bike box blag

ginger1

I'm flying over to france in the summer and couldnt bare to go without my bike. Long shot I know, but I dont suppose there's someone in the Oxford area who would be willing to lend/hire me theirs for a couple of weeks in August?

cheers

disgruntledgoat

Go to your LBS and get a cardboard one. Not ideal but if its only for 2 flights will be fine and is FREE!

ginger1

That was going to be my last resort! Have you done it before?
Still dubious of trusting baggage handlers with my bike only wrapped up in cardboard....

Mister W

TBH they'll take more care if the box looks a bit fragile. Hard boxes will get thrown about with the other luggage but a cardboard box will be handled more gently.

richa

You could hire a hard box from a local LBS. About £25-50/wk.

fungus_the_muffin_man

Friends of mine have took their bikes to Spain, France, Switzerland, USA, Nepal packed up only in cardboard boxes and have never had problems.

disgruntledgoat

ginger1 wrote:

That was going to be my last resort! Have you done it before?
Still dubious of trusting baggage handlers with my bike only wrapped up in cardboard....

When I was young and couldn't afford a bike bag/box i did it every year when I went abroad to race. As long as you bubble wrap/ pipe lag your bike, take the mech and bars off and aren't travelling too far without a trolley/car it's absolutely fine.

Wooliferkins

Ginger,
I've got a bike bag you can borrow. It's got a metal frame in it so the bike is secured by the wheel skewers. Got my tourer around the world on commercial and military transports just fine. I'll need to check it as it's been in the attic a couple of years but otherwise feel free.

ginger1

thanks to all for advice.
Wooliferkins, very kind offer. Thanks. If you get a chance to have a look in the loft, please let me know. Where do you live?

disgruntledgoat, If i use a cardboard box do I carry the wheels seperately, or just take them off the bike and pack them in the box?

fungus_the_muffin_man

My friends packed everything in the same box. They've done it with both MTB's and roades.

disgruntledgoat

ginger1 wrote:

thanks to all for advice.
Wooliferkins, very kind offer. Thanks. If you get a chance to have a look in the loft, please let me know. Where do you live?

disgruntledgoat, If i use a cardboard box do I carry the wheels seperately, or just take them off the bike and pack them in the box?

I always just stuffed mine in campy wheel bags with the skewers removed, one each side of the frame.

fast as fupp

how much is your bike worth?

i take it more than the cost of a decent hard case?

one of my mates is a baggage handler and after some of the stories hes told me about how luggage is mis-handled i wouldnt send my bike on a plane in anything less than a hard case

Wooliferkins

ginger1 wrote:

thanks to all for advice.
Wooliferkins, very kind offer. Thanks. If you get a chance to have a look in the loft, please let me know. Where do you live?

disgruntledgoat, If i use a cardboard box do I carry the wheels seperately, or just take them off the bike and pack them in the box?

I'm in Wantage, I'll have a look tonight.

Wooliferkins

Bag just fine. Not sure about the Japanese soldier who wanted to know if the war was over, but it's a while since I've been in the attic. Give me a call at work if you want to use it. Followe the link below