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01-11-2005, 05:28 PM

Greg Anderson wrote:

> Greetings. My wife and I are going to be traveling overseas (from the
> US to Bonaire), and our bikes are going with us on this trip. I'm
> getting a couple of bike boxes from a cousin who works at a sport/bike
> store, and I've gotten advice from family and a few web pages about what
> to take off, and how to pad the bikes.
>
> I was wondering if anyone in the group had any experiences to share
> of things that might not be obvious that help ensure that a bike gets to
> its destination in one piece. Stuff like, um, "don't pack your tools
> with the bike," or "definitely pack your tools with the bike."

> Basically, I think I've got the "book smarts" to pack things up well,
> but if anyone's had any gotcha's from a previous experience, I'd be
> interested in being enlightened.

Don't imagine that "FRAGILE!" or "THIS END UP!" will mean anything to
baggage handlers. We got to watch as our fragile, this end (i.e.
toptube) up bikes were stacked on their sides on the roof of a luggage
truck, then pushed nonchalantly down to the ground. Quite a test of a
packing job.

We've flown overseas only twice. The boxed bikes were treated as I just
described. The other time (long ago) British Airways didn't require
boxing. Our bikes traveled assembled, except for turned handlebars and
removed pedals. They were treated wonderfully.

I'd say, if that option is available, take it.

--
--------------------+
Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com,
replace with cc.ysu dot edu]

01-11-2005, 05:28 PM	#12 (permalink)
Frank Krygowski Posts: n/a	Re: Airplane travel with bicycles Greg Anderson wrote: > Greetings. My wife and I are going to be traveling overseas (from the > US to Bonaire), and our bikes are going with us on this trip. I'm > getting a couple of bike boxes from a cousin who works at a sport/bike > store, and I've gotten advice from family and a few web pages about what > to take off, and how to pad the bikes. > > I was wondering if anyone in the group had any experiences to share > of things that might not be obvious that help ensure that a bike gets to > its destination in one piece. Stuff like, um, "don't pack your tools > with the bike," or "definitely pack your tools with the bike." > Basically, I think I've got the "book smarts" to pack things up well, > but if anyone's had any gotcha's from a previous experience, I'd be > interested in being enlightened. Don't imagine that "FRAGILE!" or "THIS END UP!" will mean anything to baggage handlers. We got to watch as our fragile, this end (i.e. toptube) up bikes were stacked on their sides on the roof of a luggage truck, then pushed nonchalantly down to the ground. Quite a test of a packing job. We've flown overseas only twice. The boxed bikes were treated as I just described. The other time (long ago) British Airways didn't require boxing. Our bikes traveled assembled, except for turned handlebars and removed pedals. They were treated wonderfully. I'd say, if that option is available, take it. -- --------------------+ Frank Krygowski [To reply, remove rodent and vegetable dot com, replace with cc.ysu dot edu]