Flying with a bike

[steveindenmark]

I have flown a lot of times using my home made spinnaker cloth bags to carry my bike in without any problems.

I have now bought a full Carbon, all singing, all dancing adventure bike which I think needs more protection if I fly with it. I have looked at the hard travel cases which are available on the market and am sure I am not the only one who's first reaction was "HOW MUCH ?"

They are pricey by any standard.

Has anybody had a go at making their own travel box? I have plenty of time on my hands and am thinking of making one out of plywood.

I may even turn it into a trailer as I have seen plenty of suitcase trailers for folding bikes but not for standard bikes. I am used to turning up at the airport, removing the spinnaker cover and riding from the airport.

 

[jay clock]

Pricey, yes, but I bought a Bike Box Alan for £400 and it is a stunning bit of kit. Will outlast me. And already done about a dozen flights. So if I do 40 before I retire it will be £10 per segment. My daughters then suggested chopping me in pieces and using it as a coffin when I die!

Clubmates who went for cheaper options have had problems with catches etc and simply being able to get the bike into the box.

For touring I use plastic bag and had no problems but the bike is tougher!

 

[400bhp]

I have a Bike Box Alan (BBA) like Jay and echo everything he has said. I'd also add that the resale value is extremely good so, you'd probably only lose £50-£80 on resale after a couple of years. Not that you would necessarily sell, but it's a good buffer if things change in your life and you want/need to get rid.

I'd also add that there's a lot of free space within the box, so much so that I did not need to carry a separate bag/suitcase in the aeroplane hold when I used it for a 10 day long trip to Italy/Spain earlier this year. Spare cycle clothes, helmet, shoes, 7kg bike, non bike clothes all weighed in less than 30kg.

Oh, and I did not get charged for Ryanair for carrying a bike, because this was my only luggage. Plus they gave me priority boaring when I arrived at the airport at both ends.

 

[TissoT]

As above the Hard cases are pricey ... but also is a carbon bike and it needs protecting for the heavy handed baggage handlers !!

I use a EVA bike case which is slightly cheaper than a Alan box . The weight is the problem with some of the cases, 25kg is the limit on most Airlines .
Then it gets expensive when its over the Kg limit .

 

[jay clock]

If I have my light roadbike in the BBA it weighs about 23kg just for the box and the bike. Some people then ram in kit and extras. Depends on the airline

 

[Dayvo]

If you have enough space in your home made bag, could you not use a number of small inflatable air beds to offer better protection.

Or, if you want to splash out on one of these:

My brother-in-law has one and rates it very highly.

 

[Simon_m]

i use a bike box i got cheap off Ebay, used it a few times, seems fine. I thought Ryanair charge £120 for a bike?

 

[Milkfloat]

My lbs/club rent bike boxes, for the few time I need to use them it makes sense for me to do that. Also it is one less thing to have in the garage.

 

[Hedgemonkey]

I've used the cardboard transit boxes that the bikes are delivered to the shops in, on quite a few European and transatlantic flights. I just spent a little more time preparing the bike for damage limitations. Never had any issues even the" baggage thugs" at Chicago couldn't damage it as they threw it from the trolley on transfer.

 

[clid61]

i use this cheap as chips and fits luggage in too ... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EVA-BIKE-...890455?hash=item4af52c2357:g:GtMAAOSwbdpWZAZE

 

[steveindenmark]

If you have enough space in your home made bag, could you not use a number of small inflatable air beds to offer better protection.

Or, if you want to splash out on one of these:

My brother-in-law has one and rates it very highly.

Do you have a link for this?

 

[Dayvo]

Do you have a link for this?

I presume you mean this:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/biknd/helium-bike-case-ec050390

and have a look at the video.

It IS expensive, but how much do you value your bike?

 

[steveindenmark]

You are right Dave, the new Koga was expensive.

But I have a bit of a quandry. When I land I like to unpack the bike at the airport, get on it and go. I often dont leave from the airport I land at and so I cannot leave a box somewhere and return to it.

In the past I have always used my spinnaker bags and have never had any problems with my alu bikes.

I think I will just have to risk it. I dont believe my Carbon bike will be any less fragile than my Alu bikes. I may add some pipe insulation. But we will see.