Traveling With A BikeFriday Part One: Asia
When I got to the ticket counter at the Shanghai PVG airport (there are two airports in Shanghai- important travel tip number 1) they weighed my Samsonite case, folded BikeFriday neatly packed inside, and then said it would be 1,494 Yuan, equivalent to about 240 USD. This bag’s flight to Thailand was going to cost more than my ticket to Thailand! I had already missed one flight and ate that cost due to lingering in a funky Airbnb in the French Concession with my ex.
This was the evening when I realized there needs to be this blog post- How the f&*^ do you travel through Asia with your BikeFriday and not go broke.
Tip One: Airline Choice.
SE Asia is inundated with western backpackers because it’s cheap. You can fly extremely cheap on airlines that cater to people with no checked baggage, and minimal baggage. Thailand, as I learned on this flight is the hot vacation spot for young Chinese. They know this little secret and in turn travel light. With Thai Lion or Spring Airlines- Do not try and take your BikeFriday. Instead go with China Southern (Delta Partner), Garuda, or Air Asia; and when choosing Air Asia book from their website. That way you can pre determine the cost of your checked baggage.
Tips for Flying with your bike:
15, 20 AND 30kg Are magic numbers. Cheap Airlines will not allow over 15kg. Air Asia will have you pay for up to 30kg (Ideal for your bike and extra goodies) for about $20. Know how much your bag weighs – an estimate. This will help you determine how much shopping you do!
Use Kayak or E-dreams to look at ticket prices then book through the airlines directly to avoid baggage fees. I thought I was saving money when using Kayak but in the end, going cheap cost me more than I bargained for. After paying $240 for my bag once, I double-checked every airline before booking again to ensure I wasn’t paying extra. In the end E-dreams was the best cheap booking website because it automatically saved my travel preferences and recognized that I was travelling with a large checked bag.
Tips for traveling with your bike once you land:
Once I got to Thailand I had learned to always request a 1st floor room. This isn’t always an option but easiest when trying to haul your bike to and from your room.
Let people know you have a bike in there- People look at you gallivanting through Asia like a princess with your closet by your side, but watch their face transform when you let them know that inside that suitcase is a bike! Spread the love!
Map My Ride – a great tool once you get into a city to navigate where safe places to cycle are. I used this in Chiang Mai for great City routes with and with/out bike lanes.
China and Internet- There is no Google in China. Yes, a shocking realization. If you get there and want to access Google, Google maps or a search engine try these two options:
1. Use Bing. Yup, it’s that once in a lifetime experience of using this when you never ever thought it would come in handy.
2. Download VPN- A VPN is an IP address in another country, like the U.S., to trick your devices to think you are in the U.S.. My favorites are STAR, and PROVPN, you can find them in the App Store.
Bali is not the best cycling destination. Bali was one of my favorite places on the entire trip. It is rich in Hindu culture, rituals, jungles, lush rice paddies, monkeys, beaches. However, as for infrastructure, the roads are crowded with moto-bikes and the entire time I was there I saw only a handful of cyclists. Of course, if you are determined, you can still ride in Bali, but for myself I found it much easier to see the whole expanse of the island, including the active volcano, and beaches, by renting a moto-bike. That being said, I was still nervous at riding the moto-bike. Streets in Bali and Thailand are British style - on the left side of the road. As you ride a moto-bike or bicycle, it takes time to get accustomed to always being on the opposite side of the street. Take Caution.
Favorite Place to ride: Coming in at my favorite place to ride my BikeFriday was Shanghai. I love that the streets were full of other cyclists in a wide protected bike lane. This gave me comfort that the drivers were also prepared visually to see cyclists. Contrary to this, many places like Thailand were just launching bike share when I was there so the culture was still largely focused on moto-bikes. Shanghai is another world when on a bike. You get to see the hole in the wall noodle shops, clothing stores and street vendors that Didi (Chinese Uber) and taking the Subway just couldn’t provide.
Favorite Bike Ride: The Great Wall in old town X'ian. Not the THE WALL, but close in majestic flavor, and only 14 miles in perimeter. You can see me on the wall in the image below. I am not on my BikeFriday, but rather a bike you can rent at the top of this old fortress wall guarding the sacred city for hundreds of years.. X'ian is in the middle of China and it was a treat to visit because it scaled my perspective on what it means to be an American. I hadn't heard of it before traveling to China but then realized its massive scale and thought, well if this isn not a major city, and dwarfs NYC, we pale in comparison on the population and density scale. It took us a typical two hours in a car to get from one location to the next. The traffic and amount of people everywhere was mind boggling. Old town is special because it still has the feel of being an ancient city amidst massive Givenchy commercials radiating from 100 foot billboards on sky scrapers. You can take it all in from atop the wall as you ride the perimeter and witness buddhist monasteries, small shops, schools, apartments, and bars, all from your aeirial perspective.
If I were to go back, I would do more research ahead of time on routes. When in China or Thailand, the internet can be very spotty. Knowing some designated routes I’d like to go on would be very helpful to set daily ride goals. GOOD NEWS: next up I am heading to South America so I can do my research then share all I learn again with you!
