What kind of box do you use?

[mcallaghan]

For those who do overseas touring, what sort of box do you use to ship your bike to your destination?

My LBS is trying to sell me $350 box for my touring bike (I am planning on flying with my bike). I am a little skeptical as it is such a steep price. Would one of those cardboard boxes bikes are shipped in be suitable to take on a flight? He told me that if I did that, I risk them stacking things on top of the bike and damaging the frame.

I had no issues the only other time I've flown overseas with a bike in a cardboard box.

Thoughts/Suggestions/Recommendations?

[foxyrider]

Providing you use spacers and plenty of padding a decent recycled bike box will do but your lbs is right, you do risk stuff being stacked on top (the sides of the box), they are designed to move a bike via a tightly packed container not loose and using mechanical handling.

Proper bike boxes are expensive but you can often hire one for a trip if you don't want to fork out so much.

[MarkF]

Something bad can happen whatever you do................

I used to use a padded bike bag but it was stolen. In my 6 tours since then I pick up a cardboard box from one of the local bike shops to fly out and arrange to do the same near wherever I am flying back from. Never had a problem and a lot less hassle too. No bike shop in France or Spain has ever been less than totally helpful, I pick up the box, fold it 3x, stick it under my arm, rest it on the bars and cycle back to my hostal/hotel to pack up.

[simonhill]

if we discount the other methods, eg: poly bag; bubblewrap; nothing; cling film, etc, then the std cardboard box is the most common method. It is cheap, works well and is widely available for return journeys.

Probably not as good as bespoke box, but they have all sorts of disadvantages: cost; weight (some up to 10 kgs); need to store; etc.

As said, pad your box well (although I don't) and you should be OK. There is obviously always a risk, but I fly quite a bit and rarely have a problem. Remember even a cardboard box weighs 3-4 kgs, so take into account when calculating overall weight.

[mcallaghan]

My bike weighs in at ~34lbs with the racks on it. That leaves ~16lbs for the box and padding in order to keep it under the 50lb weight limit. I don't think that will happen, to be honest, so will be shelling out some money for an overweight bike box on the flight.

[PT1029]

I have not flown for a few years, but have used bike shop card board boxes, BA supplied big poly bag, and er nothing wrapped round it at all (for the return journey). Never had any problems. I prefer nothing or the BA poly bag options, as it is then unlikely to be stacked up with lots of other boxes on top.......
I am told that if baggage has a "fragile" sticker on it, baggage handlers take more note, and allegedly, gives you a bit of extra clout if you claim for damage.
I always (regardless of packaging) loosen the brake lever fixing screws abit, if they take a clout, they'll twist round rather than bend/break.