words by Hayden Seder

While there are plenty of places to rent a mountain bike in the Sun Valley area, having your own bike on the trails makes them that much sweeter. But flying with your bike is a pain . . . right? Not so much these days, where for a short amount of prep and the cost of checking a bag, you can have your bike on your next vacay to Sun Valley, where the area promises over 400 miles of singletrack. With how much riding you’re going to be doing, you’re going to want a bike that fits you perfectly and has all the specs adjusted to your liking. So read on for Visit Sun Valley’s guide to flying your bike to Sun Valley.

Getting Your Bike Ready to Fly

There are a few options for what to pack your bike in to fly, namely either a hard or soft case or a cardboard bike box. Many local bike shops carry the cardboard boxes and will either give them to you for free or for just a couple bucks. Assuming you pack the bike correctly, most airlines will accept this. The other option is a soft or hard case, though airlines seem to prefer hard cases (and your bike will appreciate the extra protection). Cases can be rented from many companies, which for a week will run you around $100–$200. If you plan to fly with your bike often, you can invest in your own case, which will set you back about $400–$500.

Once you’ve picked your travel vessel, it’s time to get that bike itself ready to fly. Remove the pedals, and either turn or remove the handlebars (whichever is necessary to fit your box or case). Remove the front wheel and secure the frame with some form of padding.

Checking Your Bike

Every airline has its own policy for flying with bikes, so we have listed the three airlines that fly in and out of Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey and their specific bike policies. Note that these policies apply to regular mountain bikes, not e-bikes, which are typically not allowed to be checked due to most airlines banning lithium-ion batteries over 160Wh.

Delta charges standard checked baggage fees for bikes, though an overweight baggage fee will apply for those bikes over 50 pounds, and the bike cannot exceed 115 linear inches. Bikes must be packaged in either a hard-shell or soft-shell case meant for bicycles, though if a soft-shell case is used, a limited liability release form must be signed by the passenger (but no form is necessary if it is in a hard-shell case).

Alaska treats bikes like any checked baggage, meaning they are subject to their standard baggage fees. The bike must be packaged in a hard-sided case designed for bicycles, one bike per box. Handlebars must be sideways and pedals removed, with all other protruding parts being padded. They waive the overweight fee up to 70lbs for bicycles, though bikes exceeding 115” will incur an oversize fee.

United charges standard baggage fees for bikes, waiving oversize fees on properly packaged bikes. Your bike must be packed in either a hard-sided case or durable cardboard box meant for transporting bikes.

You might consider also purchasing luggage insurance for your bike. Many major credit cards come with travel insurance, which includes lost and/or damaged luggage, but there are also several companies out there (like Velosurance, Sundays Insurance, and World Nomads) that offer coverage geared toward travel and bikes.

Tuning Up

If your mind was so focused on getting your bike to Sun Valley to ride that you neglected to tune up your bike for the season, don’t fret. There are plenty of great bike shops in the area where you can get all manner of maintenance.

If you need to get straight to a shop so you can be riding as soon as possible, head to The Trailhead Bicycles or Sturtevant’s in Hailey. If you’re staying in the Ketchum area and want your bike seen closer to your stay, there’s Sturtevant’s in Ketchum, as well as The Elephant’s Perch, Backwoods Mountain Sports, and PK’s Bike Shop.

Getting on the Trail

If you get off the plane just jonesing to get on the bike and shake out those legs after your flight, there are numerous trails in Hailey (where Friedman Memorial Airport is located). Head to the Croy Creek Trail System in West Hailey for a variety of trail options, including fun intermediate rides like Two Dog Trail. On the other side of town in East Hailey is the Quigley Canyon area, which also has lots of different trails for all level of biker, though Golden Hour is a fun intermediate ride with enough elevation gain to get you sweatin’! For maps and info on all trails in the area, check out the BCRD Traillink.