Taking a bike to Europe

[rebeccmeister]

So, I am headed to Amsterdam and then Paris in August, and need to take my bike with me. It's a road bike with a carbon fork and carbon seat-stays. I'm a little nervous about the disposable parts, so I am wondering:

Any recommendations on hard-sided bike cases? Or useful learning experiences with them?

And, do you have experience with schlepping bikes around by train in Europe? We're flying in to Amsterdam and would have to get the bikes from there to Paris.

Thanks, bikepirates, keep riding and being awesome!