Bike bags for 'planes

[Eurygnomes]

Afternoon all,

Following some discussion about his recently acquired summerhouse, my mate in Germany has decided not to buy a second bike, which means I'm gonna be taking mine on easyjet to Berlin (and surrounds) instead.

This is quite a good thing; I heart my bike.

Anyway, having paid for Red's passage in the aeroplane's underbelly, I now have to find something in which to pack her.

Do you recommend any particular (but not overly expensive) bike bags? I think the boxes are priced out of my league. Are there boxes at airports (as, apparently, in some of the states)? Is there a hire service for this sort of thing (as, allegedly, with pet carriers)?

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

'Nomes

 

[bikepacker]

Afternoon all,

Following some discussion about his recently acquired summerhouse, my mate in Germany has decided not to buy a second bike, which means I'm gonna be taking mine on easyjet to Berlin (and surrounds) instead.

This is quite a good thing; I heart my bike.

Anyway, having paid for Red's passage in the aeroplane's underbelly, I now have to find something in which to pack her.

Do you recommend any particular (but not overly expensive) bike bags? I think the boxes are priced out of my league. Are there boxes at airports (as, apparently, in some of the states)? Is there a hire service for this sort of thing (as, allegedly, with pet carriers)?

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

'Nomes

For Easyjet I usually pack the bike in a polybag from the CTC. This is an account of a trip by Easyjet to Mallorca earlier this year you will see a picture of bikes packed up towards the bottom of the page. http://www.by-bike.co.uk/mallorca.htm

 

[rich p]

Naomi, might I take this opportunity to say what a pleasure it was to get p*ssed share a small drink with you on Saturday! As to bags, I have used the soft bag from Decathlon many times with no problems. I think they're about £40 or NZ$80 I recently went to France with Easyjet and this time used a cardboard bike box fromthe LBS which had the added benefit of costing nothing.

 

[onlineamiga]

Cheers for the link was a good read!

Id be interested if anyones got any accounts of transporting their bike via Ryanair from the UK. I will need to do this myself in September

 

[e-rider]

my wife transported her bike using a LBS cardbaord box from Germany to london (either with easyjet or german wings) and the forks were bent on arrival - clearly had taken a big hit at some point!

I'd not assume that it'll arrive in perfect condition everytime!

 

[rich p]

my wife transported her bike using a LBS cardbaord box from Germany to london (either with easyjet or german wings) and the forks were bent on arrival - clearly had taken a big hit at some point!

I'd not assume that it'll arrive in perfect condition everytime!

Obviously nothing is foolproof but I've always been okay. It is, however, worth puting a fork spacer into the drop-outs.

 

[Eurygnomes]

Obviously nothing is foolproof but I've always been okay. It is, however, worth puting a fork spacer into the drop-outs.

Spacer? Drop-outs? *sigh*

I need a diagram of bike-parts, methinks.

But it was lovely to have a drink with yourself on Saturday, too, RichP!!

I shall investigated this cheap LBS option, as I don't know whether I'll do sufficient 'touring' in future to warrant a bag purchase. I liked the idea of the plastic wrap too, I have this silly idea that if people can see what they're handling, they might be slightly less inclined to throw it about as much? I am a cockeyed optimist, after all. We have to be in NZ!

And I'm gonna have to figure out how to turn my handlebars without my front forks (is that right?) turning too....

LBS, here I come!

 

[rich p]

The spacer fits between the dropouts (the slots that the wheel axles sit in)when the wheels are not there, to stop the forks being vulnerable to bending. The LBS may have some free plastic ones. It's best to ask ahead of time as they throw the boxes and spacers away usually.

 

[Eurygnomes]

The spacer fits between the dropouts (the slots that the wheel axles sit in)when the wheels are not there, to stop the forks being vulnerable to bending. The LBS may have some free plastic ones. It's best to ask ahead of time as they throw the boxes and spacers away usually.

Wooooooot!!!

Thanks loads! I'm SUCH a newbie! I'll learn!

'N

 

[frank9755]

For Easyjet I usually pack the bike in a polybag from the CTC.

Me too.  Done it four times on EJ with no problems.

I liked the idea of the plastic wrap too, I have this silly idea that if people can see what they're handling, they might be slightly less inclined to throw it about as much? 

Chris Juden at CTC comes to the same conclusion!

 

[bikepacker]

If you use the CTC polybag you do not need to remove the wheels, so the fork spacers are not needed.

 

[Brains]

On the way out:
2" Pipe lagging from B&Q. one packet should be enough.
Bike box and front fork spaceer from Local Bike Shop (LBS) - free
(Just give them advance notice, as bike deliveries may only be once a week)

On the way back:
Box - Keep the old one if possible, or a LBS, or make it out of any cardboard you can find and lots of parcel or carpet tape.
Big carboard is available from white goods sellers (fridges etc) also furnature wharehouses
Spacers for front fork - If not available free from LBS, then bamboo garden cane (available free from any local park or garden center) and cut to length with a bread knife or that fish filliting attachment that you never use on your Swiss Army Knife .

The good news is the sort of places that sell fridges, carpets, sofas, pipe lagging etc tend to be industrial estates on the edges of town near the airport ......

 

[e-rider]

Obviously nothing is foolproof but I've always been okay. It is, however, worth puting a fork spacer into the drop-outs.

these were bent right back!