Taking your bike by plane...
Discussion
I should start by saying that my bike isn’t expensive, but I would like to make sure it arrives in one piece if I do it!
Are there any recommendations for ensuring a bike arrives safely at the other end? I have seen the C2C clear ‘bag’, which seems the best option from everything I’ve seen (since otherwise how do I get the bike home?), but welcome others’ views!
Are there any recommendations for ensuring a bike arrives safely at the other end? I have seen the C2C clear ‘bag’, which seems the best option from everything I’ve seen (since otherwise how do I get the bike home?), but welcome others’ views!
I've not seen any stats, but imagine instances of damage are rare. On our recent trip to Mallorca 24 bikes went undamaged both ways, though half were in rigid cases.
Common advice is to undo a derailleur hanger and, if wheels are removed, put spacers in both forks (especially if carbon).
Pipewrap is cheap. Ditto industrial quantities of bubblewrap from a self-storage firm.
Make sure you take all the allen keys to reassemble. Pedal removal - try a few days before if you're not sure they'll come off easily and might need soaking in penetrating oil.
If you go for a padded soft bag I'd recommend spending a little extra for one with wheels.
Finally, if flying within UK you might find you can courier a bike more safely by road for less than the standard Easyjet charge.
Common advice is to undo a derailleur hanger and, if wheels are removed, put spacers in both forks (especially if carbon).
Pipewrap is cheap. Ditto industrial quantities of bubblewrap from a self-storage firm.
Make sure you take all the allen keys to reassemble. Pedal removal - try a few days before if you're not sure they'll come off easily and might need soaking in penetrating oil.
If you go for a padded soft bag I'd recommend spending a little extra for one with wheels.
Finally, if flying within UK you might find you can courier a bike more safely by road for less than the standard Easyjet charge.
I have used Bike Box Allen several times, only issue was a bent hanger (which was replaced before the trip) so it could have been that. On those trips the other 3/4 people also used a combination of BBA and Evoc and one like this.
http://www.bike-discount.de/media/org/orgb_B/orgid...
We generally pack plenty of clothes and kit around them and had no major problems.
I ride with Vector 2's so have to take a big old torque wrench as well (and I also take mech hanger straightener as well).
You need to factor in how you get to / from the airport as some taxis charge say 20 Euro extra for a bike box, the faff of stripping the bike down and the cost for the plane vs local hire costs and potential for a crap bike which doesn't fit.
In Tenerife/Majorca I think anything less than 3 days its cheaper to hire.
http://www.bike-discount.de/media/org/orgb_B/orgid...
We generally pack plenty of clothes and kit around them and had no major problems.
I ride with Vector 2's so have to take a big old torque wrench as well (and I also take mech hanger straightener as well).
You need to factor in how you get to / from the airport as some taxis charge say 20 Euro extra for a bike box, the faff of stripping the bike down and the cost for the plane vs local hire costs and potential for a crap bike which doesn't fit.
In Tenerife/Majorca I think anything less than 3 days its cheaper to hire.
Matt London said:
The only problem I have had with my Bikeboxalan was a bent skewer. God knows how but the baggage handlers managed to hit the recessed nut and bend the end. It was a work of marksmanship to hit that!
I will take a spare for both wheels next time.
I do the same, can you imagine turning up and one of the nuts has fallen off! I will take a spare for both wheels next time.
I've travelled with my bike a fair bit, using a variety of different boxes - I've now got a travel bike which splits in two enabling you to use the conventional luggage rather than oversized, which is handy.
I'd recommend taking duplicates of those small parts that are vital, but you are unlikely to find in a local shop - mech hangers, cable tensioning barrels that screw into the frame, seat collars and so forth.
I have put the most miles on an Evoc reinforced bag - can be rolled up when not in use which is handy.
Won't suit everyone but if you travel a lot a travel bike makes a big difference.
Split:
Travel:
Build:
Ride:
I'd recommend taking duplicates of those small parts that are vital, but you are unlikely to find in a local shop - mech hangers, cable tensioning barrels that screw into the frame, seat collars and so forth.
I have put the most miles on an Evoc reinforced bag - can be rolled up when not in use which is handy.
Won't suit everyone but if you travel a lot a travel bike makes a big difference.
Split:
Travel:
Build:
Ride:
At 1st glance I though that was a "look x airline smashed my bike" post.
I've taken my mountain bike on planes 3 times, all easy jet to Malaga and Gran Canaria. Used the cheap CRC brand X bag, never had any damage except a slash to the bag. My bikes big a Radon Swoop and it just fits, a road bike would have loads of room. Other than the obvious wheels off I only remove bars from stem and rear mech including hanger and pedals. I cut plastic water pipe to the correct length and slot between the dropouts and secure with axle, I figure only real danger is stays or forks being crushed together and a simple bit of pipe protects against that. Few bits of pipe lagging where bits contact each other and a few zip ties to hold stuff in place job done.
I've taken my mountain bike on planes 3 times, all easy jet to Malaga and Gran Canaria. Used the cheap CRC brand X bag, never had any damage except a slash to the bag. My bikes big a Radon Swoop and it just fits, a road bike would have loads of room. Other than the obvious wheels off I only remove bars from stem and rear mech including hanger and pedals. I cut plastic water pipe to the correct length and slot between the dropouts and secure with axle, I figure only real danger is stays or forks being crushed together and a simple bit of pipe protects against that. Few bits of pipe lagging where bits contact each other and a few zip ties to hold stuff in place job done.
Wow, oddman, that's high! I've paid #42 each way with Easyjet for Palma (April) and Inverness (Sept).
For Inverness we found that BA will classify a bike as 'large hold baggage' (I forget the exact term) rather than the 'sports equipment' that Easyjet insists on so BA was appreciably cheaper for person + bike.
For Inverness we found that BA will classify a bike as 'large hold baggage' (I forget the exact term) rather than the 'sports equipment' that Easyjet insists on so BA was appreciably cheaper for person + bike.
Matt London said:
The only problem I have had with my Bikeboxalan was a bent skewer. God knows how but the baggage handlers managed to hit the recessed nut and bend the end. It was a work of marksmanship to hit that!
I will take a spare for both wheels next time.
Yes had the same the other year .... luckily used an old set of skewers but was a ballache to remove the bend skewer from the wheel at my hotel with no hacksaw .... 30 mins of bending back and forth with a set of pliers and I manage to break the offending bend end off and slide it back thru the hubI will take a spare for both wheels next time.
I wouldn't travel with anything less than a proper bike box designed for travelling .... a cardboard box 'might' get you there but for the sake of hiring a box for £50, I just don't see the point in risking it. And its the hassle factor when you arrive to then hire a bike. If you plan to go away a bit, then a bike box alan or similar is a good investment.
okgo said:
You'd be mental to use anything but a hard case (BBA ideally) to transport a bike IMO.
Skewers bent has happened to me, the next time I put a spacer on the inside of the case to make sure not much was sticking out the other side. The HOPE ones are quite long.
100% this^^^ Skewers bent has happened to me, the next time I put a spacer on the inside of the case to make sure not much was sticking out the other side. The HOPE ones are quite long.
Airport baggage handlers are A-HOLES of the highest order
You shouldn't have a bent skewer and you shouldn't have trouble removing a bent skewer because surely you remove the skewer before it goes in the bag/box?
When I've flown with my bike I've removed forks, handlebars, pedals, wheels, skewers, rear derailleur, seat post. Spacers in the frame and fork droputs. I then cut up part of an old high-jump mat to fill the bag, but you can get blocks of foam easily enough. Once the bag was full of foam I laid everything on top, marked round the frame etc and then cut the foam so you could insert everything within. Gives you as much padding as is possible and makes it easy to pack everything quickly. Took 15 minutes at each end to knock-down and rebuild the bike.
If I was travelling regularly I'd either upgrade to a box or you could add a sheet of 0.5-1mm carbon top and bottom to protect against sharp impacts.
But really the answer is by the time you've fannied about, and paid £100+ to put the bike on the plane, it's as easy to just go to the Alps instead. And drive there.
When I've flown with my bike I've removed forks, handlebars, pedals, wheels, skewers, rear derailleur, seat post. Spacers in the frame and fork droputs. I then cut up part of an old high-jump mat to fill the bag, but you can get blocks of foam easily enough. Once the bag was full of foam I laid everything on top, marked round the frame etc and then cut the foam so you could insert everything within. Gives you as much padding as is possible and makes it easy to pack everything quickly. Took 15 minutes at each end to knock-down and rebuild the bike.
If I was travelling regularly I'd either upgrade to a box or you could add a sheet of 0.5-1mm carbon top and bottom to protect against sharp impacts.
But really the answer is by the time you've fannied about, and paid £100+ to put the bike on the plane, it's as easy to just go to the Alps instead. And drive there.
Caddyshack said:
They advised us to lower the tyre pressures
Have never understood this. Aeroplane holds are pressurised the same as the cabin, so only a bit less than atmospheric pressure. Your tyres, which already contain 6-7 bar pressure and are probably rated up to 9 bar, are not going to blow off the rim. Even if the hold was not pressurised at all, they still wouldn't blow off.When I used to fly with a bike regularly, and was asked this at checkin, I'd always swear blind that I'd let the tyres down, but never actually did.
outnumbered said:
Have never understood this. Aeroplane holds are pressurised the same as the cabin, so only a bit less than atmospheric pressure. Your tyres, which already contain 6-7 bar pressure and are probably rated up to 9 bar, are not going to blow off the rim. Even if the hold was not pressurised at all, they still wouldn't blow off.
When I used to fly with a bike regularly, and was asked this at checkin, I'd always swear blind that I'd let the tyres down, but never actually did.
I guess that if the tyres were at maximum overpressure of 9 bar they could go pop and people do not like exploding sounds on planes? Maybe it is a follow on from the days when holds were not pressurised or they are worried about a loss of pressure in the hold?When I used to fly with a bike regularly, and was asked this at checkin, I'd always swear blind that I'd let the tyres down, but never actually did.
I know my water bottle expands and contracts on a plane so I was happy to let a few PSi out as they specified.
A bit like putting your phone in flight mode...I REALLY doubt I could bring the plane down but as they ask me to do it, I comply.
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