Your bike flies assembled to Kona

The company known for transporting bikes to races in trucks is introducing a new twist: They'll fly your bike. In fact, Tri Bike Transport has done this before, and to races in Hawaii, but never to the Ironman World Championship in Kona.

The service is available to those entered in the race, and also to those who're not racing, but who are going over with bikes for Ironman business or pleasure.

The rate for your bike's round trip from the mainland to Kona is $340 (from Oahu it's $160). As with the regular Tri Bike Transport service, you drop your bike off at TBT's partner bike stores.

You'll leave your bike fully assembled at the shop, and your partner shop's drop off deadlines will be between September 26, 27 or 28, depending on the shop. TBT says drop off dates will be firmed up within the week, and will be accessible via the Logistics section of its site.

The bikes will be transported assembled, just as they are for events on the mainland. Bikes will be picked up by trucks, taken to airport locations around the country. Bikes will then be loaded into large airfreight containers, equipped with TBT's bike racks, just like they are when shipped by truck. The bikes are then shipped to Big Island. On site pick up in Kona will start Tuesday before the race, on the 5th of October.

Helping to offset the cost are discounts on airfare for those who'll fly United Airlines to Kona. Upon booking bike transport for the Ironman using TBT customers will receive a discount code. Depending on fare base, the discounts are 5-15% of airfare. Booking online grants the largest discount.