you all in Banff in June too!