Bike boxes/bags

I flew to Pisa from Bristol, packed the bikes in CTC clear plastic bags, a fiver each, sealed with a zip tie and a bit of duct tape. Bars turned, pedals removed.

On the return from Pisa the Oversized baggage lady asked if I had deflated the tyres, I said there was no need, slight pause, then she was fine

The handlers at both ends treated the bikes with a good degree of care, in Pisa the handlers even brought the bikes out to us personally. I also saw them on the trailer from the aircraft, bikes were stood up nicely, no other baggage put on them.

The bikes were a Trek 1.2 (Alu) and a steel Dawes Audax, so not the most precious, though they are nice bikes in good nick.

The bikes survived without any issues at all. Some people say the clear plastic bag route is better because handlers can see it is a bike and handle them more carefully - my experience certainly bears this out. The biggest advantage is that the bags fold up neatly to a small size easily carried on tour.

For our panniers I got a large holdall for £7 off eBay, and our four panniers fitted into this, thus incurring only one baggage charge between us (EasyJet charge per item). This too packed up small enough to take on tour.

I've used something similar to the CTC bag with pipe lagging and bits of cardboard zip tied on to fly with my mtb touring bike. Would use it again for that bike. But if I was taking my nice carbon road bike somewhere no way would I even consider that.

So it very much depends on the bike.....

Used a DHB hard case from Wiggle earlier this year, it's very heavy but much more peace of mind than a cardboard bike box or padded bag (I've travelled with both those in the past with mixed results). With EasyJet you shouldn't get charged excess baggage for the bike anyhow so the added weight was fine for me.

As for the people travelling with bikes in plastic bags - glad they survived but personally I think it's taking a big risk and you're relying an awful lot on the goodwill of the baggage handlers. Given most people flying by bike will be relying on it as part of their holiday I just think why take the risk?

This is a good offer......

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Scicon_Atlas_Bike_Box/5360035746/

I bought one of the dhb hardcases wiggle sell last year as well, seem to remember the price was nearer to a hundred quid so it seems to have gone up a bit since then.
If you are hiring a car you will probably need to put the back seats down to get a hardcase in, so bear that in mind if you are planning on driving with 2 or 3 others.
I've never had the box weighed, just paid a set fee to take a bike so the weight hasn't been a problem (the box plus bike is about 25kg). Plenty space to put tools and clothes in a bike box too, so that saves on carrying extra weight in your other luggage.
Agreed a box will probably get a bit rougher tretment than a bikebag, but the box takes the brunt of it (it's designed to take a hammering), not the bike. Is it a carbon frame or metal? If it's carbon I would be a bit nervous about it getting crushed if you use a bag, I've never seen how they strap them down in the hold so that might not be an issue!

MAXTHEDOG wrote:

Hi all,

I'm planning to book a biking holiday to the French Alps next year.I'd like to know if anyone has any experience with flying your bike overseas and what you've used to protect them.I've had conflicting reports to use a rigid box,but also 'I've used a padded bag,they are more difficult for the handlers to chuck around,the boxes can get punctured' was one opinion.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Regards,
M

Bikeboxalan rent out their cases. An excellent piece of kit. You can buy a padded bag for <£100 and as long you use LOTS of bubble wrap,some pipe lagging,axle spacers and line the box with cardboard from a bike shipping box you should be OK. Invariably I'vefound the rougher reatment meted out in the UK. French/Swiss/Italian/Spanish case handlers actually seem to show your bike some respect. Are you moving the case yourself or is a tourfirm doing it for you at your destination(s)?

Does anyone know if you can buy axle spacers anywhere...?

FatLarry wrote:

Does anyone know if you can buy axle spacers anywhere...?

Go to your LBS and ask them, they'll have loads of them knocking about. They'll usually be happy to donate a cardboard bike box too if you want one.

MAXTHEDOG wrote:

Thanks to all who've taken the time to answer.Quite a minefield it seems.In response to 58585,its a Trek 1.7 Ally(this years).In response to mrushton its going to be with a firm so they'll be moving the box/bag for me.

Who is it you are going with and which airport are you flying into?

I think you need to send a few emails or make some calls. Talk to Skedaddle and see what they have to say, they must have had customers who have had problems getting bikes there in the past.

Most of the advantages/disadvantages have been covered in the previous posts, there is no perfect solution. If you drive down from Yorkshire I'm guessing it will take a couple of days? I've driven from Oxford a couple of times and it's fine going traveling there, but rubbish when coming back. But then you can take as much stuff with you as you can get into your car.

But if your thinking of still going with Skedaddle, where are you going to leave your car for a week? Maybe Geneva airport? Or maybe it's then a different sort of trip you can do, lots of things to think about, it was next year your thinking of going?

But if it's any help, check out the Geneva airport website, has some information on oversized baggage...

http://www.gva.ch/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-377/