BootsnAll Travel Community

So I am hoping to bring a colapseable bike with me to Europe next fall. I am doing quite a few flights out of Standstead and back for the cheapest connections. I am too cheap to pay to check by bike on Ryanair all the time considering it will cost $20 per flight. That's $40 round trip for a flight I paid $0.03 round trip including taxes, so it just seems so wrong. Anyhow:

1.) How possible is it to cycle from Standstead to London and vice versa? Any tips on finding maps that would aid me? (Yes, I know its 40 miles.)

2.) I have heard that there is bike parking at Stanstead. If I leave the bike there how strong of a lock would be adviseable? Should I bring both a U-lock and a chain? Is the bike parking sheltered from the weather?

3.) Is there any way that Ryanair might let me bring a collapsed bike on as a carry-on. The weight is under 15 KG but the bag would be about 170 CM total L+W+H.

1) Perfectly, as long as you stay off the motorway! The land around Stansted is very flat.

2) I haven't seen the bike parking at Stansted but I'm sure there is some. A U-lock (we usually call them D-locks) would probably suffice, especially as an airport is not a high bicycle theft risk area!

3) No chance. There's quite a tight limit on carry-on with Ryanair for both weight and size. Easyjet are a little more permissive but I still don't think you'd have luck taking it on board.

Oddly enough the airport's website doesn't have a specific cycling section. What an oversight! www.stanstedairport.com