Dec. 28 Surf and Singletrack, Chile

[Mike Brcic]

This is a place to connect with the other participants on your trip prior to your trip start date. Studies show that participants who take part in our online forums have 32% more fun!

Post a bit about yourself - your hometown, where you ride, what you do for a living, etc... along with a photo - and get to know the rest of the people on your trip.

Don't be shy...

[Bobbette Biddulph]

Hi all -

I was talking to Mike and one of the guides, Martin, to get some suggestions for seeing more of Chile after the bike/surf trip. If there is interst, several of us could set up a road/adventure trip with Martin that hits some of the areas of interest that we all have. Given I will be solo, it would be great to have some organization and create some economy after the bike/surf trip. I am able to spend another 2-3 weeks in the country, but I am also open regarding how much of that is on my own versus part of a small group.

I have never been to Chile, but I am getting lots of great input from friends that have spent several months in the Country. My interests include: hiking, trekking/backpacking, relaxing, good food, some culture/experience, etc. One thing that might be fun is a multi-night night hiking trip in the Patagonia. I am pretty much up for anything in the outdoors. For instance, a river trip would be of interest, even though I don't have much experience. I have heard some good thing about Pucon, although some say it is too touristy. I am also interested in using Puerto Montt as a hub, perhaps travelling on the Navimag into the gulfs of Ancud and Corcovado. Cochamo and the Rio Cochamo Valley also seem interesting.

Let me know what your plans are and whether there is any interest in developing any catered trips together.

I live in San Diego. I would like to say I'm in my 30s, but this trip marks my 40th birthday!

[Diana]

Hi Bobbette et al;

My hubby (Lance) and will be leaving on the 11th of January so we won't be doing a lot after the trip but we are coming to Chile a few weeks beforehand to travel before we meet up with the Sacred Rides crew. So we should definately swap travel ideas!!

[Ine Wauben]

Hi All

I just signed up today for this trip and am soooooo excited and now I have to wait until Dec!

I have never been to South America or on any MTB trips for more than 2 days. I am in Dundas, Ontario, Canada... and happy to see another 40 year old on the trip Bobette:) (well ehm by the time the trip happens I'll be 42)

I won't be arriving early or stay later, as I have kiddo's to get back to

Ine

[Wilco Tymensen]

Lisa and I (Wilco) cant wait for another Sacred Rides Trip. Went to Guatemala last year with a superb group and it was amazing. My wife and I are both 40 and we ride every chance we get (usually in the Canadian Rockies, ie Crowsnest Pass, Fernie, Kananaskis, Canmore) but we try to get around (ie Rossland, Moab, Fruita, Guatemala). We'll probably be arriving a day or so early and staying a day longer.

[Ine Wauben]

Hi, I am going to bring my own bike, any suggestions on how to transport my mtb on the air plane? hard shell bike case, where to get them or rent one? - Ine

[Wilco Tymensen]

We travel with a soft shell case and have done so in the past, no real issues except take off your rotors. If you dont travel with your bike very often, you can go to your local bike shop and pick up a cardboard box that new bikes come in. Your local shop should give it to you for free as they normally just throw them out. Ensure your flight will let you travel with over size luggage. Last time ours changed regulations for travel during Christmas and we had to change airlines at the last minute. It will cost about $100 to travel with a bike both ways.

Again if you want to go more formal (ie buy hard or soft case, your local bike shop should have them for around $400. Mike also has info on his sacred rides site about getting soft shell cases. Keep in mind that all mountain bikes often dont fit in hardshell cases as their suspension etc (front fork is extra large) so soft may be easier to pack. Either way, you end up taking your bike apart big time, (rear derailleur, hydraulic brake calipers, pedals, handlebar, wheels, etc). So larger cardboard case may be easier as wont need to remove much.



Ine Wauben said:

Hi, I am going to bring my own bike, any suggestions on how to transport my mtb on the air plane? hard shell bike case, where to get them or rent one? - Ine

[Mike Brcic]

Hi Ine:

as Wilco said, my experience is that soft-shell case are easier to deal with, and as long as you take off the rotors, they do a great job of protecting your bike. Here's the case that we sell, and it's gotten great reviews from our clients: http://www.sacredrides.com/store.html

Ine Wauben said:

Hi, I am going to bring my own bike, any suggestions on how to transport my mtb on the air plane? hard shell bike case, where to get them or rent one? - Ine

[Ine Wauben]

Thanks all for the info on the soft-shell bike cases.... I'd better get some practice taking my bike apart and putting it back together then :)...

[Mike Brcic]

Hey folks:

Lance sent me an email asking me my thoughts on hard case vs. soft case. He and his partner have bought 2 hard cases and he was asking me my thoughts about bringing them. Here's what I wrote him about the hard cases he bought (and is able to trade if needed):

They're certainly great cases... But I wouldn't recommend bringing them. The airlines can be pretty random, especially in Chile. We've had two clients with identical bike cases get charged $0 and $200 respectively, on the same flight within Chile. They seem to make it up as they go along, and I'm worried that one day they might just say no hard bike cases.

With the hard cases, you're going to get charged almost 100% of the time. The airline people know they're bike cases, and they will charge you. With the soft cases (especially the Pika case we sell, which is shaped a little differently and could almost pass for regular luggage) you can sometimes get away with checking it as regular baggage, and they're significantly lighter so you'll get charged less on the Chilean flights.

Anyway, I'm not writing this to plug our cases (but I think you'll really love them if you do get one, and we don't really make any money on them anyway). Any soft case will do. I just want to make sure you don't get burned by airlines that are very inconsistent in how they apply the rules. As you know, the airline industry is in turmoil these days, so they seem to change the rules every week.

That said, if you do use a soft case, then I have one small recommendation. Most do a great job of protecting the bike, but you do have to take off the rotors to avoid having them bent in transit. Not a big deal, but you do need a special key for this, which you can get at any bike shop for $5-$10.

If you do decide to trade for soft cases, then you can either get one at our online store (http://www.sacredrides.com/store.html) or feel free to send a link to one you're considering and I can give you my opinion.