Touring - Where do you store your bicycle travel cases upon landing at your destination?

I'm going to be flying to Ireland, most likely into Dublin. What the hell do I do with the bike case for a month and a half?
EDIT: It's a hard case.

If you spend your first night at a decent hotel, they'll usually agree to store a piece of luggage for you. Be sure to check with them in advance, of course.

Some airports still have storage facilities where you can check your "baggage."

Storage case!? I don't need no stinking storage case!

I used to think the other way until I decided to think 'outside the box'. Granted my tourer is only worth about 2 grand, but when you tie off the front wheel and stick it in a plastic bag, it arrives just as safe as it would in a box only you don't have to rent/buy the box and you don't have to store it and you don't have to return from the same airport you arrived at.

The only down side is that some baggage handler might try to steal your bike. Or they may try to steal your bike AND the fancy case. It's kind of like putting a sign on it that reads "EXPENSIVE BIKE".

But then again, that's just my opinion, and many forum members suggests Fedex instead. Go figure?

Hi stokell-

So you're saying you essentially ship the bike with no protective padding? You roll it in heavyweight plastic film and put a decal on the outside with your name and contact info at your destination?

~ Blue Jays ~

Storage case!? I don't need no stinking storage case!

I used to think the other way until I decided to think 'outside the box'. Granted my tourer is only worth about 2 grand, but when you tie off the front wheel and stick it in a plastic bag, it arrives just as safe as it would in a box only you don't have to rent/buy the box and you don't have to store it and you don't have to return from the same airport you arrived at.

The only down side is that some baggage handler might try to steal your bike. Or they may try to steal your bike AND the fancy case. It's kind of like putting a sign on it that reads "EXPENSIVE BIKE".

But then again, that's just my opinion, and many forum members suggests Fedex instead. Go figure?Airlines will NOT accept any liability for damage to your bike unless it's packed according to their requirements, which means a hard shell case.

I travel internationally with a Bike Friday folder, which trails the suitcase behind it, so it's not an issue for me.

For those of you with B.O.B. trailers and full-sized bicycles, there is this gadget for travel and towing your storage case:

http://www.wandertec.com/

So it sounds like I am either leaving it with the airport or a hotel. Thanks.

Check with American Express travel services. I have when working overseas. I could send things to their offices in major cities and pick them up later. Maybe they still do that. You could land in Dublin, have AMEX ship the case to Londonderry in North Ireland, pick it up and fly home from there.

It's Derry, not Londonderry!!!

It's an easy mistake to make if you're not from the area or have a political understanding of the local sensitivities. To Ken, it still is officially called Londonderry. Few people refer to it now as such; the Catholic Irish majority preferring the "London" dropped for obvious reasons. The irony is that the word "Derry" is actually an Anglicisation. I seem to remember it's from the gaelic word "Doire" or "Doiere" for wood or grove. I forget entirely where the "London" part comes from, something to do with money from London businesses to "Protestantise" the town (I think). As you can imagine it's been a bit of a bone of contention since then.

Airlines will NOT accept any liability for damage to your bike unless it's packed according to their requirements, which means a hard shell case.

I try to avoid making blanket statements. Which airline only accepts hard shell cases? The only airlines I use state that they will accept a bike in a bag or a box as long as the tyres are deflated, the pedals are removed and the bars are turned.

I've done both ways. The original question I believe was; what do you do with the box while you're touring? My suggestion was not to use a box.

As an aside, check to see what liability the airline has. It treats bikes as checked luggage and usually will only pay out a couple of hundred no matter how much you spent on the box.

Assuming this few hundred dollar rule is the case, even more of reason to use a hardshell bike box.

On three trips I've used a Trico Iron case. Needless to say, I don't worry too much about my bike arriving in one piece. It's all a matter of personal preference. Your best bet is to book a night or two on both ends of your trip with the same hotel/hostel. All of the times I've flown with my bike the hotel has always agreed to keep my case for no extra charge. A email or two will find out if they'll do this. Many chain and 3-4 star plus hotels offer pick up and drop off at the airport. A beautiful thing after a long flight. There are some deals if you look around. A few years ago in The Netherlands two of us scored a room in the Raddison for $90 a night for the first and last night we were there. They kept our bike boxes as part of deal. I leave any extra travel clothes or other items I don't want to take along on the bike trip in the case. Obviously, if you're not flying out of the same airport you fly into, a cardboard box is probalby you best option.

Good luck, and let us know how it works out!

I try to avoid making blanket statements. Which airline only accepts hard shell cases? The only airlines I use state that they will accept a bike in a bag or a box as long as the tyres are deflated, the pedals are removed and the bars are turned.They accept the bike. Do they accept liability for damage? Read the contract.


It treats bikes as checked luggage and usually will only pay out a couple of hundred no matter how much you spent on the box.Not true. They pay out either the default value, or declared value if you declare a value and pay a premium, up to the limit of declared value liability they will accept.

I'm starting a tour on Friday and I had my bike shipped to a LBS. They've agreed to store my case for me during the trip.

On international travel, a total baggage loss is offcially compensated by weight --some chicken feed amount per kilo. Does not matter what you declare.
With that said, in case of a total loss, does not mean you cannot negotiate something. When a total loss occurs, this is common practice at our airline. Keep receipts (yes, of your bike purchase.)
IMO, one should armor plate the case and trust it to arrive safely. So much baggage handling is done on automated systems that you cannot count on the bike being handled by a human. In addition, on widebody aircraft, most baggage is containerized. All is takes for a disaster is for the soft side bike package to go into a container, then some gorilla throws a few suitcases in on top.

On international travel, a total baggage loss is offcially compensated by weight --some chicken feed amount per kilo. Does not matter what you declare.This is only partially correct. Yes, they only pay by the kilo, and it amounts to chicken scratch. However, you can make a declaration of value, called a "Special Declaration of Interest at Destination," pay a premium, and have a declared value covered. These provisions are covered by treaty.

If you are considering storing it at the airport, check on the charges before you go. I doubt that it would be less than $10 / day (and might be more), which is serious change for a month and half.