Taking a bike on a plane?

[Bice]

I have twice taken a bike in a box on planes.

1/ BA London to Barcelona (return) I used a box given to me by Halfords: I think 130cms wide. It was taken there and back no trouble. The pain is getting to and from airport: even with 'tie-down ratchet straps' it was difficult to carry any distance.

So I booked an AirBnB very close to Plaza de Catalunya in Barcelona, where the airport bus stops, and carried it 500 yards or so.

2/ RyanAir Bergerac to London Stansted: Single flight coming back from a tour. I had to buy a euro 125 plasticated cardboard proper travelling bike box: quite good, German made and folds up nicely. The box had to be <80cms for RyanAir and the shop did not have a short disposable cardboard box.

Actually, I think Bergerac airport was very sleepy and relaxed, but I could not risk it. The real pain was the walk to Paddington station, I had to drag the box at times, and then the Tube. Fortunately, at Oxford Circus Bakerloo and Victoria Line are on opposite platforms, so only a short drag. Then my wife helped me carry it from the Tube station home: not heavy at c 16kgs, just cumbersome and every way you try to carry it just does not work.

[eileithyia]

That would be a memorable trip.

Especially the wet bits!

[RickH]

Glad I'm not a Maldivian.

Greta Thunberg would recommend riding your bike to get out there.

That would be a memorable trip.

A friend's son did the reverse from Oz a few years back (although probably harder now due to various conflict zones). He'd been out in Oz on one of those under 30s visas & came home at the end entirely by bike & ferries.

[Rob D]

We've taken our bikes abroad several times. Recently back from a Balkans trip. They're fairly standard tourers, drop handlebars, 3 x 9.
We don't bother with taking off the derailleurs, but do have them out of the way in bottom gear, with suitable padding. Handlebars are tucked in under the crossbar. Front wheels off.
We've never had a problem with weight, and tend to put panniers and other bits and pieces in the box too - a decent cardboard box from the LBS. These are reinforced with lots of tape and maybe panels from other boxes.
For us, having OUR bikes to ride is all part of it. Riding another would not be the same - they're old friends!
Definitely use strong fork protectors. Tape them on if necessary.

[simonhill]

If weight is a concern, be aware that these cardboard boxes usually weigh at least 3 kgs . Some of the more chunky ones 4 kgs.

[TBaySimon]

There has been some pretty interesting stuff since I last checked in!

The answer for me in the end was to buy a second hand bike in Brisbane ( I spotted it on Facebook Marketplace) and I got a 2017 Merida Scultura 400 with a 105 setup (apart from brakes) for £350. My son picked It up a few hours ago and it appears to have had little to no use.

I'll take a new set of cables just in case but all in all it is a cheap way of seeing his locality and keeping the legs spinning

https://flic.kr/p/2qHPLmJ

https://flic.kr/p/2qHNxwE

https://flic.kr/p/2qHQJ9m

https://flic.kr/p/2qHPLnR

https://flic.kr/p/2qHNxvC

[simonhill]

Nice one.

Don't forget the Aussies have a helmet law and are pretty strict on it. Not just roads but anywhere public eg parks.

I used the urban trains to get in and out , north and south when touring, but also useful for day rides.

I liked Brisbane, enjoy.

[TBaySimon]

Thanks @simonhill

Yeah I've been reading about the cycle laws, they seem to insist that you use cycle lanes/cycleways where they are available and have a speed limit of 25kmph. Our daughter-in-law has become a police officer since getting her citizenship, she'll put me right I'm sure!

Re helmets, I feel naked without one, so will sort something out when we get there.

I'm looking forward to riding in the area where Jack lives (Closeburn), I may need to get rid of the 11-28 cassette though as it is reasonably hilly, sadly I'm pretty sure it only has a short cage