Touring - Bike Box plans

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MichaelW
08-07-04, 07:55 AM
My airline (Easyjet, flying from Stansted, London), insists that I pack the bike in a box.
I am travelling to the airport by bike/train, so its almost impossible for me to carry a cardboard bike box, or pack the bike at home. Its even harder to find a box for the return flight.
I am looking for plans for a box that can be "flat-packed" down for transport on the luggage rack, and maybe stash at a local farm/hostel (in Slovenia) for the return leg. This is a fully rigged touring bike, with rack, lights and fenders, so I dont want a tiny suitcase for a racer.
I've seens the excellent plans for reinforcing a std cardboard box with Coroplast (corrugated platic board). http://members.shaw.ca/boxyourbike/
I'm thinking of using this material on its own to fabricate a box.
Has anyone ever done it, or seen plans?

froze
08-07-04, 11:36 PM
Wow that's a tough one. You could contact a bike shop there in Stansted and see if they have any ideas about a box; I would think with all the travelers they see in Europe doing the same thing your doing they would have some thoughts.
stokell
08-08-04, 01:42 PM
Hmm.
With all the competition between carriers in Europe you might like to try another airline. I used to get the cardboard boxes bikes come in from by LBS. Then I would take of the front wheel, block the forks, deflate the tires (tyres) and bring along one of those set of wheels to roll the box along miles of terminal corridor. Now I carry a large heavy duty plastic bag. I ride to the airport, wait in line and then just roll the complete bike into the bag and hop on the plane. At my destination, I tear open the bag and roll the bike out and take off. I carry an extra bag for the flight home. You'll never be able to fold the bag up again the way it was when you bought it.

It is so much easier, faster, lighter and simpler I don't know why I ever boxed a bike then tried to find a B&B to store it for me while I was on a tour. I'd check out the alternatives.

Grimix
08-14-04, 12:04 AM
Hi Michael,

Thanks for the comment about my site. Have a look at https://www.crateworks.com/
Their PRO XL-C is made out of corrugated plastic. You might get some ideas there.

Graham.
http://members.shaw.ca/boxyourbike/