My friend Ann takes her bike wherever she goes, even if the trip isn't about biking - like her Christmas trip to Arizona to visit her parents. We discussed the advantages and compared some expenses.

In the end, I went to do a little research to find out what would be the best way to go when traveling by airplane - ship your bike in the cargo hold of the plane, ship it ahead of time by UPS, or rent a bike when you arrive at your destination.

Renting was the clear loser among the three options. For one thing, it's not your bike, so it is likely to be inferior along with not fitting you perfectly like your own bike does. Also, it's expensive. You can rent a clunker for $45 USD a day if you're in an area where bike rental is even possible.

If you want a decent bike, though, you're going to pay at least $65. So, if you rent and ride once or twice while you're there, you'll have almost broken even with the cost of shipping your bike. If you ride more than a couple times, you're money ahead, once you've invested in some kind of shipping carton.

Shipping your bike in the airplane's cargo hold is a good option, and might be the best choice depending on the circumstances. The advantages of carrying it with you on the plane include the fact that you will have it with you at all times. You won't be without your bike for the 2 to 6 days it takes when shipping by UPS. Also, you can use a soft bag, which is not recommended for shipping by a delivery service.

Depending on what kind of packaging you use for the shipment, disassembly of your bike is minimal. You can get by with as little as taking off the handlebar and pedals. The cost is around $40 each way.

The option I like best is shipping via delivery service. Depending on the from-to locations, the cost is usually less than carrying the bike on the plane. For example, you can ship a bike from Miami to Chicago for around $30. The biggest benefit here is the minimized hassle factor. There is no waiting in long lines in the airport baggage claim area, no packing it into the rental car. The bike is delivered to your door.

You have a tracking number, so you can keep informed about the when and where of your bike's current position while it's en route. A good shipping carton is necessary, of course, but for people who travel often it's worth the investment.

Here is the run down of options for shipping cartons. You can get a hard-sided bike suitcase for around $350 USD, and it will last forever. For these, you have to take off both of the wheels as well as handlebars, seat, and pedals to fit the bike into the case.

For around $200, you can get a waterproof bike box that is very durable and has the advantage of being collapsible when not in use. I don't recommend the plain cardboard rectangular boxes because they are expensive, around $150, and only last for a handful of trips. Both the waterproof and cardboard rectangular box come with tie-downs, straps, and foam chocks. You do have to do some disassembly of the bike, removing the pedals and handlebar.

There's one more shipping set-up that is a little less expensive. For about $80, you can get a triangular cardboard shipping carton. You don't have to do any disassembly, not even the bars because of the triangular shape. Just use the quick release for the front wheel and seat, and hold them in place with the tie downs that are provided.

For details about carrying cases and shipping, go on-line and enter the term 'bike shipping' in any search engine. You'll be pleased to find that traveling with your own bike is affordable and fairly hassle-free. If you haven't taken your bike with you on trips already, I assure you that it's worth it.

Daniel Lebarge, journalist and cyclist, is a contributing writer for First Bicycle , offering valuable free information about cycling and bicycles. Articles by Daniel are also found at All Boots and Snowboard Max.