Bikes on a plane - Triathlon

Iron Pingu pirate

pirate

03/08/2009 at 21:47

How much hassle is it taking a bike to an abroad event?

M.ister W

03/08/2009 at 21:49

Dead easy if you pick the right airline

Where are you going?

Bouncing Barlist pirate

pirate

03/08/2009 at 22:28

Ive only ever flown my bike with BA (about 7 times now), every time has been hastle free and never asked to pay extra for the bike.

You need a bike box / bike bag (which you can hire from most bike shops), you pack your bike by removing pedals, seat post and wheels and loseningthe handlebars and twisting them horizonatal to the frame. You can search the internet/youtube for more detailed bike packing instructions.

BA let you take your bike as one extra free pieve of luggage (so you can still take a suitcase and hand luggage), the bike and case must be 23kg or less.

Iron Pingu pirate

pirate

04/08/2009 at 07:40

Great, thanks for the answers. No serious plans as yet, was eyeing up Barcelona last night though ...

Orange 5

04/08/2009 at 07:59

Sleezy Jet is stressful, sometimes they charge you excess, sometimes they don't. Never known them lose or refuse a bike yet. Although do know of some that have been damged.

WildWill..... pirate

pirate

04/08/2009 at 08:00

BA are good ... even if your bike doesnt make the same flight as you

04/08/2009 at 08:10

puttingt the bike back together again at the other end would worry me

WildWill..... pirate

pirate

04/08/2009 at 08:11

In Switzerland we had an en-mass bike assembly just about in the YH communal area

Iron Pingu pirate

pirate

04/08/2009 at 08:36

I'm a complete bike numpty. I took me about an hour to figure out how to pump the tyres up

fat buddha

04/08/2009 at 09:50

PP - I have prepared some instructions on how to pack a bike bag or box which breaks the process down. you can download them off the pirateshipoffools.co.uk website - link here

one way to prepare is to follow the instructions way before you need to do it for real - just don't do the packing/padding bits - and then put the bike back together. you should find it's pretty simple in reality

FerrousFerret

04/08/2009 at 10:17

When you are taking the bike apart take a careful note (or mark with masking tape) the height of the seat post and how/where the handlebars attach to the stem.

Once I had mastered the actual fitting the bike into the box I found the biggest hassle was the logistics of getting to/from the airport with what is in essence a rather large suitcase. Having something with wheels helps enormously.

04/08/2009 at 10:23

PP - take instruction from Aitch!

When she undid her bike box in the YH in Zurich there was a hushed, awed silence as beginners and ponces alike paid homage to her bike packing skills...

Cybor

04/08/2009 at 10:30

Jj - would the bike packaging skills of Aitch have withstood a bag - throwing - athon from the airlines.

or was it making a nice jingle- ing noise ?

04/08/2009 at 10:32

the bike packaging skills of Aitch would have withstood nuclear war.

fat buddha

04/08/2009 at 10:37

she obviously took this comment from my instructions to heart then

"Once it’s all packed just give one final thought – would YOU be happy to throw the bag and contents down the stairs. If so, then you’re fine – if unsure, then check the padding and add more"

Bouncing Barlist pirate

pirate

04/08/2009 at 11:16

Good comment FB, mine always passes that test, I think I have padding OCD

Iron Pingu pirate

pirate

04/08/2009 at 11:27

OMG FB that link's scared the crap out of me!

So there's no just wheeling you bike onto the plane and sticking it in the corner then ...

fat buddha

04/08/2009 at 11:30

to an extent you can PP - but I wouldn't trust the baggage handlers with it! I've seen a couple of people at Stansted on touring bikes wrapping them in bubble wrap before they checked in - no bags, no boxes - no brains!!

M.ister W

04/08/2009 at 13:09

There's some sense in just using a clear plastic bag to pack your bike as the throwers can then see what they're handling and it's a tricky shape that can't be thrown in with a pile of suitcases. I use a soft bike bag, which was fine for the trip to Austria. It even made it onto the teeny, rubber band powered plane for the leg from Vienna to Klagenfurt.

cougie

pirate

04/08/2009 at 13:32

Just don't fly swizzair cos they charge an arm and a leg to carry your bike. Thieving gits.