Hi fellow tourer,
I'd like to know what is the best and cheapest way to box a bike for travel ? Here I am mainly thinking of putting your bike + panniers in a box for a flight (possibly one of these horrible cheap airline with tight restrictions).
You can buy expensive and fancy PVC bike boxes which seem to be great, but was wondering how one could do the same job with a carton box, or something similar ?
The problem with PVS and other boxes is : where do you leave your box ? at the airport ?
I'd like to have some advice on this as I have never travelled with my bike boxed before. I plan to go to Morocco this spring. I 'googled' around but didn't much info on how to box a bike.
Any advice ? Thanks,
Ben
boxing your bike for travel (flight,trains,etc..)
You should probably to check with the airline as they all have different conditions and restrictions, especialy on size. I flew back from Japan recently, chucking my bike and all my effects in a big cardboard box, had to sign away liability for damage but there was no problem, fortunately Virgin Atlantic only have a weight restriction. It's rarely difficult to find big boxes if you keep an eye out. then all you need is a roll of gaffer tape.
I hear there are bags that fold up small enough to carry with you when touring, that would be a good option but it also depends on your budget. these things are not cheap.
have fun.
I hear there are bags that fold up small enough to carry with you when touring, that would be a good option but it also depends on your budget. these things are not cheap.
have fun.
There is a good page on bike packing for flying here
www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=3Tz ... 92454&v=3u
www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=3Tz ... 92454&v=3u
Options:
1. Hard shell box. Heavy and expensive but will protect your bike effectively. I usually leave mine in a hotel - usually they won't charge too much.
2. Carboard box. Free (or v. cheap) and the airlines like it. Unfortunately they offer little protection and encourage baggage handlers to stack things on top - so they can increase the risk of serious damage.
3. Nothing. Fewer and fewer airlines will accept bikes like this. You'll probably lose a bit of paint but the likelihood of serious damage is less than if you box it because they have to wheel it around and can't stack things on it - it will tend to go on top.
4. Wrapped in plastic. never done this, but at least it would prevent stacking problems and reduce paint damage.
No "best" method. It's up to you to talk to the airline and make a judgement about where your priorities lie.
1. Hard shell box. Heavy and expensive but will protect your bike effectively. I usually leave mine in a hotel - usually they won't charge too much.
2. Carboard box. Free (or v. cheap) and the airlines like it. Unfortunately they offer little protection and encourage baggage handlers to stack things on top - so they can increase the risk of serious damage.
3. Nothing. Fewer and fewer airlines will accept bikes like this. You'll probably lose a bit of paint but the likelihood of serious damage is less than if you box it because they have to wheel it around and can't stack things on it - it will tend to go on top.
4. Wrapped in plastic. never done this, but at least it would prevent stacking problems and reduce paint damage.
No "best" method. It's up to you to talk to the airline and make a judgement about where your priorities lie.
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moosling
I found this page pretty handy for tips on packing a bike into a cardboard box:
http://www.bikemecca.com/techstuff/packing.html
It takes some time but seems to lead to a fairly sturdy and damage-proof package, so good for flights with lots of connections.
Next time I'm flying though, I'll be with British Airways for one leg, and they're anti cardboard box. And with Qantas for another couple of legs, and they claim to only accept cardboard boxes. Ah, the joy of flying with bikes.
http://www.bikemecca.com/techstuff/packing.html
It takes some time but seems to lead to a fairly sturdy and damage-proof package, so good for flights with lots of connections.
Next time I'm flying though, I'll be with British Airways for one leg, and they're anti cardboard box. And with Qantas for another couple of legs, and they claim to only accept cardboard boxes. Ah, the joy of flying with bikes.
Some of the cheapy airlines, i.e. Ryanair and/or Thomsonfly can't remember which, possibly both, state that you can't pack additional items with the bike in the box, presumably because they now charge for every bag checked in and they want the extra charges, which can add up quite considerably the more bags you have. Bit of a nuisance as your panniers, clothes, etc. etc help protect your bike further if arranged all round the frame when it's being transported in the box.
Certainly the cheapest way I've found to pack your bike is to ask you local bike shop if they could put you a box to one side when they next get one spare. In my experience they've always been happy to do this with no charge, probably glad to get it out of the way.
Certainly the cheapest way I've found to pack your bike is to ask you local bike shop if they could put you a box to one side when they next get one spare. In my experience they've always been happy to do this with no charge, probably glad to get it out of the way.
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Russell160
- Posts: 286
- Joined: 4 Apr 2008, 6:36pm
I wrestled with this same conundrum. It depends on whether you are coming back from the same airport.
One option (that I used) is a polythene bag (available from CTC and Ryanair approved) which folds down to the size of a phone book and is quite light to mail. Cheap as chips: £5 or something. You can then either:
-take it with you on your ride.
-book into a hotel/B&B whatever for the day before your flight and leave it there for collection on your return. (Or mail it to them from airport)
-or leave it in a left luggage locker (but this can get quite expensive, Geneva airport £8 per day).
-or if leaving from another airport, (or even same one) mail another one from the UK to arrive at your last night's accommodation. (this would be my preferred option as it saves airport stress)
I did a Geneva and back with two bikes with this method and it worked ok. Two tips:
-remove pedals and keep them in your hold baggage, not hand baggage.
-take the wheels off.
-deflate tyres, as pressure in hold triggers punctures.
-to be fair, Ryanair and airport handling staff were pretty helpful. I'm sure there are horror stories but my experience was pretty smooth.
One option (that I used) is a polythene bag (available from CTC and Ryanair approved) which folds down to the size of a phone book and is quite light to mail. Cheap as chips: £5 or something. You can then either:
-take it with you on your ride.
-book into a hotel/B&B whatever for the day before your flight and leave it there for collection on your return. (Or mail it to them from airport)
-or leave it in a left luggage locker (but this can get quite expensive, Geneva airport £8 per day).
-or if leaving from another airport, (or even same one) mail another one from the UK to arrive at your last night's accommodation. (this would be my preferred option as it saves airport stress)
I did a Geneva and back with two bikes with this method and it worked ok. Two tips:
-remove pedals and keep them in your hold baggage, not hand baggage.
-take the wheels off.
-deflate tyres, as pressure in hold triggers punctures.
-to be fair, Ryanair and airport handling staff were pretty helpful. I'm sure there are horror stories but my experience was pretty smooth.
-
ruffstuffbob
- Posts: 74
- Joined: 5 Jul 2007, 7:07pm
transporting the bike by air etc.
Hi, Anyone travelled with Easy jet recently?In their instructions they tell you to either use a box or a bag! does anyone know if this INCLUDES the large CTC polythene bag as well as one of those specially made ones with the carrying strap and padding etc. cheers. Bob. J.
Re: transporting the bike by air etc.
Johnston wrote:Hi, Anyone travelled with Easy jet recently?In their instructions they tell you to either use a box or a bag! does anyone know if this INCLUDES the large CTC polythene bag as well as one of those specially made ones with the carrying strap and padding etc. cheers. Bob. J.
I've found that the people who actually take the bikes off you aren;t working for the airline, and so aren;t as stringent as the ailines suggest they should be. All the times I've flown with my bike, the airline has stipulated that I sign a release form when handing the bike over, and yet the men at the gate (airport employees not airline employees) couldn;t have given a monkey's.
You might find that you get away with the CTC bag, just becasue the guys on the gate don;t know ow it's supposed to be bagged.
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MartinBrice
- Posts: 470
- Joined: 13 Nov 2007, 9:57am
I went from gatwick to montpellier with easyjet and they were excellent. i put the bike in a large plastic bag (made from the plastic sheeting our new bed was delivered in - you could probably get some from a bed shop) and turned the handlebars and removed the pedals (i taped the pedals to the bottle holder) and then put it in the bag and used parcel tape to make the bag look neater. I asked the cabin crew if my bike was aboard and they rang up to ask and found me in my seat and told me it was on board. Excellent service. Not a scratch on it, either going out or coming back. It was the same when i went with norwegian.no to Norway in the summer. I know there are horror stories out there but I've not met anyone who has suffered. One bloke in my local CTC has flown with a bike annually for 30 years and had no serious problems. I'm now firmly of the "see-through plastic" state of mind - if they know it's a bike they'll look after it. if it's in a cardboard box they won't realise it's a bike.
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Boxing your bike for travel
I use a plastic bag several times a year. Tying the open end with a plastic zip tie is quick and neat. Take the bag with you as a groundsheet, or leave it at first digs, or stash it in a bush. If on an A-B tour and you want to dump the bag, get plastic sheeting and brown tape from a DIY place at final destination.
Always print a copy of the airline's bike policy regarding packing. And print out proof that you've paid for your bike. I often have to show these to desk staff and outsize baggage staff.
Liverpool airport made my friend remove his empty water bottle. He had to rip the bag open to reach it.
And NEVER fully deflate tyres. Semi-deflation is adequate. And replace dust caps so staff can't mess with your valves so easily. Again, have printed proof that this is acceptable to the airline.
Always print a copy of the airline's bike policy regarding packing. And print out proof that you've paid for your bike. I often have to show these to desk staff and outsize baggage staff.
Liverpool airport made my friend remove his empty water bottle. He had to rip the bag open to reach it.
And NEVER fully deflate tyres. Semi-deflation is adequate. And replace dust caps so staff can't mess with your valves so easily. Again, have printed proof that this is acceptable to the airline.