General Cycling Discussion - Bike and airplanes

Ok next week I'm moving all the way across Canada, I'm flying there but all my furnitures and effects are transported by a moving company (trucks) thing is I don't want to wait 3 weeks before getting my bike :/ so I'd like to know if there are convenient ways to have a bike with you when you get in a plane, how much should it cost (ballpark) what kind of box is there, and mainly is it safe to do !! :) by the way the bike is a Brodie Holeshot (HT/DJ mtb)

I'm not sure about the policy in your part of the world. I've done a few flights in Australia with my bike in tow, and not been charged any extra for it (although I had to sign a waiver promising not to sue if it got damaged, which it didn't). Because I was touring I used a soft-case box from Groundeffect (www.groundeffect.co.nz) and packed clothes, sleeping bags, tent etc around it for extra protection. As you are not touring, you're probably better off getting a hard case for it (would have been to much extra weight for me to carry).

It depends on the carrier. Air Canada usually charges $60 to carry an 'official' bike box on board, but that isn't always the case. One ticket agent waived the fare for me once. :rolleyes:
I would recommend boxing your bike at a reputable shop as well.

by boxing the bike would a regular cardboard box would work ??

I don't want to spend a few hundred on a box I'll be using once

Just go to a local shop and ask for an old bike box. Thats all I did. Some of the smaller airlines don't charge to ship the bike, but air canada in all its ripoff glory does.

Man do I miss canada3000.

You may also want to go to the local hardware store and buy some pipe insulation. You can use them to protect certain parts of the bike.

by boxing the bike would a regular cardboard box would work ??

I don't want to spend a few hundred on a box I'll be using once

hopefully i'm soon enough on this one as i've gone a few times in the air w/ my bike. if i'm late on this.. forgive me, hopefully it'll help someone else on this.

first run down to your hardware store and pick up some 1 & 1/2 inch piping insulation. (non sealing or taping type. some comes w/ a sealent tape built in. if you don't get that kind the piping is reusable) and if your front/rear forks don't have springs or hydrolics (1/2 inch tubing) then pick up a nother 1/2 inch strip of pipe insulation. shouldn't cost you over 4 bucks. use this and cut it to fit around all the tubing on your bike. if your really worried about it slipping off you can use paper tape or twist ties to hold it on.

second get a plain box w/o bike emblems on it. (my LBS has these in pleanty) and on the side of the box when you get your bike nice and packed away in it write something to the effect of "trade show display". some airlines will let you get away w/ that and not charge you extra for it but won't let your nicely packed bike on w/o charging you. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. just depends on who's behind the counter.

what else can i think of... make sure your peddles are off... oh yeah get a bracket brace (that the right word?) it's a little strip of plastic that goes in between the front/rear forks so if something heavy is set on the bike they won't bend. your LBS usually will just give you this for free. just make sure to measure the cm sizing of your forks / rear bracket, so that you get the right size.

hmmm, think that's about all i can think of.

oh and if your having problems moving the box due to aquardness of it, you can tape a skateboard to one of the short sides and kinda drag it through the airport. i've done this but i modified the skateboard by sawing off the sticky-upy corners. (i'm so technical here, aren't i?)

hope this helps
cheers
kat

yeah my biggest concern right now is transporting the box, I'll have to cab - fly - cab - bus - cab, I think I'll just have to let the movers get the bike and wait a good 3 weeks :(

I'll see what the bike shop can arrange me

yeah my biggest concern right now is transporting the box, I'll have to cab - fly - cab - bus - cab, I think I'll just have to let the movers get the bike and wait a good 3 weeks :(

I'll see what the bike shop can arrange me

well i can't blame ya for not wanting to lug it around. it is a pain. however even if you do let the movers lug it for you i'd still have a tendency (if it were my baby going) to want to pack her myself. or at the least take her into your LBS and have them pack her up for you. i've seen what movers do to things and it's always left me w/ a feeling that i've hired the three stooges. it's not going to cost you that much to pack her yourself. (costs me 8 bucks for a trike cause i need more padding than a DF and i only need to buy the padding once.) and you'll save yourself the worry factor knowing you've got her packed in a way that even the three stooges couldn't hurt her.

cheers
kat

thanks for the advices, I do have a huge back here I'll see I could work something out with the bike, like padding the bike and check if I could fit it in the bag (huge hockey like bag) then put the bag in the box but with the strap coming out from the top to help carry it. If I can work that I'll be sure to bring the bike with me :)

that's why i mentioned the skateboard taped to the bottom. if the airline folks see it's a bike your sure to get charged an extra 60 - 140 bucks. also why i mentioned writing on the side "trade show display", if they don't "think" its a bike they won't charge you for it.

but however you pack it make sure it's well padded them airline / moving company people have a tendency to throw things.

good luck to ya.
kat