Young cyclists could be prevented from competing overseas because of the 'prohibitive' cost of transporting their equipment.

Airline charges, which obviously apply to young and old alike, can run as high as $100 each way and Bermuda's national cycling coach Greg Hopkins says some parents simply cannot afford to pay.

Hopkins gave one example of a parent whose four children were taking part in an event in Canada and he was landed with an extra $800 bill on top of the cost of tickets.

Hopkins said the charges had more than doubled from what they used to be a few years ago and he feared it could hit the development of young competitors if they were unable to experience overseas competitions.

"Airlines are charging extortionate amounts now to transport bikes on their planes," said Hopkins. "17 kids recently went to Buffalo and based on the new amounts we are being quoted of $100 each way it would have cost an extra $3,600 just to take their bikes.

"They used to be in the region of $30 to $40, which was a lot of money anyway but was more manageable. But now it's making it restrictive for our athletes to travel overseas with their bikes."

Hopkins questioned why cycle boxes were treated in the same way as excess baggage, when much of the time that was all people took away with them.

"It's really ridiculous when you consider what we do when we go away simply to compete. You see people going away with all kinds of baggage and stuff, but we limit our riders to their bike box and one bag," he said.

"In a lot of cases what they do is just take a carry on bag because they put a lot of their stuff into the bike box itself.

"When you are looking at $100 each away for a bike box that's adding $200 to what are already high airline ticket costs."

Hopkins said the charges could also hit the Island's premier cycling event, the CD and P Grand Prix, which takes place later this month.

"We will have approximately 100 cyclists coming in from overseas to compete in the Grand Prix and in a lot of the cases that is an additional cost to our organisation (Bermuda Bicycle Association) because we basically cover that sort of thing," he said.

"We have approached the airlines about it and they say their hands are tied. We have appealed to them in the past, particularly with regard to our juniors, and they just basically say there is nothing they can do.

"I don't think they are singling out Bermuda at all, I think it's pretty much across the board but it's definitely going to have an effect."