Bicycle on Planes & Trains

roadrush
roadrush Posts: 4
edited February 2009 in Workshop
I'm heading over to London from Northern Ireland on Tuesday 10 March for a bike fitting at Bespoke Cycling for Retul Fit.

I can get cheap flights with Easyjet & Ryanair which both say they accept bikes however many horror stories about both on the web so is there any particular preference for either of these. I will be using a chain reaction cycles bike bag (support local enterprise :lol: )

Also I have read that Ryanair makes you sign a waiver absolving them of any liability should they wreck your bike. I can't find any info about Easyjet and this. If my bike is damaged then I presume that means that is tough luck and I am responsible for paying for any damage. Does anyone insure against this risk?

Once I get to Stansted I then need to get to central London and I was planning on traveling to Liverpool Street Station on the Stansted Express which according to this link I should be able to do with no problems:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/system/ga ... yTrain.pdf (second last listed train company).

however I have seen it commented in many threads that Stansted doesn't accept bikes at all so now I am confused. I can't find any info on whether there are any restrictions on the time that I can use the services carrying a bike (assuming I can) as I will be traveling at rush hour ie around 8am as my appointment is at 10am I don't have a lot of time for mucking around with trying my luck on later trains.

I then need to get from Liverpool Street Station to Hoxton Square which according to Google Maps (walking - nifty) it is 0.9 miles away so not that far as long as it is raining heavily so should be able to do that on foot.

Any advice on any of this including packing instructions if there's anything special I can do to better ensure my bike doesn't get trashed.

Comments

  • Several years ago I flew a bike, recumbent trike and BOB YAK trailer from Stansted to Biarritz via RyanAir, and had a fantastic experience with them. I was very dubious of their then '£15 sir' cost claim for each of the bikes, as I assumed they just didn't get me when I tried to describe a recumbent trike. I ended up, despite their protests of it being unnecessary, faxing a photo and size/weight details of the trike and trailer. They still only charged me the same £15 fee.

    Packing the bike and trike down was straightforward (assuming you're happy with disassembling your bike in general) - though in retrospect if I did it again I'd dismantle the bike as soon as I arrived at the airport (I rode it there so doing it earlier wasn't an option); what actually happened was I checked in expecting to have an hour or so spare in which to take it apart, but had to do it on the spot like some crazed Generation Game contestant. I took a lot of bubble wrap and plumber's foam pipe lagging with me, but really didn't go mental with protection.

    The only moment of worry was as I watched the bikes disappear down the Servisair underground conveyor, but I had no need to worry; they top loaded them, and an hour and a half later we all arrived safely and undamaged in Biarritz.

    As for the waiver, I don't see any point in worrying unnecessarily about that, it's stricly legal - after all, you sign a similar thing in hospitals in case they kill you during an op but we don't worry about that?

    Things might have changed in the years since I did it, but I can recommend RyanAir based on my experience.
    Litespeed Tuscany, Hope/Open Pro, Ultegra, pulling an Extrawheel trailer, often as not.

    FCR 4 (I think?)
    Twitter: @jimjmcdonnell
  • andyrr
    andyrr Posts: 1,824
    Have used Ryanair and Easyjet. All airlines I think have a disclaimer for carrying outsize baggage that you have to sign but so far I haven't had any major damage :
    couple of times I've had wheels slightly buckled but both were repairable.

    Had a bike jusst about go missing at Luton 18 months back - I think it was about to head back to a baggage handlers shed but it eventually magically turned up.

    You could use a bag with additional packaging to improve the protection - I've used polystyrene sheets that only last a couple of journeys but it does help.
  • Mister W
    Mister W Posts: 791
    Make sure it's insured, don't sign a disclaimer and don't fly with Ryanair.............. the last one is just general advice, not specific to carrying bicycles.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Never had a problem - but dont just bung it in a bike bag and hope for the best. It will get thrown around.

    You need to lag as much of the frame as you can - and this takes time, lots of foam, and lots of tape. Put spacers on the rear drop outs in case other baggage gets put on top of the bike.
    Take the rear mech off, and spindles out of wheels.

    I'm not sure I follow you though - are you just collecting a bike from the shop ? In which case I'd pay the extra to have it delivered. Or are you taking your own bike there to be used in frame fitting ?

    Basically travelling with a bike is a ball ache and rush hour on the tube ? Forget about it.
  • careful
    careful Posts: 720
    Easyjet dont ask you to sign a disclaimer (dont know about Ryanair). Also, there is some cover for any damage (examine the bike before you leave the airport). I dont know how well the scheme works so I would have my own insurance.
    http://www.easyjet.com/EN/Book/regulations.html#baggage
    I use a bike box but you can easily get into excess weight fees.

    I know people who have frequently used the CTC polythene bike bags (which offer no protection) keeping the wheels on despite Easyjet rules. Amazingly the bikes have suffered no damage. The theory is that they are obviously fragile and tend to be handled more carefully. I've never had the courage to do it though!!
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    careful wrote:
    Easyjet dont ask you to sign a disclaimer (dont know about Ryanair). Also, there is some cover for any damage (examine the bike before you leave the airport). I dont know how well the scheme works so I would have my own insurance.
    http://www.easyjet.com/EN/Book/regulations.html#baggage
    I use a bike box but you can easily get into excess weight fees./quote]

    If you are paying the fee (£25 each way) you are entitled to 32kg max with sporting goods eg bikes PLUS your cabin size baggage plus your hold bag (but that's a max of 20kg and you might be charged).
    M.Rushton
  • Thanks everyone. It was much as I thought a real tussle between those that have had good and bad experiences and the service you get is very personal so no surprise there really but thought I'd ask anyway.

    In the end I've gone for Easyjet because the were £25 cheaper - £54 itcost me total return and £33 of that was bike charges so can't really complain about the cost.

    It seems the bike on Stansted Express will not be a problem as long as it is in the bike bag and it will of course as I have to do that anyway to get on the plane.

    I must admit Easyjet's baggage regs are totally confusing. It says you can carry 32kg free (20kg baggage allowance and 32kg in total with sporting equipment which you have paid for) however as you have to pay for the first 20kg of hold luggage @ £6 each direction then I don't so he they can claim its free. I didn't take the hold luggage as I will not need it as I will only be bringing me, my bike and my cycle clothes which can in my hand luggage. So now I'm confused as does that mean that my filled bike bag can only weigh 12kg or do I still get the 32kg limit (ie 32kg total with sporting equipment less the 20kg hold luggage which you have to buy).
  • markos1963
    markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    I am a train driver for NX but i don't drive on the Stanstaed route. As far as I know you won't have any problems as long as you aren't travelling during the peak rush hour. T he priority for carrying on the train is disabled first, then prams, then bikes. If your bike is in a bike bag then it should be classed as luggage not as a bike, the rule usually applies to bikes wheeled onto the train.
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    Your bike should weigh a max of 32kg and is a seperate item from your hold case (max.20kg). It's down to reading the small print (take a copy). I've flown Ejet and Ryanair and my bikecase is @23kg plus hold bag (14kg). The bike is seperate hence the charge.
    M.Rushton
  • BEWARE :evil:

    Easyjet have changed their pricing for baggage since the summer. Check out the website, and note that if you buy bike transport, it does not raise your overall baggage allowance for hold baggage. You can now buy extra allowance at £6 a kilo.

    Was going to use them to go to Greece again this year with the bike, but will be flying BA instead as their terms are much more reasonable.

    Forget Ryanair - they are cheap for a reason.
    "There are holes in the sky,
    Where the rain gets in.
    But they're ever so small
    That's why rain is thin. " Spike Milligan
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    i used Ejet in Jan 2009, 2 x bikes, 1 x hold case, 1 x cabin bag. didn't have any problems. Never had a problem with Ryanair.
    M.Rushton
  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    Yeah I'm a bit worried about the weight limit being 32Kg (inc. all hold baggage) for EasyJet. Bike box + bike is going to be around 23Kg, other suitcase is a few Kg so doesn't leave me much for clothes etc :p Someone I know mentioned they don't weigh the bike box at the same place as the hold baggage though so have no way of checking both combined are less than 32Kg - is that true? Also EasyJet state only a bike should be in the bike box whereas I was planning to pad it out with some clothes and maybe a track pump - do they check and do they get you to remove stuff if there is extra stuff in the bike box (assuming it's less than 32Kg)?
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    No, they do weigh them at check-in as they attach a label saying what the bike case weighs. AllI can go on is the flights I've took with them My bike, case plus stuff in case comes to @23kg. My partners bike travels in a Planet X bag which is less than half the weight of myy scicon so she piles stuff into her bag. My scicon takes my shoes,helmet, a frame pump, saddlebag, cycle kit (wrap these well to avoid grease). we then take a hold bag (last trip - 14kg) and a carry-on case. Our weight there is probably 23+20+14 - 54kg so we are under weight. for 2 x people. Put stuff in your case and use a small carry-on case (I think you are allowed 10kg). BA take this stuff for free but it still depends on flight,plane capacity etc.
    M.Rushton
  • ascurrell
    ascurrell Posts: 1,739
    Maybe i'm reading it wrong but your 32kg allowance is definitely on top of your regular baggage allowance. You can take an option with Ryanair just to check hand luggage.

    I flew from Stansted to Valencia with Ryanair in Oct and had no problems what so ever.

    The weigh in for the bike / large items is separate at Stansted so suggest every airport could be different.

    Pipe lagging etc and bubble wrap all good idea i also sourced a cardboard bike box [halfords, glad to give them away] and placed it within the bike bag,
    hope this helps, scurry
  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    For EasyJet the 32Kg is for all hold luggage combined, basically you get 20Kg as standard and with the sports equipment option that rises to 32Kg (for a lot cheaper than 12Kg excess baggage would be). You can go as high as 50Kg but you it would probably be cheaper to buy a bike at your destination :p
  • Their website is confusing because it starts out by suggesting that the sports equipment is on top of the hold luggage limit but then goes on to say that the total weight - including hold luggage can only be 32kg.

    My situation is that I have bought no hold luggage as I will not be carrying any bags so does that mean I actually a) have to pay excess for the total weight of my bike and bag b) pay excess for anything over 12kg (20kg which I haven't paid for from the 32kg max they allow with sports equipment) c) I still get 32kg limit because I have the sports equipment limit. Nowhere does it tell you what limits you have if you don't purchase the hold baggage. So now very confused.

    I've seen others say they have been forced to buy bike boxes from them even though they had their bikes in their bike bags/boxes.

    This could all get very expensive.
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    Payment of the additional fee increases your checked-in hold baggage allowance (including additional item) to a maximum weight of 32kg.

    Where your total checked-in hold baggage weighs more than 32kgs, normal excess baggage charges as set out in our carrier’s regulations shall apply in addition to the above fee.

    The devil is in the details.

    if you read it carefully, the policy is that the max weight you can take is 50kg, that's the max. even tho' you can pay. Your normal hold bag weight is 20kg but if you pay for a bike that weight rises to 32kg (2nd para above - 'total checked-in hold baggage'). rise above that and you (may) have to pay excess.

    So if your bike/case weighs 25kg you still have 7kg (plus your carry-on bag say 7kg in the case of Ryanair to play with). 7kg is about 18 pounds, that's a lot of clothes etc since you have your cycling kit in your bike bag.
    Ryanair may be slightly different. The thing is do you fly 'budget'airlines that may e cheaper or eg BA where the carriage is 'free'.
    Another alternative is to courier your bike eg FedEx (I know someone who did this with his luggage when he went to NY). You contact FedEx, they come to your location, collect the item,give you a tracking number and take the bag/case etc to your destination (the guy I know saw his bag when he got into his hotel room in NY).In this case, your allowance rises to 40+kg - drawback is that the cost is @£250 return to Europe but you aren't waiting for your bike in airports - the courier collects/delivers to the locations you have selected. If you have a £3k+ bike that carriage cost is only <10% of the cost of the bike
    M.Rushton
  • don key
    don key Posts: 494
    markos1963 wrote:
    I am a train driver for NX but i don't drive on the Stanstaed route. As far as I know you won't have any problems as long as you aren't travelling during the peak rush hour. T he priority for carrying on the train is disabled first, then prams, then bikes. If your bike is in a bike bag then it should be classed as luggage not as a bike, the rule usually applies to bikes wheeled onto the train.

    I have been caught on the train with a bare bike and got away with it as the train was empty and it was late, the rule I now know of is that unboxed/bagged bikes are a no go.

    I strongly believe that there should be no restrictions on bikes any where any time as they are nice to every one, the bikes, not the......................
  • markos1963
    markos1963 Posts: 3,724
    don key wrote:
    markos1963 wrote:
    I am a train driver for NX but i don't drive on the Stanstaed route. As far as I know you won't have any problems as long as you aren't travelling during the peak rush hour. T he priority for carrying on the train is disabled first, then prams, then bikes. If your bike is in a bike bag then it should be classed as luggage not as a bike, the rule usually applies to bikes wheeled onto the train.

    I have been caught on the train with a bare bike and got away with it as the train was empty and it was late, the rule I now know of is that unboxed/bagged bikes are a no go.

    I strongly believe that there should be no restrictions on bikes any where any time as they are nice to every one, the bikes, not the......................

    Each train company has its own interpretation of the Conditions Of Carriage regulations. For instance Southern openly flout the rules and ban bikes on trains whilst allowing surfboards which aren't allowed. In theory all trains should have provision for bikes with the exception of disabled provision being priority. I totally agree with you that we should have access to all services and that there should be consistancy of policy, but there we go, I didn't vote for privatisation of BR, did you?
  • craker
    craker Posts: 1,739
    Re trains and bikes, I believe the thing to do is claim it's not a bike but a gift. Slap a nice ribbon on, hey presto they can't refuse to carry you and your 'gift'.

    Don't quote me on this. I can find no evidence whatsoever to back-up my claim but I reckon I read it once :roll: