bikes on a plane

[endoman]

I'm going to the US in September for about 11 days, will be in some nice cycling country in S Cal, and I have a choice of renting a bike when over there, or taking mine.

I can take mine for free with baggage allowance, will be renting a car that it will fit in, but have no bag nor experience of travelling with a bike on a plane. Would hate the thing to get damaged.

Will be renting for the wife and daughter, but fancied getting out for some proper rides on my own after work has finished for the day,

Any advice on suitable bags and packing tips, or am I better renting a road bike, and taking my pedals / shoes?

Quick look at Wiggle shows this thing, http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-elsted-bike-box/

Looks like just the job

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I'm going to the US in September for about 11 days, will be in some nice cycling country in S Cal, and I have a choice of renting a bike when over there, or taking mine.

I can take mine for free with baggage allowance, will be renting a car that it will fit in, but have no bag nor experience of travelling with a bike on a plane. Would hate the thing to get damaged.

Will be renting for the wife and daughter, but fancied getting out for some proper rides on my own after work has finished for the day,

Any advice on suitable bags and packing tips, or am I better renting a road bike, and taking my pedals / shoes?

Thought this was a sequel to snakes on a plane

There is a good discussion page here

 

[endoman]

Cheers, don't fancy the placcie bag much, I suppose at least they might be a little more careful with it knowing what it is?

The hard shell case from Wiggle seems a good idea, probably about same cost as renting, and I can use it many times if I keep doing this cycling lark.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I used one of THESE when I took my bike to Lanzarote a couple of years ago. I rented mine from HERE.

I can't remember the cost but it wasn't bad. I'm sure other places must rent them too. They are pretty big, but there was no way I was going to risk the CF bike I had at the time in a soft bike bag. I would recommend these bike boxes 100%. If I travelled frequently enough I'd buy with without question.

The wheels bolt inside the lid with their own skewers, and the frame is secured with velcro straps. I added some bubble wrap and once I'd locked it up I added some cable ties as well as the padlocks, just incase.
It weighed in at around 22 lbs if I remember correctly, and I had my pedals etc in their too. I flew Jet2 from Manchester to Lanzarote, and I didn't have to pay going out, but I got stopped and had to pay about £35 coming home, (apparently I should have paid going out but somehow they let me through

FWIW. I rented a Vauxhall Zafira at the airport and this fitted in with one back seat folded and 4 adult and one child, but due to a mechanical problem I had to swop the Vauxhall for a VW Touran, this meant I had to drop the family off at the airport when we were coming home, and then go back to collect the bike as there was no way we could do it in one trip.

 

[endoman]

I used one of THESE when I took my bike to Lanzarote a couple of years ago. I rented mine from HERE.

I can't remember the cost but it wasn't bad. I'm sure other places must rent them too. They are pretty big, but there was no way I was going to risk the CF bike I had at the time in a soft bike bag. I would recommend these bike boxes 100%. If I travelled frequently enough I'd buy with without question.

The wheels bolt inside the lid with their own skewers, and the frame is secured with velcro straps. I added some bubble wrap and once I'd locked it up I added some cable ties as well as the padlocks, just incase.
It weighed in at around 22 lbs if I remember correctly, and I had my pedals etc in their too. I flew Jet2 from Manchester to Lanzarote, and I didn't have to pay going out, but I got stopped and had to pay about £35 coming home, (apparently I should have paid going out but somehow they let me through

FWIW. I rented a Vauxhall Zafira at the airport and this fitted in with one back seat folded and 4 adult and one child, but due to a mechanical problem I had to swop the Vauxhall for a VW Touran, this meant I had to drop the family off at the airport when we were coming home, and then go back to collect the bike as there was no way we could do it in one trip.

That rental place looks perfect, only just up the road from me, we are planning on renting a Grand Voyager type thing as I have a mate who works for Enterprise who will sort me out a deal.

Cheers

 

[smokeysmoo]

That rental place looks perfect, only just up the road from me, we are planning on renting a Grand Voyager type thing as I have a mate who works for Enterprise who will sort me out a deal.

Cheers

You'll be laughing with a Grand Voyager. The bike box is on wheels as wheel so it's a doddle to wheel it through airports.


Just be aware of transportation costs. I'd check with your airline first to make sure you don't get a shock. I naively thought I'd just be able to take it as my luggage as it was under the weight limit, but I never considered the size.

Hope you have a great trip buddy

 

[Red Light]

I'd take it with you in a bike box (although I have used bike bags many times without problems). Finding a good road bike to rent is pretty hard and whenever I've tried in SoCal I've failed. Moderate mountain bikes are easier to find if you are off-roading. Have fun, there are some nice places to ride.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

You'll be laughing with a Grand Voyager. The bike box is on wheels as wheel so it's a doddle to wheel it through airports.


Just be aware of transportation costs. I'd check with your airline first to make sure you don't get a shock. I naively thought I'd just be able to take it as my luggage as it was under the weight limit, but I never considered the size.

Hope you have a great trip buddy

Wheely?

 

[endoman]

You'll be laughing with a Grand Voyager. The bike box is on wheels as wheel so it's a doddle to wheel it through airports.


Just be aware of transportation costs. I'd check with your airline first to make sure you don't get a shock. I naively thought I'd just be able to take it as my luggage as it was under the weight limit, but I never considered the size.

Hope you have a great trip buddy

Mind is now made up, I'm taking it,


It is free to take with me on the plane, flying BA, and they say this , between the four of us we have tons of baggage allowance


We will accept non-motorised bicycles of all dimensions provided they are packed in a recognised bicycle bag.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Mind is now made up, I'm taking it,


It is free to take with me on the plane, flying BA, and they say this , between the four of us we have tons of baggage allowance

We will accept non-motorised bicycles of all dimensions provided they are packed in a recognised bicycle bag.

Great news

 

[smokeysmoo]

Wheely?

Oops, perhaps added an extra wheel there


Thanks for pointing that out AF

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Oops, perhaps added an extra wheel there


Thanks for pointing that out AF

Sorry but I couldn't resist it