Packaging for flight...what if you can't get a box!?

FSITR

Hello.

I will be ending a short tour in Venice, it is not feasible for me to carry a case with me for obvious reasons and I hope to pick up a box in Venice for the journey home. But what happens if I can't get a box? I can't leave my bike nor miss my flight. Is this a likely scenario have the bike refused due to improper packaging? As a last resort I could have the bike wrapped in plastic somehow, would this then be viable to be shipped?

Any advice is appreciated.

pblakeney

I really hope this is forward planning and not last minute stuff?

apreading

If you need a worst case fall back position, you could always take a CTC bike bag - basically a clear polythene bag that goes over the whole bike. Some people swear by them, instead of boxing the bike, on the basis that the handlers may take more care than they would with a box. I wouldnt choose to do it myself - when I went to Tuscany a couple of years ago, one of the other riders used one and on day 1 their rear mech hanger snapped - it is my guess that it got bashed in transport. This could be mitigated by ungoing the hanger and cable tieing the derailleur to the chainstay but I would personally just worry alot. Better than having to leave your bike there or take it completely exposed though. They only cost a couple of quid I think and screw up really small.

FSITR

PBlakeney: Thankfully not!

apreading: Yeah that is probably the best fall back. I don't have time to purchase one unfortunately but I do have a full thin nylon (opaque) rain cover which once wrapped up in plastic could serve a similar purpose but without the ability to see it is a bike...I'm sure they would figure it out quick enough though

ayjaycee

Always remember the 7 Ps - 'Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents P1ss Poor Performance' (and a broken bike).

pblakeney

FSITR wrote:

PBlakeney: Thankfully not!

Google bike shops and ask in advance.

sungod

if i had no other option, and assuming the airline were ok with the size, i'd buy a giant roll of thick bubble wrap and some sticky tape, then swathe the bike in it, maybe adding some cardboard as a bit of shielding, turn the bars to reduce width

if you use a removable link on the chain, take off the chain and stash it in a carrier bag, then undo the rear mech and similarly wrap that

not ideal but if you can identify some shops selling packing materials beforehand it gives you something to try if bike shops don't work out

fenix

http://www.cyclinguk.org/cyclists-libra ... /bikes-air

Apparently you WILL need a bike bag to fly with but you should be able to get one somewhere ?

fenix

Wiggle do them too - http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ctc-cycling-uk- ... 60336192uk