Equipment |
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| THE BICYCLES RENT A BIKE OR BRING YOUR OWN? The tour package price does not include a bicycle, as many cyclists prefer to ride their own. There are some significant logistical concerns for visitors checking a bike with Druk Air. The capacity of the cargo hull on the airplane is limited. If you happen to board a flight with many passengers checking excess baggage, the bulkiest items will be left behind for the next flight. Oversized, hard plastic bike cases and big cardboard boxes are usually pulled out of the plane to make room for more duffle bags. As Druk Air does not fly every day, this would mean you begin your bicycle tour without a bicycle. If you are bound and determined to bring your bike, I would strongly recommend using a soft case, as the odds of having the bike loaded on the plane are greatly increased. * Bicycle rental is included in the price of the tour. Passengers booking an economy seat are limited to 44 pounds of checked luggage. The mandatory fee for excess weight is approximately $5 USD per pound over the limit. This fee is charged each way. A duffle containing all the gear needed for a bicycle tour may weigh 38 pounds, leaving 6 free pounds for the bike. The average bike in a case weighs about 30 pounds. The end result is an excess baggage fee of $144 USD each way. If you purchase a business class ticket, the baggage weight limit is increased to 66 pounds. In this case, you would need to weigh the ticket price difference against the excess baggage fee when making your decision. EQUIPMENT Although much of the cycling will be done on paved roads, we will encounter long stretches of dirt and rock. There are times when roadside waterfalls flow over, rather than under the pavement, turning our route into a river crossing. There for, it is best to bring a mountain bike with you to Bhutan. A hard tail with or without front suspension is ideal. You will be happiest with a wide range of gearing and most modern mountain bikes can accommodate that need. A medium-width knobby tire, such as a 1.75, is sufficient on most of our routes. Parts availability is limited in Bhutan. If you plan to bring your bike with you, please inform Yu Druk and/or Bicycle Sambhava. We need to know what equipment is on the bike, particularly if it has disc brakes. You may be required to bring a bleed kit with you, as well |
