Flying With Carbon Bike in a Soft Bike Bag
redjeepǃ
Posts: 531
Well would you ?
I'm looking to do a European trip this Autumn, and the organisers are saying that they don't have any facilities to store hard cases on the ride (understandably), but this will mean trusting my carbon framed bike to a soft case or a cardboard box (which they can store). The ride is an A to B type ride, so I can't store it near the start.
Any experience of flying with bike in a soft case ? Am I overly worried ?
I'm looking to do a European trip this Autumn, and the organisers are saying that they don't have any facilities to store hard cases on the ride (understandably), but this will mean trusting my carbon framed bike to a soft case or a cardboard box (which they can store). The ride is an A to B type ride, so I can't store it near the start.
Any experience of flying with bike in a soft case ? Am I overly worried ?
0
Comments
-
Flown Ryanair to Venice for Maratona with bike in soft padded Planet X bag. No problems.0
-
Dozens of times. Not a problem0
-
Thanks guys.
Reckon I may be able to sleep now. Off to buy the Planet X bag.0 -
No.0
-
As with all these things, it just takes that one instance for something to go wrong. Go hard"er" case, every time IMO.Follow me on Twitter - http://twitter.com/scalesjason - All posts are strictly my personal view.0
-
Do you guys use a spare hub or some kind of spacer in the forks and rear stays to stop them getting crushed?
Im not making my colnago on holiday this year but was considering it. I would use a hard case tho more than likely, but would still want to secure the forks and stays.My winter bike is exactly the same as my summer bike,,, but dirty...0 -
Fudgey wrote:Do you guys use a spare hub or some kind of spacer in the forks and rear stays to stop them getting crushed?
Im not making my colnago on holiday this year but was considering it. I would use a hard case tho more than likely, but would still want to secure the forks and stays.
Go to a bike shop and ask for the 'spacers/supports' that are used when new bikes are shipped to them. They normally just throw them away when they put the wheels on.0 -
Brakeless wrote:Fudgey wrote:Do you guys use a spare hub or some kind of spacer in the forks and rear stays to stop them getting crushed?
Im not making my colnago on holiday this year but was considering it. I would use a hard case tho more than likely, but would still want to secure the forks and stays.
Go to a bike shop and ask for the 'spacers/supports' that are used when new bikes are shipped to them. They normally just throw them away when they put the wheels on.
Ah good idea, my bike was assembled when i collected it, didnt consider asking for any..
My winter bike is exactly the same as my summer bike,,, but dirty...0 -
Just back from France with 4 bikes in 2 hard cases and 2 soft. One derailleur somewhat mangled on the way out - in the soft case.
For me, hard case every time. I love my bike. Airport baggage handlers may not feel the same way.0 -
My problem is though that I can't take a hard case as the tour company can't store it and I'll be flying back from a different airport to where I started, so it's either a soft case or a cardboard box (or a combination of the two) or else I can't go. I was wondering what people's experience was.
It's not really a discussion about which is better as I'd say that the hard case beats the soft case every time. However interestingly enough, this isn't reflected if I use Google as plenty of people report damage to their hard cases.0 -
Many years back, before bike cases / bags, a friend and myself flew to Colorado and back with our bikes in big cardboard boxes. We packed them really well with foam around the tubes and forks and hoped for the best.
Upon arrival back in Detroit we found our boxes laying down on the floor of the oversize baggage claim area. This would have been fine except for the 4 or 5 year old kid who was using the boxes as his personal trampoline(parents with their backs to him awaiting their luggage).
After a few choice words to all concerned we inspected the bikes and found no damage.
We laugh about this now but it didn't seem to have much humor at the time.0 -
No case then they know it's valuable.0
-
Whichever you pick, you'll still be pissed when the TSA break it open and knacker the zips/locks. (If you go to the states that is). I'd be more worried of it going missing, permanently, as you're not insured during that part of the flight. So to get a mangled bike back is better than no bike.0
-
I've used a soft bike bag in the past. Was different brand by same as Planet X. Would not recommend.
I've had damaged wheels on several occasions and the bb on my caad10 had to be refitted once (it's bb30 though, which are as tough as egg shells).
I have a hard case now, and would never transport a valuable/race bike without one.0 -
There are soft cases and soft cases.
Ive traveled often with a "rose" soft case which has a wood & metal base to which the bb and front QR fixes. I then put most of a cut down bike cardboard box INSIDE the softcase (wide bags will fit one) after having bubble wrapped rd inside the rear stays and the crankset, and putting plumbers lagging on the tubes). Last time I went to the pyrenees my bike arrived with a bootprint on the softcase but was undamaged inside.
Mind you, we had the Scottish cycling team staying at my hotel this March and the coach arrived with his bike in a Tescos plastic bag, so less may be better!Fitter....healthier....more productive.....0 -
I use a bag and had no issues.
I am careful though and wrap the tubes in pipe insulation foam, use fork spacers (free from a local bike shop). The wheels go in wheel bags and I take the rear mech off.
I've read that baggage handlers prefer bikes in bags as they're easier to get a hold of and move around.0
