Lake Buena Vista Triathlon

[cookies]

Anyone signed up?

 

[thndrmatt]

A Google search shows none by that name, do you mean the Athletes for a Cure triathlon at WDW in Sept?

 

[cookies]

Yes! My husband is sined up and has some questions. It is our first Tri. that we are flying to

 

[thndrmatt]

Although I'm not positive (deployment looming around that date) I likely will be attending, and I was there last year. What questions does he have?

 

[JimB.]

Have not signed up yet. About an 85% chance I will though. Depends on how the "water work" goes in the next few weeks.

 

[cookies]

I have a few questions to ask.
It is our first travel by plane event. Do you suggest shipping or bringing bike on plane? (it bike is a kestrel talon)
Are there any bike shop sponsers on hand if we have any problems?

 

[ironz]

Bike travel:

I have shipped my bike and taken it on the plane to plenty of races and training events.

Brief breakdown here, and feel free to ask any further questions for more details.

Shipping: Can be cheaper than flying, if you do ground shipping. Though that means you'll be without your bike for about a week prior to the event. Some people on some tri forums have had trouble with UPS/FedEx...I have been lucky, I suppose, so far (have shipped my bike about 3 times?). If you don't use ground shipping, expect to pay up to several hundred $ each way. I believe you can add insurance, which is nice, as the airlines will only insure for a certain amount.

Flying with bike: If you fly SW, you're in luck, because it's still only $50 each way. On other carriers, it is up to $150 each way, and have heard of people getting charged $150 for the bike plus an extra $80 for overweight, for $230 each way. (seems like you might as well buy a ticket for it). Again, I have been lucky as far as TSA inspections and baggage handlers not tearing up the bike or case, but some report issues. Advantage is that you have your bike up until the time you leave, and have it with you when you get to your race.

If you use CO2 cartridges for flats, you cannot fly with them (even in checked baggage), so you will have to buy some at the race site and then give them away if you don't use them in a race. I try to find someone who drove to the race or is local to give them to. If you ship it by ground, you can put the CO2s in with the bike.

Assembly/disassembly/packing: you can learn to do it yourself, or have your bike shop do it for you and have the race bike shop (most races will indicate who their support shop is on the website) assemble, and then vice-versa on the way home. Expect to pay $40-50 each way for that. Not a bad skill to learn if you do it yourself and can feel confident that your bike is packed well and that you can put it together safely. I have travelled enough with my bike that it has been worth it to take care of it myself.

Hope that helps!!