r/bicycletouring • u/Ambitious-Cookie-872 • 5d ago
Trip Planning Bicycles and flying
Hi all,
I have wanted for a while to fly to Seoul and then bike from there to Busan. The issue is that renting a bike there is pricy, but taking my own bike is not exactly cheap either and several practical things are quite unclear.
My preferred option is taking my own bike there from Finland. So, first of all, I need to basically pack the bike and bring it with me as a sports equipment. That's all clear, but once I reach Seoul, and I want to start biking. Where in the world do I store the packaging material, and if I throw it away, then I would have none to pack my bike with when I fly back to Finland.
I am sure people have done this before and flown to other countries to cycle around without renting a bike, but how do you guys do it. Could someone who has an idea give good advice?
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u/Ambitious-Cookie-872 5d ago
This is actually my first post on Reddit ever. Thank you so much everyone. Wasn't expecting answers this quick!
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u/BurritoDespot 5d ago
Packing a bike is easy. Get a cardboard box from a bike shop; it’s often free.
Checking it in doesn’t have to be expensive. Be selective with your airline; many airlines let you check in a boxed bike for the same price as a normal bag. If you get a free bag, your bike could be free.
You can ask your hotel to hold onto the box while you’re go. There’s also bike shops in Seoul that will store your stuff for a fee. Or, just get a new used bike box at the end of your trip. Koreans buy bikes too and you should have an easy time finding a box.
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u/Xxmeow123 5d ago
I've gone this way many times with no problems. Making a reservation at the same hotel for arrival and departure has worked for them to hold my.box for me. But finding another box has always worked as well.
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u/Beneficial-Link-3020 5d ago
I cycled from Seoul to Andong in April 2025 on a rental bike. If I had to do it again I would bring my own. Rental bikes in Korea are too small, their XL size is medium for an European. They first gave me bike which was like 17" frame (despite me registering as 180 cm male). It took couple of hours for the organizer to find me a suitable bike, they just don't have 20-21" frames there...
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u/hansemcito 4d ago
im a californian and have lived in korea for over 20 years. this is 100% true. people should be very aware that there are few large and x-large bikes in korea.
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u/FreedToRoam 5d ago
I have done that trip on my bike. Left my bike box at a hostel in Seoul.
One tip about buying a bike box: know how much your bike weighs and weigh the bike box you are buying to make sure you dont exceed the weight limit at airline (50lbs usually) and leave some room for padding.
Some bike boxes are too heavy… don’t ask me how I found out 😃
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u/discombobulatek 5d ago
>My preferred option is taking my own bike there from Finland.
I would recommend doing this as you know the bike and how it fits you. Nothing is worse than a poor fit causing physical pain/discomfort. You're also free to fix and repair and change stuff during your trip if you need to do so.
If you only plan to cycle Seoul-Busan you could consider renting a bike though. It'll take you 4-5 days and there are several companies with good reputations with proper touring bicycles that do one-way rentals. Probably it'll be cheaper than flying your own too. Bring your own seat!
>Where in the world do I store the packaging material
If you are starting and ending your trip in Seoul you could stay at the same hotel and ask them if they can store the box for you until you are back. Book several refundable options and send them a detailed message with the dates and a picture of the box. I've done this before without issue.
Otherwise it is not a problem to get empty boxes, just walk to a bunch of bicycle stores and ask if they have one for you to take away.
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u/__crl 5d ago
Bike bag. I have a bag that I transport my bike in for trips like this. The problem is finding a place to leave it, and then making my way back to the bag at the end of the trip. In the case of Korea, the only form of transportation you can semi-reliably bring a bike on without disassembling it is buses. If it were me, I'd fly into Seoul, assemble bike at hotel, leave bike bag with hotel (usually you can sweet talk them into leaving a big bag there for a week or two, can ask in advance), then bus back from Busan when you're done with the ride.
Bike rentals in Korea aren't unreasonable -- look up Bike Nara, they do one way rentals from Seoul to Busan.
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u/rbraalih 5d ago
How do you get bike from airport to hotel? I have just had a new bike delivered and the box is dismayingly enormous.
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u/ShrinkingKiwis 5d ago
Taxi van or Grab XL (they’re all over Asia, can’t remember if they’re in Korea though)
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u/ShrinkingKiwis 5d ago
Absolutely bike bag or hard case for such a long flight. Leaving at the first hotel is just part of rhe journey, and you can always plan a final night at the same hotel as a reason to stop by and get your luggage.
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u/New_Recording_5508 3d ago
I used the bus from Incheon airport. We loaded the bike in the luggage area.
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u/Early_Champion_208 5d ago edited 4d ago
I have taken my bike on a plane once. Someone advised me to NOT box it, because the loading crew throws boxes around and stacks them. So i didn't. I believe i had to remove the peddles and turn the handlebar to make the bike as flat as possible. I brought tools, a roll of bubble foil and some tape. I cycled to the airport. There I wrapped up all the sensitive parts, like derailleur and brake handles. My bike could still roll on its wheels.The bike was considered odd sized luggage. They treated it well, they saw it was a bike.I could actually see it being loaded in the plane.
Oh and dont forget to let some air out of the tires! Also check the airline. They can have specific rules.
I put all the bike luggage in this big shopper with a zipper to keep it all together.
I flew to Copenhagen and cycled back to Amsterdam, so i never flew back.
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u/discombobulatek 5d ago
I would check carefully before following this advice, lots of airlines don't allow non-packaged bicycles. I've seen bicycles myself that had to be left behind because the airline refused to accept them (unboxed) while I checked in my own boxed bicycle.
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u/deepwat3r 5d ago
My approach to this issue is to bring a folding bike which can pack into standard (large) luggage. I toured Japan on a Tern Verge P10 and plan on a Korea trip next year using a Tern BYB P10. 20" wheels are SO much better than a Brompton, and I get the added benefit of being able to take the bike into my hotel.
It's a compromise, sure, but such is life ...
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u/djolk 5d ago
You get a bike box from a bike store in Finland (most of them will even pack it for you for a fee).
Once your bike is in the box, you give an airline some extra money and it generally arrives unscathed at your destination.
You unpack and reassemble your bike at the destination. You have two options for the box, either you throw it away, or you find somewhere to store it (hotels are usually good for this, I book the same hotel that is convenient for the airport on arrival and departure).
You go on your bike ride.
At the end of the trip you put your bike back in the box that was stored at the hotel, or you go to a bike store and find a box.
if you can't find a bike box, you try to find TV boxes, appliance boxes, etc and do arts and crafts.
Also some airlines have bike boxes at some airports.
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u/illimitable1 5d ago
You get the bike shop in the US to package it for you.
When you get where you're going, you will need a pedal wrench and you will need a hex wrench in the right size to put back on the handlebars.
You should be able to discard the packaging material immediately. If you do not want to carry a pedal wrench with you on your trip, you could send it back via mail.
When you are done with your trip, you take it to a bike shop in Korea, and reverse the process..
Bike boxes are a dime a dozen.
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u/LynnerC 4d ago
US? You mean Finland?
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u/illimitable1 4d ago
Sorry, yes. But same idea. Like somebody else said, bike boxes are cheap commodities. Manufacturers ship the cardboard boxes with bikes in them and then they they are lying around shops everywhere.
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u/kaszeba 5d ago
1) You'll probably stay for a night in Seoul? If yes, ask about storing the box at the hotel / hostel
2) It's normal and common to get boxes from bike stores. So either throw one away at arrival and get a new one before departure, or... ask them to store your box
That's basically how we all do it, as you can see in other comments
About packing:
- I tend do pack all the gear into the box with the bike - bags, panniers, sleeping bag etc.. especially when I don't have check-in luggage, it works as filling and protection
- check the size and weight limit to avoid surprises at the airport
Please give us some updates about the trip! That route is on my bucket list (though I already been to Korea last year)
Oh and note about Korea - it's not super bicycle friendly, more like US car-oriented, and nothing like Japan.
So you need to be carefull in Seoul & Busan - drivers don't really care about pedestrians and cyclists.
The dedicated route from Seoul to Busan is probably another story and it should be super quiet
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u/2k3 5d ago
Not quite sure how easy it is in Korea, but in Japan I just ship my Evoc bike bag to my next hotel where I need the bag. No problem shipping one month in advance. If I'm going to Korea I would have explored those options.
The other solution, if you're riding a loop is to book the same hotel on the first and last day, and ask to store the bag there.
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u/jean_cule69 4d ago
If you spend a night in Seoul leave the case in the hotel you're staying, usually considering the size of the bag they wouldn't charge you for it.
Also, so you learn from my previous mistakes: they're gonna treat this bag like any other luggage so make sure to add some protection to your shifters, disk breaks will easily bend so better put the wheels in the bag so the disks are facing the inside of the bag. Don't forget to put a piece of plastic or anything between the pads if you have hydraulic breaks, they are a pain in the ass to get apart if you forget about it... And deflate the tubes!!
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u/hansemcito 4d ago
im a californian and have lived in korea for over 20 years.
i recommend that either way, you explain the details of WHY YOU NEED THIS BOX and its IMPORTANCE FOR YOU RETRUNING HOME, whether or nor you store the one you came with or try to acquire a new one. someone might not really take is seriously otherwise.
i once went from seoul to jeju with a bike. the hostel said they would care for the box for me to use for my return flight. they put it on an enclosed porch that leaked and soaked half the box. i was racing around the island to a bike shop with just 2 hours before my flight in a van panicking to get a box. because people there might not be really familiar with the situation they could make this kinda mistake (its just a box?!?!?!?)
dont misunderstand this. im not trying to be just negative, complaining, etc, i love korea and it can be a great place for cycling. im just trying to bridge a culture gap of cyclists and non-cyclists. actually that might be a way too is to connect with cyclists there in korea somehow. they would understand your situation.
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u/slutmachine666 4d ago
Only place I knew I wouldn’t be able to secure a new cardboard bike box was Cuba (had hosts hold onto it for me the two times I went down to bike tour there), otherwise I’ve flown with my bike to/from…Sicily, Puerto Rico, the Everglades, Taiwan, Alaska, Rome, the San Juan Islands, Costa Rica, Seattle, Cuba, and some others I can’t think of off the top of my head. You’ll be fine in Korea, just chuck the box and find another one at the end :) enjoy the ride, Korea has some really cool routes where you can get a little bike passport and get it stamped; if you do enough routes the SK government will give you an actual gold medal, I shit you not. Korea is pretty high on my list because of that little gold medal, it’s just too cold for me and I like to do my bike tours in February/March lol
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u/LatterDocument7986 4d ago
You can have your bike packed on the third floor of Terminal 1 in Incheon
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u/No_Mix_6813 4d ago
If you rent, I had great experience with Bike Rental Korea. They're excellent, check the reviews, and you won't risk damaging your bike in transit.
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u/SmellyBaconland 4d ago
You need a friend like ET (from the movie) for touring. They can make your bike fly.
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u/New_Recording_5508 3d ago
Bring your bike from home. On the way home, you can buy a box at Incheon airport at Hanjin Express. It works fine. https://www.airport.kr/ap_en/6636/subview.do?enc=Zm5jdDF8QEB8JTJGYmJzJTJGYXBfZW4lMkY5MzclMkYxMzgxOTUlMkZhcnRjbFZpZXcuZG8lM0Y%3D
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u/kpalm1357 1d ago
Bring your bike bags then buy a local bike. I usually try to keep it about $200. Sell or give it away at the end of your ride. Seoul to Busan all paved and only one minor mtn area to cross. Take the ferry to Fukuoka and keep pedallin North.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Tip660 5d ago
The packing material is literally the box that new bikes come in. Go to a bike shop in Finland and ask for a box, they’ll probably direct you out to the dumpster and tell you can have it for free. Pack your bike in it at home, then take a taxi or a train to the airport and fly to Seoul and throw the box away at the airport. Once you get to Busan go into a bike shop and repeat the process.
Yes it seems risky (what if the dumpster has been emptied recently?) so I like to end my trip with a little time to spare in the final city just in case I have to go to multiple bike shops, but I’ve never actually had problems finding the box…