Riding abroad

[Tel]

Hi chaps, Im sat in a bar in Kefalonia and really fancy havihg my XPX with me next time, anyone flown with a bike in Euope ? Any pointers greatly taken up I.E. bike bags or rigid boxes. I dont want to hire here as the bike are real naff.
OH CRIPES must go my Mythos beer is getting warm yamas, Tel.

[orange]

Very envious! Yes have flown with bike a couple of times - once to Pyrenees and once to Alps. Erm, not much to say really. I just stuffed it all in a bike bag.

Oh yes - one thing put one of those plastic axles between your dropouts (front and back) so your chainstays/forks don't get bent when they put heavy suitcases all on your precious bike.

[kiwi]

i would prefer a bike box if it were me...would just be excess baggage wouldnt it?,or pack all your stuff in the box too

[jimbo]

What ever you do make sure your box or bag can be opened, inspected and closed without to much trouble.

Just came back from Whistler with some friends.  We had an assortment of bike bags and rigid cases.  A couple guys had to take some stuff out of the bike cases as they were overweight.  Another rider had a note stuck inside his bike case saying it was inspected behind his back.  Finally another rider had to open his case in Vancouver to be inspected.  

If any of these were cardbox box with tape it might have been a nightmare to reseal the box.

I stuck a PVC pipe about the same size as an axle to prevent the frame from crushing.  I also zip tied the little nick nacks to the frame and wheels to keep from losing them.  

I used the Trico Ironcase.  Bought brand new from  Nashbar.  After seening all the gouges on the case after the trip I'm glad I used a hard case.

JUST CHECK WITH THE AIRLINE ABOUT WEIGHT LIMITS.  

[Colin]

I had our bikes flown with us to Athens (Greece) in the 90's to go out to the islands, each of them in a cardboard bike box, nothing removed except pedals and the handlebars rotated in line and the tyres deflated.
No damage and no extra charge!

Maybe not as easy these days........

Just go for it! it's insured isn't it?

Col.

[keith]

Just back from Kalymnos myself,some great riding to be had there,gutted didn't have my bike with me.

[rapiddescent]

I have a pair of bike bags - in fact, one is branded K2 Bike.  They were made by Ultra Sport UK.  They used to be the proflex/k2 bike UK importers in the 1990's but since have dropped bikes from their lineup.

the bag has 'pockets' for the wheels and a thick skin - it's not a hard case.  has wheels and special zippers on both sides so you can feed a bike lock through it to lock to roof racks etc.

I totally swear by them.  I think Brandt who owns the  'on-one' and 'planetx' brands in the Uk is selling the self same bag.  not sure.

see:  http://www.bikemagic.com/review/brandpage/mps/ubn/849/brand/Neil-Pryde/sp/498751708143584491584/v/2

in fact, there are some K2 branded bike bags still available.

be aware that the airlines have cracked down on weight per item.  It the bag weighs more than 30kg then you should consider taking heavy stuff out of the bag.

callum
rds