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London to Istanbul - need bikes. London to Istanbul - need bikes.
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Europe Topics specific to Western and Eastern Europe, from UK to the Russian border, and south-east to Turkey.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 1 May 2022
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Cool London to Istanbul - need bikes.
Hi all - My eldest son is getting married in London this August. After the event he, my youngest son and I are thinking of riding to Istanbul... where the groom's bride and Mum will meet us via air (after his honeymoon of course. else that would be wierd)... We are from Australia. I'd need to rent (or borrow) three bikes. Even worse, it would be one way. Has anyone every heard of an airbnb service for bikes? Sort of like a bike swap service like a house swap? I'd be happy to lend my bike out in Aus... Even as I write this I am realising how impossible or super expensive this would be. Just wondering if anyone has a any brilliant ideas? Thanks.
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  #2  
Old 2 May 2022
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Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Tartu, Estonia
Posts: 1,103
One problem with the swap idea is that you would be crossing two significant borders - one from the UK into the EU, and then out of the EU into Turkey.

It's one thing to ride around the EU/EEA/Schengen on a bike that's been lent to you, you could just have a handwritten note from the owner - or nothing at all, tbh I've never had anyone check my bike papers within the EEA, including the police - and another to cross a border on a bike you don't own. You'd have to, at a minimum, have a notarized authorization, or even better - be put onto the bike's registration as an authorized user (not sure what the UK equivalent is).

All things considered, it would be much easier to just buy the bikes outright in the UK, ride them into Turkey, and sell them there for enough of a discount to be worth paying import tax on.

Alternatively, get an EU-plated bike, and meet a buyer at the Greek or Bulgarian border to hand it off in no-man's land?
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  #3  
Old 2 May 2022
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Thanks! Yes, this all does seem too hard. Will look into the purchase & sale but I suspect a round trip is probably the go. Cheers, D.
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