Bike case hire?

[Ken Sington]

Does anyone know of anywhere in the London area that hires out hard shell bike cases? I need one for a week in early June and don't fancy either buying one at £200-£300ish or leaving my steed to the tender mercies of the Heathrow baggage handling mafia in either a soft case or a cardboard box.

[g_stacey]

Ken

I think from memory Geoffrey Butlers (Croyden) hire them. Ive used hard cases and cardboard bike boxes. Hard cases can weigh up to 12kg. So keep to the flight companys bike allowance weight limit or they'll screw you for the extra weight. As I say last time to Spain with Ryan air I used a cardboard box, filled/padded it out up to the weight limit with clothes etc and then only needed hand luggage otherwise they'll charge another £10 for a suitcase. Less bags to handle as well. If you blag a cardboard box from a bike shop, try and get a Cannondale box. These are slightly bigger and with mtb's you can keep the rear wheel in, which helps protect rear frame and mech'. Five plane trips with bike (and many mates bikes) never had any damage. Though last time from Switzerland Easyjet lost all 6 bikes! never unloaded them at Gatwick and they (£15000.00 worth) went back to Geneva. Took 3 hours and very nearly violece! to find out where they were.
Have a good trip. Where are you off to?

G