Bikes on planes?

stumpy paul
stumpy paul Posts: 197
edited August 2009 in Workshop
Is a good quality bike bag (e.g. planet x) adequate for taking a carbon bike on a plane?

I shall be doing this for the first time next month and it's unlikely to be a frequent occurrence so i am reluctant to spend the 2/3 x as much that a hard case would be. Clearly this is false economy if my bike is damaged.

Any experiences / knowledge please?

Comments

  • Gussio
    Gussio Posts: 2,452
    I haven't taken a bike on a plane, but have been looking at doing so. Wouldn't put my carbon bike in the hands of the baggage handlers in anything other than a hard box. dhb do a solid case for around £150.

    If it is a one off, consider hiring a box?
  • chunkytfg
    chunkytfg Posts: 358
    If your that concerned pop into your LBS and ask for one of the cardboard boxes that bikes come in. they have got to be stronger than soft bags
    FCN 7

    FCN 4

    if you use irrational measures to measure me, expect me to behave irrationally to measure up
  • clanton
    clanton Posts: 1,289
    I used a cut down and reinforced carboard box to line the soft but padded bike bag I borrowed and give it more rigidity. Still not as good as a solid case but a cheap compromise.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Hard cases can be counter-productive - they make the bike so heavy that the baggage handlers don't handle them with care - a big heavy case and contents dropped from a great height is going to suffer far more damage than a light, well padded bike bag. I had a rigid bike case, but seeing as it got broken on the first flight, I replaced it with a decent bag. A good compromise is the Polaris semi-rigid case which is made from nylon and EVA foam. Packing properly is just as important as the case it's put in. FWIW I saw about 10 bike boxes unloaded at Toulouse directly from the aircraft hold onto the tarmac, whereas the lighter bike bags were carefully handled onto the conveyor - you chose!
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • easy
    easy Posts: 17
    I have a Sci'con Aerotech Evolution. The case isn't the cheapest and is almost twice the weight of the bike at 12kg, but the whole thing moves around quite easily and doesn't weigh that much.

    I've taken my bike to Switzerland and Australia this year. The case has been brilliant and the bike is fine. I even watched the baggage handlers load it on the plane in Aus and they were surprisingly gentle with it. The case still isn't even scratched.

    There is an Elite hard shell case called the Vaison which seems very tough, but weights 16kg.

    I don't think I'd want to take my carbon fibre bike in anything other than a hard case.
  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    Guys,

    I've used/owned the

    Monoc case (dhb looks the same)
    Sci-Con hard case
    Sci-Con soft case
    Polaris Bike Pod
    Pro Bike Kit soft case

    Of these, the best value is the Polaris IMO. The best case is the Sci-Con hard - absolutely massive.

    Avoid the Monoc /dhb as it cannot fit two wheels inside.

    I wouldn't take a carbon bike in a soft case ... but 99/100 times you'll be ok doing it I'm guessing.
  • tatanab
    tatanab Posts: 1,283
    wildmoustache wrote:
    Avoid the Monoc /dhb as it cannot fit two wheels inside.
    I disagree. The Monoc (yes I think the DHB is the same) is designed to carry wheels inside. In fact the instructions that come with it show this. I will agree it is a tight fit due to all the foam.

    I have carried a full touring bike in one. That was awkward because I had to stow mudguards, carrier etc as well. I loan my box to various club mates each year who never have problems fitting a "road" bike inside complete with wheels.

    I have used a tough unpadded bike bag (ex Sporting Tours - Graham Baxter), a VK box and the Monoc. The bag and the VK needed padding around the frame which the Monoc does not; the VK is larger than the Monoc but a bit fragile around the castors while the Monoc steers very easily.

    If I had a carbon fibre frame I would not trust it to an unpadded bag or cardboard, I think I'd insist on a hard case.
  • stumpy paul
    stumpy paul Posts: 197
    Thanks for the replies - sounds as though a well padded bag is the sensible choice.
  • GF22
    GF22 Posts: 67
    I purchased a DHB case from Wiggle and have never been able to get my bike inside it. I have a 56cm Trek 5.2 Madone and, despite removing the necessary parts (wheels, rear mech, bars and pedals), I cannot manage to get the bike in and the case closed. Is this because I am not packing it properly? I do have oversize bars and my rear wheel is a powertap wheel - could these be peventing it closing?

    Has anyone else experienced the same problems with these cases? I am looking at the Sci-con and Polaris cases but am concerned I might not be able to get the bike in them either.

    If people do think my packing is the problem, can they give me any advice on how to pack properly or any pics/links. I don't want to go spending £400 on a case to discover it is down to my packing.

    Any help would be much appreciated.
  • pdstsp
    pdstsp Posts: 1,264
    I use padded bag and cut down cardboard bike box inside, and I wrap everething in bubble wrap - so far so good!!
  • nickwill
    nickwill Posts: 2,735
    pdstsp wrote:
    I use padded bag and cut down cardboard bike box inside, and I wrap everething in bubble wrap - so far so good!!

    Snap!
    http://lakescyclist.wordpress.com/
  • dhd1965
    dhd1965 Posts: 17
    Hi there

    If your not doing this very often it might be idea to call into your lbs any decent one usually has bike boxes to rent I did this when I went a broad last year

    Hope this helps
  • Steve2020
    Steve2020 Posts: 133
    I have used a bag 3 or 4 times over the past year (taking two bikes at a time). I wrap vulnerable bits (shifters etc) in bubble wrap and has been fine. I got some spacers for the forks and rear dropouts from my lbs. They are really hard to put on though so I often haven't bothered. The best thing would be to have two old hubs for each bike to put in.

    Is it best to put the bike in right way up or upside down?
  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    GF22 wrote:
    I purchased a DHB case from Wiggle and have never been able to get my bike inside it. I have a 56cm Trek 5.2 Madone and, despite removing the necessary parts (wheels, rear mech, bars and pedals), I cannot manage to get the bike in and the case closed. Is this because I am not packing it properly? I do have oversize bars and my rear wheel is a powertap wheel - could these be peventing it closing?

    Has anyone else experienced the same problems with these cases? I am looking at the Sci-con and Polaris cases but am concerned I might not be able to get the bike in them either.

    If people do think my packing is the problem, can they give me any advice on how to pack properly or any pics/links. I don't want to go spending £400 on a case to discover it is down to my packing.

    Any help would be much appreciated.

    I can 100% guarantee you will be able to fit that in the sci-con. rear mech left on.

    Almost certain you'll get in in the Polaris as well. I can fit my 55cm Look in with the rear mech on.

    If I were you, I'd go for the Polaris and see if it works.
  • wildmoustache
    wildmoustache Posts: 4,010
    tatanab wrote:
    wildmoustache wrote:
    Avoid the Monoc /dhb as it cannot fit two wheels inside.
    I disagree. The Monoc (yes I think the DHB is the same) is designed to carry wheels inside. In fact the instructions that come with it show this. I will agree it is a tight fit due to all the foam.

    I have carried a full touring bike in one. That was awkward because I had to stow mudguards, carrier etc as well. I loan my box to various club mates each year who never have problems fitting a "road" bike inside complete with wheels.

    I have used a tough unpadded bike bag (ex Sporting Tours - Graham Baxter), a VK box and the Monoc. The bag and the VK needed padding around the frame which the Monoc does not; the VK is larger than the Monoc but a bit fragile around the castors while the Monoc steers very easily.

    If I had a carbon fibre frame I would not trust it to an unpadded bag or cardboard, I think I'd insist on a hard case.

    tatanab, how do you manage it??? Do you remove the rear mech? Are both wheels on top of the frame or one underneath or what?

    I met two other guys with this case at a race in the summar and neither of them had ever been able to fit both hoops in either. :cry:
  • pete99
    pete99 Posts: 43
    My 0.02p worth, if it's not too late.

    I second the arguments that non-rigid bags are better. I've flown around a dozen times with my bike in the most basic, non-padded canvas bag (a Ground Effect Bodybag, in case you were wondering) plastered in 'Fragile' stickers and thus far have not had even a scratch on the frame. I've also seen rigid bike boxes hurled around by baggage handlers.

    Another advantage -- you can carry the damn thing on your shoulder if, say, you have to leave the wheely case-friendly environment of the airport and get a train or a bus.

    I add some extra (but light) protection to my bag by wedging corrugated plastic roof sheet sections on either side between the bike and the bag edge. Costs about 5 quid from a DIY shop, weighs nothing and gives semi-rigid protection, while not letting the baggage handlers into the secret. I then stuff bundles of bike clothes under the chainset and forks in case it does get dropped.
  • Roark
    Roark Posts: 2
    Disaster!

    I was unpacking my bike from a dhb Elster bike box (the one that sells in Wiggle for £160) and I broke one of the latches! The damn plasticky thing!

    I've contacted Wiggle to check whether they sell them (they seem to be screwed to the box and easily changed), but I am not too sure they'll even reply to my email...

    Damn, so unlucky!!!

    Any help/feedback, please? :s

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