Great video, kudos for the attention to details! Fully agree with everything you said during the first part. As for packing, I also stick a piece of cardboard between the brake pads, to prevent them from locking. I also leave the rack in place, only lowering it if needed. I also tie the handlebar to the fork, to prevent it from shifting around (it's a dropbar, so kinda wraps around the fork nicely). As for the removal of the handlebar - yes, Ortlieb's fitting is a huge nuisance, I ended up drilling out the holes in it, because it was impossible to push the cable through it, so now it works better, and also they've released a new fitting, that uses two cords instead of a cable - and this one is much easier to put on and take off as many times as needed. I also have electrician tape around the stem, both to mark the location, and to serve as a barrier of sorts between that fitting and the handlebar. I do put all of my camping gear into the box, so far it caused no issues. Nice touch about putting the bike into the lowest gear - I'll do that from now on! Same about writing my details on the box. As for sealing it, I think the tape sticks better to itself than to cardboard, so I pass the tape around the box a couple of times - at 3 different locations, both sides and center. I'm not sure why do you remove the bottle cages - I always leave them on.
Oooh lots of great tips here! Thank you for mentioning the new Ortlieb mount - I may transition over to that. Fortunately I have mechanical disc brakes so I don't need to worry about them locking, but that's a great point for hydraulic! I only take the bottle cages off because I find it creates a nice little protective space for the rotor on my front wheel - but otherwise I wouldn't bother. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Hi Sheelagh. Thank you for this video. Going Vancouver to London UK next April and returning via Amsterdam. This was very helpful and super practical. Yes please on how to open, unpack and putting your bike back together would be immensely helpful and appreciated to me. Truly that part of the trip is the one that causes me the greatest anxiousness. Thanks for sharing
I'm so glad the video was helpful! And thank you for mentioning that one on putting it back together would be helpful :) I will plan to capture it next time I'm putting my bike back together. Wishing you smooth preparations for your upcoming trip!
I have lugged bike boxes through airports, on the Skytrain, SeaBus and also put my bike together at an airport. Putting it together at the airport is the best (by far) - just dump the box there, they don't mind. Get a good rest before your trip though. You want your wits about you when jetlagged.
Great Advice Sheelagh I’m flying from Dublin Ireland to Zurich. Our own national carrier was ok with the bike with a capacity to take six. A point to remember is that smaller regional jets don’t have capacity for bikes because of the size of the hold. Was nearly caught by this. I’m not the most technical so putting the bike back together will be interesting 🤨 Thanks again
What if you’re dealing with a vintage bike with a single bolt stem? Removing the handlebars is impossible without removing shifters, brake levers, cables and bar tape. Do you just keep the handlebars on the stem and remove the stem?
My wife and I have recently returned from Europe with our bikes. Sydney to Istanbul, then Stockholm to Sydney. This was the first time that we have packed up and flown with our bikes. Your comments are spot-on. I did plenty of research, especially with the airlines to make sure that I had everything covered. I also kept copies of confirmations and any interactions with the airport in case there was any confusion at the airport. This was not required but is a good safeguard. We were able to box each bike with extra gear (pannier, tools, camping equip), and keep each to a maximum of 30 kilograms (our limit). We then each carried a pannier (as carry-on), with clothing and some camping gear to a maximum of 7.5 kilograms. We each then had a 'handbag' with any remainder of smaller stuff. This way we did not have to pay for any excess baggage (except initially when our checked-in limit was only 25 kilograms). We had no issues with either airport with check-in. The only challenge was getting to each airport with a couple of heavy and large bike boxes. This was possible with doing a bit of research again. From Stockholm, we stayed at a budget hotel close to the airport and ended up with a number of options of transport. We had a choice of two complimentary shuttle buses that were happy to carry the boxes, even though we were not staying at a neighbouring one. The breaking down of the bikes to fit in the boxes, and subsequent putting them back together again, does take some time but if you are methodical and patient, it was reasonably straightforward. I would not have a problem with putting the bikes together at the airport. There always seems to be plenty of space to tuck away in a corner out of the road. We now feel confident of doing the whole exercise again in the near future. Love your videos.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! That's great to hear you were able to put extra gear in the box and bring a pannier and bag as carry on - I'm tempted to try that method next time :) Happy riding!
That's a good question. I don't think it would be worth it personally. The airline I fly with often is just $50CAD for a bike so that's $100 for the whole adventure. And then there's the fact that it's the bike I ride regularly so I reduce the risk of injury, and I know how to fix it for the most part should there be a mechanical issue. I think there can be circumstances where renting or buying is the right choice for folks, but for me it's always seemed cheapest, easiest and best to bring my own.
Very helpful video thanks for sharing! Couple of questions: 1) Is it safe to keep the rear wheel and derailleur attached to the frame or do you also sometime need to remove the rear wheel and the derailleur , pack it separately? Is it a standard size bike box or some boxes could be also smaller? 2. Can you carry the bicycle packed in a box like this in buses or trains? (Eurorail)
Great questions! 1) I personally don't remove the rear wheel and derailleur if I can help it. Most bikes when shipped from their manufacturers to bike shops come with the rear wheel on, the derailleur shifted into the largest ring of the cassette, and the derailleur protected with padding. So my thinking is, if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me! 2) Different buses and trains have different regulations so I would start there before making any plans. If they will take the bike packed in a cardboard box like this, I do find carrying it difficult - it's heavy and a bit of an awkward position (especially for those of us who are a bit shorter). However, I have seen some people purchase little roller wheels attached to a piece of metal and then they strap that to the box with straps so they can roll the box. It's still not super smooth to roll from what I've seen, but could help make it doable in a pinch!
There are free alternatives to bicycle baggage on airlines. Many international airlines allow for free 2 - 23kg(50 lbs) check in bags. Option 1 would then be a folding bike since they are about 30 lbs. And fit a cardboard box trimmed to the baggage dimension limits works well. Even a thick bag worked with good carry handles. Option 2 will work only with 26" wheels and smaller frames and if you are a good bike mechanic. Basically take the bike apart into 2 cardboard boxes, wheels in one and frame in the other. I found 700c wheels in a cardboard box exceeds the free baggage dimensions. And taking the bike apart allowed me to do some deep cleaning and maintenance at the same time.
A few things in my bike boxing... 1. Packing tape works better than duct tape. 2. I use three nylon straps with clips to hold the bike together/closed. It is that light but strong webbing that many businesses use when they ship items. 3. I buy a box of plastic wrap [Saran wrap) for both my and my wife's bike and use an entire roll to wrap each box. Similar to the airport service. 3. I print out our names and contact info at destination and home address on a sheet of paper and attach it to the bike inside the box. 4. I phone bike shops in my European departure city before my trip to sort out a bike box for the trip home. Many shops no longer have spare boxes lying around.
Do you book through google flights or have you found it better to go directly to airlines? I feel like the flight and bringing my bike is the biggest fear point! So thank you for this video.
Great question! I start my search with Google Flights but then book directly with the airline. It hasn't happened to me but I've heard of others who have booked with a secondary source like Expedia and then when something went wrong they were caught in the middle with the airline and the booking site each saying it was the other's fault. So yes, booking direct for me! Flying with a bike really isn't as scary as it seems at first - you can do it!! Wishing you wonderful adventures :)
I recently tried using a cheap ($45) bike bag that rolled into a duffel and could be kept on the bike and reused. It seemed like a great solution but the zipper broke on it's maiden voyage. Bummer. I'd love to learn that there is a better quality one so I could try again.
Great question! Putting a brake block in is important for hydraulic disc brakes but not necessary for mechanical disc brakes, which is what I have (though of course it can be done for peace of mind) :)
This is such an amazingly helpful video! I have two trips coming up and have been trying to figure out how best to fly with a bike, what considerations I'll need to check, how I'll pack it, etc. You've answered nearly every question I had (minus bits specific to my bike).
I flew with my bike for the first time this summer and watched a few youtube videos to figure out bike disassembly and boxing. I was quite intimidated by the whole process of flying with my bike, but everything worked our at both ends of the trip. I have to say that your video is really excellent in explaining the entire process (not just how to box a bike) and I wish I had seen it before my first trip! After one trip I am no longer intimidated and look forward to more bike tours :)
Thank you for the kind words! I'm so glad everything went well with your first flight! I totally agree, after a couple tries it doesn't feel so intimidating :)
I hope my sharing my experiences is helpful! If you've flown with your bike before, please share any of your top tips in the comments!
Great video, kudos for the attention to details! Fully agree with everything you said during the first part. As for packing, I also stick a piece of cardboard between the brake pads, to prevent them from locking. I also leave the rack in place, only lowering it if needed. I also tie the handlebar to the fork, to prevent it from shifting around (it's a dropbar, so kinda wraps around the fork nicely). As for the removal of the handlebar - yes, Ortlieb's fitting is a huge nuisance, I ended up drilling out the holes in it, because it was impossible to push the cable through it, so now it works better, and also they've released a new fitting, that uses two cords instead of a cable - and this one is much easier to put on and take off as many times as needed. I also have electrician tape around the stem, both to mark the location, and to serve as a barrier of sorts between that fitting and the handlebar. I do put all of my camping gear into the box, so far it caused no issues. Nice touch about putting the bike into the lowest gear - I'll do that from now on! Same about writing my details on the box. As for sealing it, I think the tape sticks better to itself than to cardboard, so I pass the tape around the box a couple of times - at 3 different locations, both sides and center. I'm not sure why do you remove the bottle cages - I always leave them on.
Oooh lots of great tips here! Thank you for mentioning the new Ortlieb mount - I may transition over to that. Fortunately I have mechanical disc brakes so I don't need to worry about them locking, but that's a great point for hydraulic! I only take the bottle cages off because I find it creates a nice little protective space for the rotor on my front wheel - but otherwise I wouldn't bother. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Hi Sheelagh. Thank you for this video. Going Vancouver to London UK next April and returning via Amsterdam. This was very helpful and super practical. Yes please on how to open, unpack and putting your bike back together would be immensely helpful and appreciated to me. Truly that part of the trip is the one that causes me the greatest anxiousness. Thanks for sharing
I'm so glad the video was helpful! And thank you for mentioning that one on putting it back together would be helpful :) I will plan to capture it next time I'm putting my bike back together. Wishing you smooth preparations for your upcoming trip!
I have lugged bike boxes through airports, on the Skytrain, SeaBus and also put my bike together at an airport. Putting it together at the airport is the best (by far) - just dump the box there, they don't mind. Get a good rest before your trip though. You want your wits about you when jetlagged.
Great Advice Sheelagh
I’m flying from Dublin Ireland to Zurich. Our own national carrier was ok with the bike with a capacity to take six. A point to remember is that smaller regional jets don’t have capacity for bikes because of the size of the hold. Was nearly caught by this.
I’m not the most technical so putting the bike back together will be interesting 🤨
Thanks again
Not a frequent flyer but this seems to be good information thanks
What if you’re dealing with a vintage bike with a single bolt stem? Removing the handlebars is impossible without removing shifters, brake levers, cables and bar tape. Do you just keep the handlebars on the stem and remove the stem?
Very valuable information
My wife and I have recently returned from Europe with our bikes. Sydney to Istanbul, then Stockholm to Sydney. This was the first time that we have packed up and flown with our bikes. Your comments are spot-on. I did plenty of research, especially with the airlines to make sure that I had everything covered. I also kept copies of confirmations and any interactions with the airport in case there was any confusion at the airport. This was not required but is a good safeguard. We were able to box each bike with extra gear (pannier, tools, camping equip), and keep each to a maximum of 30 kilograms (our limit). We then each carried a pannier (as carry-on), with clothing and some camping gear to a maximum of 7.5 kilograms. We each then had a 'handbag' with any remainder of smaller stuff. This way we did not have to pay for any excess baggage (except initially when our checked-in limit was only 25 kilograms). We had no issues with either airport with check-in. The only challenge was getting to each airport with a couple of heavy and large bike boxes. This was possible with doing a bit of research again. From Stockholm, we stayed at a budget hotel close to the airport and ended up with a number of options of transport. We had a choice of two complimentary shuttle buses that were happy to carry the boxes, even though we were not staying at a neighbouring one. The breaking down of the bikes to fit in the boxes, and subsequent putting them back together again, does take some time but if you are methodical and patient, it was reasonably straightforward. I would not have a problem with putting the bikes together at the airport. There always seems to be plenty of space to tuck away in a corner out of the road. We now feel confident of doing the whole exercise again in the near future. Love your videos.
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! That's great to hear you were able to put extra gear in the box and bring a pannier and bag as carry on - I'm tempted to try that method next time :) Happy riding!
Instead of travelling with your own bike, have you ever considered renting (or even buying!) a bike in the destination country?
That's a good question. I don't think it would be worth it personally. The airline I fly with often is just $50CAD for a bike so that's $100 for the whole adventure. And then there's the fact that it's the bike I ride regularly so I reduce the risk of injury, and I know how to fix it for the most part should there be a mechanical issue. I think there can be circumstances where renting or buying is the right choice for folks, but for me it's always seemed cheapest, easiest and best to bring my own.
Nice! What I do with my equiptment:I don’t use an old bag,I just put in a cartoon box and is fine(plus you might safe 1-2 kgs).Safe rides:)
Thank you! Yes I think that's what I'll do for my next trip :)
Flying is much faster than crossing the continent on a ship,,
timing is so good, I saw this video minutes after booking my flight for my first trip with a bike. Thanks for all the information.
Yay!! I’m so excited for you - hope you have a great first trip!
Very helpful video thanks for sharing!
Couple of questions:
1) Is it safe to keep the rear wheel and derailleur attached to the frame or do you also sometime need to remove the rear wheel and the derailleur , pack it separately?
Is it a standard size bike box or some boxes could be also smaller?
2. Can you carry the bicycle packed in a box like this in buses or trains?
(Eurorail)
Great questions!
1) I personally don't remove the rear wheel and derailleur if I can help it. Most bikes when shipped from their manufacturers to bike shops come with the rear wheel on, the derailleur shifted into the largest ring of the cassette, and the derailleur protected with padding. So my thinking is, if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me!
2) Different buses and trains have different regulations so I would start there before making any plans. If they will take the bike packed in a cardboard box like this, I do find carrying it difficult - it's heavy and a bit of an awkward position (especially for those of us who are a bit shorter). However, I have seen some people purchase little roller wheels attached to a piece of metal and then they strap that to the box with straps so they can roll the box. It's still not super smooth to roll from what I've seen, but could help make it doable in a pinch!
@@SheelaghDaly Thank you so much! Happy Cycling 🌏🚴
Very helpful, thanks!
My pleasure! Happy travels :)
I would suggest you always put your name on the bike too. I know from shipping products, I always put my name and number in the box.
There are free alternatives to bicycle baggage on airlines. Many international airlines allow for free 2 - 23kg(50 lbs) check in bags. Option 1 would then be a folding bike since they are about 30 lbs. And fit a cardboard box trimmed to the baggage dimension limits works well. Even a thick bag worked with good carry handles. Option 2 will work only with 26" wheels and smaller frames and if you are a good bike mechanic. Basically take the bike apart into 2 cardboard boxes, wheels in one and frame in the other. I found 700c wheels in a cardboard box exceeds the free baggage dimensions. And taking the bike apart allowed me to do some deep cleaning and maintenance at the same time.
A few things in my bike boxing... 1. Packing tape works better than duct tape. 2. I use three nylon straps with clips to hold the bike together/closed. It is that light but strong webbing that many businesses use when they ship items. 3. I buy a box of plastic wrap [Saran wrap) for both my and my wife's bike and use an entire roll to wrap each box. Similar to the airport service. 3. I print out our names and contact info at destination and home address on a sheet of paper and attach it to the bike inside the box. 4. I phone bike shops in my European departure city before my trip to sort out a bike box for the trip home. Many shops no longer have spare boxes lying around.
Nice tips! Thanks so much for sharing Brent :)
Do you book through google flights or have you found it better to go directly to airlines? I feel like the flight and bringing my bike is the biggest fear point! So thank you for this video.
Great question! I start my search with Google Flights but then book directly with the airline. It hasn't happened to me but I've heard of others who have booked with a secondary source like Expedia and then when something went wrong they were caught in the middle with the airline and the booking site each saying it was the other's fault. So yes, booking direct for me! Flying with a bike really isn't as scary as it seems at first - you can do it!! Wishing you wonderful adventures :)
I recently tried using a cheap ($45) bike bag that rolled into a duffel and could be kept on the bike and reused. It seemed like a great solution but the zipper broke on it's maiden voyage. Bummer. I'd love to learn that there is a better quality one so I could try again.
Awww darn! I think for my next trip I may just use cardboard boxes for my belongings. I've heard others having great luck with that. Will report back!
This is exactly what I wanted to know. Thanks! By the way, don't you put pad spacers into the brake after removing the wheel?
Great question! Putting a brake block in is important for hydraulic disc brakes but not necessary for mechanical disc brakes, which is what I have (though of course it can be done for peace of mind) :)
This is such an amazingly helpful video! I have two trips coming up and have been trying to figure out how best to fly with a bike, what considerations I'll need to check, how I'll pack it, etc. You've answered nearly every question I had (minus bits specific to my bike).
I am so glad! Thank you very much for the lovely message :) Good luck on your trips!
I flew with my bike for the first time this summer and watched a few youtube videos to figure out bike disassembly and boxing. I was quite intimidated by the whole process of flying with my bike, but everything worked our at both ends of the trip. I have to say that your video is really excellent in explaining the entire process (not just how to box a bike) and I wish I had seen it before my first trip! After one trip I am no longer intimidated and look forward to more bike tours :)
Thank you for the kind words! I'm so glad everything went well with your first flight! I totally agree, after a couple tries it doesn't feel so intimidating :)
Thanks for sharing these really helpful tips Sheelagh. It seems less intimidating now for a possible future trip.
I'm so glad!! It's my pleasure :)
Bravo Sheelagh, great and informative video, thank you and stay safe.
Thanks so much! You too :)
Thanks, good video
Thank you so much. Just the advice I have been looking for!
Yay that makes me so happy :) thanks for the lovely message!
Such great detailed info. Thank you so much Sheelagh!
Thanks for watching! ♥️