How to transport a MTB overseas

[Jaco Van Der Merwe]

Hey all, 

Im planning to come do the W2W in Oct and will bring my mtb along.

 

Ive been trying to check on how that can be done in the most practical way and so far ive heard the following (pls let me know if this is BS and whether you have any hacks i should rather do):

- With KLM i need to pack the bike in a bikebox which is limited to 300cm in dimension.

- Ive been told that 29" mtb dont fit in a hard box thus a soft shell is my only option.

 

 

1. I dont understand how to calculate the 300cm dimension requirement, is it as simple as W+L+B ?  Would most bike boxes fit into these dimensions?

2. What would i need to do to pack and protect my mtb the best? eg remove wheels, pedals and ....?

 

[xamnam]

.

[Andreas_187]

Alan bike box

[RobertWhitehead]

Book an extra seat for it and take it on the flight with you, I mean it is your baby after all 

[funnyman]

Go to LBS, get a carboard box for 29er. Remove wheels, pedals, handlebar, rotors, and RD and tie inside rear triangle. Deflate tyres, pack all gear in there and use bubble wrap. Paste 100's of FRAGILE stickers on. 

Pack all spare stuff in so it doesn't shift/vibrate. I do it like that works best. 

 

Hey all, 

Im planning to come do the W2W in Oct and will bring my mtb along.

 

Ive been trying to check on how that can be done in the most practical way and so far ive heard the following (pls let me know if this is BS and whether you have any hacks i should rather do):

- With KLM i need to pack the bike in a bikebox which is limited to 300cm in dimension.

- Ive been told that 29" mtb dont fit in a hard box thus a soft shell is my only option.

 

 

1. I dont understand how to calculate the 300cm dimension requirement, is it as simple as W+L+B ?  Would most bike boxes fit into these dimensions?

2. What would i need to do to pack and protect my mtb the best? eg remove wheels, pedals and ....?

[dave303e]

I am flying out this evening with bike.

 

We built bike boxes out of correx(like plastic cardboard) and made them to spec specified by the airline.

 

http://www.rogueadventure.com/a-bike-box-build/?fbclid=IwAR2eDQnIZa5hRMhPblZVlc5V7ucD-TvVmH8iJjsuIuqHe8HMh0JUpQvHn5I

 

KLM-  176.5 x 23.0 x 101.5 cm

 

Just a warning for BA, phone them 72 hours before check in and tell them you flying with a bike and they pre arrange and it makes life easier at check in.

[geomark]

Go to LBS, get a carboard box for 29er. Remove wheels, pedals, handlebar, rotors, and RD and tie inside rear triangle. Deflate tyres, pack all gear in there and use bubble wrap. Paste 100's of FRAGILE stickers on. 

Pack all spare stuff in so it doesn't shift/vibrate. I do it like that works best. 

Pretty much this as the cheapest option for a single trip, I wouldn't deflate tyres, just nod when they ask you if you have   Bubble wrap is your friend. Have flown bikes like this on KLM/Air France, just make sure is less than 23kg otherwise they will give you hassles and it must be pre-booked by phone and paid for.  Think last one to Paris was EUR90

 

If you are going to do it more regularly get a decent soft bag like an EVOC, makes life far far easier transitioning around railway stations/airports but comes at a price.  Be careful of cheap soft cases with narrow wheel bases as they are a real pain moving around and unstable, its worth spending a bit more for evoc/scion etc if going to use it regularly. The hard cases tend to be very heavy by the time you've added a 29" dual sus and as soon as you exceed 23kg you generally get penalised as it changes the class of item for ground handling teams.

[Jaco Van Der Merwe]

Your total measurement comes to 301cm    Hope they allow it.

 

I am flying out this evening with bike.

 

We built bike boxes out of correx(like plastic cardboard) and made them to spec specified by the airline.

 

http://www.rogueadventure.com/a-bike-box-build/?fbclid=IwAR2eDQnIZa5hRMhPblZVlc5V7ucD-TvVmH8iJjsuIuqHe8HMh0JUpQvHn5I

 

KLM-  176.5 x 23.0 x 101.5 cm

 

Just a warning for BA, phone them 72 hours before check in and tell them you flying with a bike and they pre arrange and it makes life easier at check in.

[Jaco Van Der Merwe]

Thanks, i get everything you say except for the rotors.  Why would i want to remove them?  They are on the wheel and not the frame right?  I didnt think of RD though but it should be fairly easy...  Can just get a bikeshop to put in back together if i screw something up.  

 

Go to LBS, get a carboard box for 29er. Remove wheels, pedals, handlebar, rotors, and RD and tie inside rear triangle. Deflate tyres, pack all gear in there and use bubble wrap. Paste 100's of FRAGILE stickers on. 

Pack all spare stuff in so it doesn't shift/vibrate. I do it like that works best. 

[geomark]

Thanks, i get everything you say except for the rotors.  Why would i want to remove them?  They are on the wheel and not the frame right?  I didnt think of RD though but it should be fairly easy...  Can just get a bikeshop to put in back together if i screw something up.  

I never take rotors off, rear deralieur is usually very easy and just stops the hanger getting bent if takes a blow in transit, 50% of people seem to take them off 50% leave them from the groups I've seen, you choose.

[eddy]

Go to LBS, get a carboard box for 29er. Remove wheels, pedals, handlebar, rotors, and RD and tie inside rear triangle. Deflate tyres, pack all gear in there and use bubble wrap. Paste 100's of FRAGILE stickers on. 

Pack ⁰all spare stuff in so it doesn't shift/vibrate. I do it like that works best. 

I typically leave the back wheel in.

Remove pedals and seat post. Take off handlebars at the front of the stem and cable tie to frame.

ÞDDŔ

CaÞble tie front wheel to frame. Remove RD (it is just one bolt) swing it out of the way and cable tie it or shift it all the way up and tape little box over it so it doesn't get damaged if box is sat on.

 

Fill the box with your clothing, tools helmet etc, keeping it to under 23kg and check it in as your 1 bag. Take the rest in hand luggage.

 

Have done it a few times - easier with a Road bike but manageable with MTB.

[Jaco Van Der Merwe]

Thanks!  Makes sense, but i called KLM yesterday, 

 

They say if i can keep dimensions of the box below 158cm then i can check it in as "suitcase" otherwise i need to pay 100EUR extra as long as dimensions are below 300cm.  So guess thats what i will aim for.  

 

Managed to get 2 softcases which someone will borrow us which i presume is within specs.  Now i just need to practice to remove RD and handlebars ect.  Should be easy...

 

I typically leave the back wheel in.
Remove pedals and seat post. Take off handlebars at the front of the stem and cable tie to frame.
ÞDDŔ
CaÞble tie front wheel to frame. Remove RD (it is just one bolt) swing it out of the way and cable tie it or shift it all the way up and tape little box over it so it doesn't get damaged if box is sat on.

Fill the box with your clothing, tools helmet etc, keeping it to under 23kg and check it in as your 1 bag. Take the rest in hand luggage.

Have done it a few times - easier with a Road bike but manageable with MTB.

[Rocket-Boy]

Go to LBS, get a carboard box for 29er. Remove wheels, pedals, handlebar, rotors, and RD and tie inside rear triangle. Deflate tyres, pack all gear in there and use bubble wrap. Paste 100's of FRAGILE stickers on. 

Pack all spare stuff in so it doesn't shift/vibrate. I do it like that works best. 

Fragile stickers are like a challenge to the baggage handlers to check just how fragile it actually is...

[usxorf]

Thanks! Makes sense, but i called KLM yesterday,

 

They say if i can keep dimensions of the box below 158cm then i can check it in as "suitcase" otherwise i need to pay 100EUR extra as long as dimensions are below 300cm. So guess thats what i will aim for.

 

Managed to get 2 softcases which someone will borrow us which i presume is within specs. Now i just need to practice to remove RD and handlebars ect. Should be easy...

I tried to remove my Rd for packing and the bolt broke. This happened 2 hrs before I had to be at the airport. Luckily I could strip the mech off my commuter, but yeah. Still needed a new gear cable to install.

 

So it's wise to do a test run now, and it gives you an idea of which tools you'll need to put everything back on the bike.

[dave303e]

Your total measurement comes to 301cm    Hope they allow it.

 

Most airlines give maximum dimensions sepecific to bike boxes:

 

https://www.britishairways.com/en-us/information/baggage-essentials/sporting-goods-and-musical-instruments

[dave303e]

So an update on this and my Experience last 3 weeks.

 

I flew to Inverness for the Itera Adventure race with my bike on British Airways.

 

I made myself a box out of correx as per the link above:

Materials were R500 and I used 2 old straps I had lying around. The box is still 100% despite being abused for the AR event, it is also waterproof.

 

For British airways I flew premium economy there which allowed 2 checked in bags of 23kg.

I flew normal economy back and Paid R1050 for an extra check in bag which I booked 2 weeks before the flight. So I had a 140 litre North face duffel for gear and then the bike box.

 

I phoned them 72 hours before the flight to advise that I was flying with a bike and at check in they had it noted already.

 

No extra charge, no major hassles. I managed to put paddle and lifejacket into the bike box as well. I always fly with helmet as hand luggage so I can keep it safe.

 

On the way there BA had their IT glitch, one flight was cancelled and the bike only got there 2 days later. On the way back everything was 100% and arrived all together.