Bike in a Box - Where to store the box in Kochi

Ixion

Hello all

I'm in the early stages of planning a cycling trip in Kerala. It's all at an early stage so far - the rough idea so far is:

- fly to mumbai
- connecting flight to Kochi
- cycle up in a loop towards Munnar and back down to Kochi over around two weeks
- meet better half in Kochi; spend second half of holidays without bicycle and with better half.

I've got a lot of questions about potential route, places to stay or stay away from, what to see, and good roads which are hard to find. I'll come back to those in a separate post.

I'm bringing my bike from the UK - so will be boxing that up nice and securely and leaving it to the tender mercies of British Airways and Kingfisher respectively.

So here's the first question I'd really like some help with...

I should arrive in Kochi with a dismantled bike in a hard bike box. I want to set the bike up at the airport, and ideally I want to leave the bike box in left luggage for two weeks.

Then, when I get BACK to Kochi airport after two weeks, dismantle bike, put it in Bike Box, put box back in left luggage and leave it there for another two weeks so I am not lugging it round the backwaters for the second half of the holiday.

How does this sound to people? Is there an easier way to do it?
What's the left luggage like at Kochi airport - is it able to take a largeish Bike Box? Can I get in to the airport (easily) without a boarding pass as last time I tried this took ages of pleading to get past the machine gun emplacement.

My preference I think would be to store the box at the Airport - and then head out towards Thattekad/Cardamon Hills. The roads look quieter that way.

Or should I leave the bike boxed up, find a cab to take me in to Kochi town and find somewhere to store it there. I guess I'd struggle to find a hotel to store it for a couple of weeks (especially as I'd only be staying there for a night or two at most) but can anyone suggest a friendly and trustworthy store or bike shop that might put the case aside for me - in return for reasonable storage fee?

What is the road like from the Airport in to KOchi - looks like a busy bit of dual carriageway. If you were doing this jouney would you get the bike in a car, or is there some quieter road to do it on.

All contributions and advice eagerly received.

thanks


Ixion

ps before anyone worries too much, I have been to India and Sri Lanka several times now, and cycled a fair bit in Europe and once in Cuba. So I am not a novice cyclist BUT it will be first time cycling in India; male, 40 something, cycling solo. So all proportionate words of warning will be heeded and I know there are serious road hazards to take on board/

pps will post itinerary soon and if anyone has suggestions on this please let me know.

thanks

dillichaat

I really can't help with storage at Kochi airport, except to say that you can't get in the airport building proper without a boarding pass or proof of reservation. It's also a very small airport and a one-hour cab ride from Kochi town over a quite busy road. To be honest, I didn't notice left luggage facilities at the airport, but then again, I didn't look for them either. Keeping this in mind, i'd leave the box with a local hotel, if you pay them a small fee I think they'll be happy to do this.

Wear head protection, carry a local mobile phone so you can can contact someone in case of problems and burn some incense every morning to the god who protects bikers.

Ixion

Thanks Dillichaat;

Guess I'll work out my cycling route and find a hotel which will do for the start and end where I can assemble and dismantle bike and hopefully store it.

If anyone can suggest suitable hotels - close enough to the airport, friendly enough to store a box and providing a good jump off point for a cycling tour then I am all ears.

Dillichaat - is it the same god for cyclists and motorbikes and who in particular should I burn the incense too?

Thanks for the words of wisdom. will buy a helmet.

ixion