veganbikes

I found I just couldn't get off the ground flying my bike no matter how hard I flapped my arms!

Ariane

I have flown a couple of times London Hong Kong Taipei and to Malaysia. On each occasion my bike was in a Giant bike box with no difficulties. I use the foam tube protectors that manufacturers supply on new bikes before they are built up and bubble wrap all the other loose items in the bike box. Flying from Kuala Lumpur to Taipei MAS managed to damage the bike box with a few gouges in the side and the corners were a bit flatted and the axle of the front wheel was through the side of the box when I collected it but there was no damage to the bike. I took the QR skewer out. I had to make some repairs to the box and add more card to internal areas where parts of the bike might rub and or pierce the box. I wasn't impressed with ground staff at KL. They appeared to be throwing most bags and packages around. In contrast in London I saw my bike delivered on it's own to the plane and upright as well and same when it was loaded onto the plane in Taipei. In KL the security staff scanning all luggage insisted that it was laid flat and on the side likely to cause it damage. They refused me to turn it over so the box was at least laying on it's other side on account of a label that was stuck on the box at check in desk. They were most disagreeable and did not care a jot that it was plastered with fragile stickers and meant to be kept upright. They insisted it went through the same scanner that suitcases go through and I told them it would get stuck but this rude fat Muslim woman wouldn't listen and it did which is what probably caused the damage to the box but fortunately my bike was ok. This was in total contrast to Taoyuan International airport in Taiwan which was efficient and the staff very helpful and friendly. My bike treated carefully as over sized fragile luggage. I saw it brought out to the plane and carefully lifted up to the hold by two guys. When I arrived and went to baggage reclaim it was brought out to me the box unmarked. It hadn't met Malaysian ground staff at that point.

djb

Hence the necessity of ET in a front basket, or a good sized ramp.

alan s 

Last time I flew on my bike I came down hard on the saddle and bent the seatpost. Try to keep it on the ground.

djb

last month I was in a bike store and a guy came in with his mountain bike, he had been riding fast on a trail , hit a big rock, flew up in the air and came down hard , so hard that his seat rails got bent. He was a big guy, but quite an impact to actually bend the rails, and he was fine keester and other parts wise, so I guess he was seated properly on the seat when it happened.