Travel dilemma to Europe-bag type?? - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

08-27-2004, 02:45 PM

Hello all

I need some advice as to what type of bike bag to take on a trip throughout
Europe. The dilemma is this:

I want to take my bike from Canada and ride throughout Europe. Do I take a
very minimal bag that will carry my road bike, but also stuff into my
backpack for ease of travel from city to city and on the rail?

OR do I use a sturdier, larger bag for the flight to assure safe delivery of
my bike, with greater difficulty in travelling around with the larger bag?

Safe bike or 'packability' of bike bag??

The trip is about 4 weeks away so I need to decide soon.

TIA for any advice.
JR

08-27-2004, 03:43 PM

"Joel Rose" wrote...
> Hello all
>
> I need some advice as to what type of bike bag to take on a trip
throughout
> Europe. The dilemma is this:
>
> I want to take my bike from Canada and ride throughout Europe. Do I take a
> very minimal bag that will carry my road bike, but also stuff into my
> backpack for ease of travel from city to city and on the rail?
>
> OR do I use a sturdier, larger bag for the flight to assure safe delivery
of
> my bike, with greater difficulty in travelling around with the larger bag?
>
> Safe bike or 'packability' of bike bag??

I flew from Denver to London and back in May with a touring bike, all I did
was take off the pedals and turn the handlebars sideways. the bike arrived
unscathed after both flights. There's a theory that a baggage handler
confronted with an unpacked bike will recognize it as requiring special
handling, and treat it more carefully than a bag or box whose contents
he/she cannot see. Seems to have worked for me. Check with the airline
you're using and find out what their requirements are before you try this.

Are you touring and carrying your gear on your bike, or travelling from
place to place by rail and going for rides while all your belongings stay in
your hotel room?

Which countries are you travelling in? French TGV (high speed/long distance)
trains have some fairly cumbersome requirements.

Depending on how much money you're willing to spend, you could buy a really
good hardshell travel case, and store it at the airport you're flying in and
out of ($$$$) or at the hotel you're using after arrival/before departure
($$,maybe). Your bike would be as safe as it's going to be, and
"packability" would not be an issue.
HTH,
--
mark

08-27-2004, 03:43 PM

"Joel Rose" wrote...
> Hello all
>
> I need some advice as to what type of bike bag to take on a trip
throughout
> Europe. The dilemma is this:
>
> I want to take my bike from Canada and ride throughout Europe. Do I take a
> very minimal bag that will carry my road bike, but also stuff into my
> backpack for ease of travel from city to city and on the rail?
>
> OR do I use a sturdier, larger bag for the flight to assure safe delivery
of
> my bike, with greater difficulty in travelling around with the larger bag?
>
> Safe bike or 'packability' of bike bag??

I flew from Denver to London and back in May with a touring bike, all I did
was take off the pedals and turn the handlebars sideways. the bike arrived
unscathed after both flights. There's a theory that a baggage handler
confronted with an unpacked bike will recognize it as requiring special
handling, and treat it more carefully than a bag or box whose contents
he/she cannot see. Seems to have worked for me. Check with the airline
you're using and find out what their requirements are before you try this.

Are you touring and carrying your gear on your bike, or travelling from
place to place by rail and going for rides while all your belongings stay in
your hotel room?

Which countries are you travelling in? French TGV (high speed/long distance)
trains have some fairly cumbersome requirements.

Depending on how much money you're willing to spend, you could buy a really
good hardshell travel case, and store it at the airport you're flying in and
out of ($$$$) or at the hotel you're using after arrival/before departure
($$,maybe). Your bike would be as safe as it's going to be, and
"packability" would not be an issue.
HTH,
--
mark

08-27-2004, 03:43 PM

"Joel Rose" wrote...
> Hello all
>
> I need some advice as to what type of bike bag to take on a trip
throughout
> Europe. The dilemma is this:
>
> I want to take my bike from Canada and ride throughout Europe. Do I take a
> very minimal bag that will carry my road bike, but also stuff into my
> backpack for ease of travel from city to city and on the rail?
>
> OR do I use a sturdier, larger bag for the flight to assure safe delivery
of
> my bike, with greater difficulty in travelling around with the larger bag?
>
> Safe bike or 'packability' of bike bag??

I flew from Denver to London and back in May with a touring bike, all I did
was take off the pedals and turn the handlebars sideways. the bike arrived
unscathed after both flights. There's a theory that a baggage handler
confronted with an unpacked bike will recognize it as requiring special
handling, and treat it more carefully than a bag or box whose contents
he/she cannot see. Seems to have worked for me. Check with the airline
you're using and find out what their requirements are before you try this.

Are you touring and carrying your gear on your bike, or travelling from
place to place by rail and going for rides while all your belongings stay in
your hotel room?

Which countries are you travelling in? French TGV (high speed/long distance)
trains have some fairly cumbersome requirements.

Depending on how much money you're willing to spend, you could buy a really
good hardshell travel case, and store it at the airport you're flying in and
out of ($$$$) or at the hotel you're using after arrival/before departure
($$,maybe). Your bike would be as safe as it's going to be, and
"packability" would not be an issue.
HTH,
--
mark

08-27-2004, 03:43 PM

"Joel Rose" wrote...
> Hello all
>
> I need some advice as to what type of bike bag to take on a trip
throughout
> Europe. The dilemma is this:
>
> I want to take my bike from Canada and ride throughout Europe. Do I take a
> very minimal bag that will carry my road bike, but also stuff into my
> backpack for ease of travel from city to city and on the rail?
>
> OR do I use a sturdier, larger bag for the flight to assure safe delivery
of
> my bike, with greater difficulty in travelling around with the larger bag?
>
> Safe bike or 'packability' of bike bag??

I flew from Denver to London and back in May with a touring bike, all I did
was take off the pedals and turn the handlebars sideways. the bike arrived
unscathed after both flights. There's a theory that a baggage handler
confronted with an unpacked bike will recognize it as requiring special
handling, and treat it more carefully than a bag or box whose contents
he/she cannot see. Seems to have worked for me. Check with the airline
you're using and find out what their requirements are before you try this.

Are you touring and carrying your gear on your bike, or travelling from
place to place by rail and going for rides while all your belongings stay in
your hotel room?

Which countries are you travelling in? French TGV (high speed/long distance)
trains have some fairly cumbersome requirements.

Depending on how much money you're willing to spend, you could buy a really
good hardshell travel case, and store it at the airport you're flying in and
out of ($$$$) or at the hotel you're using after arrival/before departure
($$,maybe). Your bike would be as safe as it's going to be, and
"packability" would not be an issue.
HTH,
--
mark