Bike box travel thread.

[Calvin27]

Hi folks, what's the go with bike boxes for travel?

Looking at some option to fit an XC29 large.

1. Hard case or cardboard box?
2. Do you usually have to take the tyres off to fit?
3. How much to spend and what is expected outcome (bike still gets destroyed, rotors bent etc?)

*Edit, also another argument for 26"

 

[rangersac]

I have one of these from a while back. Discontinued now but there's probably something similar out there:

Solid bottom, padded sides and has wheel bags. Fits an XL 29er with wheels off and has enough room around it to stuff in extra crap. Have transported bikes on several flights across Bass Strait, and one NZ trip without damage. Use frame and fork spacers, disc protectors and pad spacers when transporting, you can get these for nix from a bike shop.

Having said that if it's a one off trip I'd just go with a cardboard box and pad as best as you can. Worth investing in my opinion if you think you will get multiple uses out of it.

 

[teK--]

Hi folks, what's the go with bike boxes for travel?

Looking at some option to fit an XC29 large.

1. Hard case or cardboard box?
2. Do you usually have to take the tyres off to fit?
3. How much to spend and what is expected outcome (bike still gets destroyed, rotors bent etc?)

*Edit, also another argument for 26"

How often you gonna travel?

If more than say 4 trips of a week long then its worth just buying your own soft case.

I bought 1 for 400 when it was on discount and it paid for itself after 3 trips plus I can still sell it. Nowadays upwards of 800 for an Evoc.

It is worth avoiding the inconvenience of having to pick up and drop off a hire bag each time. For one week hire it's up to $100 depending where you go.

I always take rotors off and add extra packing foam and bubble wrap around certain areas and go prevent rub. Some people don't and they just run the risk of bent rotors. Trying to find a 200mm rotor at short notice in Nepal is not fun.

 

[smiffy]

A free bike box from the shop is a cheap way of putting your back out.
Your carrying a 1.6 - 1.8 meter box around with 25 -30kgs sideways. It's cumbersome and gets in everyone at the airport just walks into the pathway like a magnet. I duct tape the bottom to make it easy to slide it along the floor, and sides and handles to prevent airline damage.

Better to Invest or borrow in a proper bike bag with wheels like Alberk or Evoc with wheels. Then sell it when your finished with it.

 

[ozzybmx]

Look in fakebook marketplace and buy a secondhand Evoc.

The older bags are floppy, the new ones have support tubes that make them stand up straight. Also the Pro version has a base frame to mount the bike to. So pricing should reflect age, wear and version.

Always take your rotors off. Bonus points for Centerlock

 

[rowdyflat]

If you are really keen and you have to carry your bike further than the airport ?
We have Tardis bags they are minimalist but do the job nicely with bits of cardboard.
If you have to take your bag travelling with you its even better.
There is a knack to packing a bike safely and its easier with smaller wheels. ? 27.5 ?
Just ask ?
Cardboard bike boxes are terrible.

 

[Mattyp]

Hi folks, what's the go with bike boxes for travel?

Looking at some option to fit an XC29 large.

1. Hard case or cardboard box?
2. Do you usually have to take the tyres off to fit?
3. How much to spend and what is expected outcome (bike still gets destroyed, rotors bent etc?)

*Edit, also another argument for 26"

I picked up a secondhand standard EVOC off a roadie for $350 a few years ago. It's the normal version and the top went floppy a while ago, I made some mods and stripped out about 1kg of foam and padding from inside of it and stuck a bit of thin carbon fiber rod (old fishing rod) in the top of it which stops it flopping down.
Fits 29er wheels with 2.5 Assegais mounted up no worries just lower the air down a bit to help squish them in and make sure the zip is fully open around the bottom as this will stop it from going in.
Have done a bunch of trips with it and never had any damage to the bike, I think the biggest issue is if you are not careful with how you strap the handlebars and if they rub on forks/stanchions the whole time... wrap them in foam to stop this. First time I used it I had a slightly bent rotor as I was too lazy to take them off, as Ozzy said centrelock is good for this. Or just take the extra few minutes to unbolt them and sit them in the bottom of the box.
Just did a trip with my long travel Propain and although it was a bit long it fit ok, I had to unbolt the derailleur and lay it in the bottom of the box which probably isn't a bad idea anyway.

If you don't want to buy one, someone local might lend you one?

 

[ozzybmx]

I had to unbolt the derailleur and lay it in the bottom of the box which probably isn't a bad idea anyway.

I always take the derailleur off and put it in one of those heavier bubble bags, then cable tie it between the stays (which also has foam on it), on top of the mounting block.

Rotors off and in to the inside zip pocket, bubble wrapped.
I did pack rotors, pedals, saddle, chain, cassette and helmet in my backpack last trip on the way out as I could remove it and carry as hand luggage if they freaked out about the weight.

Bars/stem alignment position marked with a sharpie so its easily mounted in your regular position. Then stem spun 180°.

Cassette off and cable tie the adaptors/freehub into place on the hubs. I removed the whole cassette-freehub on my last Tassie trip but this is ok with DT ratchets but wouldn't be advisable with pawls.

Tyres down to about 10psi, just enough to keep them from popping the bead.

All potential crossover points like bars to frame, fork legs wrapped with the round-cut foam that come from new bike packing.

Then take extra cable ties and electrical tape to repack for the journey home.

Some more info here.

Flying with bikes with Virgin

Hi all Heading to Derby soon with the bike and it will be around 24kg in an EVOC bag. The baggage allowance is 23kg and you used to be able to buy additional weight (up to 32kg max) and stuff all your gear in with the bike but now you have to buy an extra 23kg bag and put your gear in that. The...

www.rotorburn.com

 

[teK--]

Here's a quick hack. I just taped a ziplock bag to some 6mm thick MDF. Once you throw 2 rotors in they are rock solid, won't bend and are safe from contamination.

It's a pain with 6 bolt rotors but still a lot quicker than trying to straighten bent rotors, or worse, hop around town trying to find replacements if they are really taco'd.

 

[teK--]

stanchions get the full wrap, as well as the controls on the bars so they dont scratch up other things.

I usually leave the stem on as-is, as it saves having to reset the preload etc. put bars on and it's ready to ride,

 

[komdotkom]

I've got a big hard case, it's great and holds a 29er with wheels off but forks on. I just take the rear mech off and it's all good.
The downside is that the case is MASSIVE and doesn't fit in any cars. Unless you've got a ute at both ends, it's kind of crap. I had to hire a tarago in NZ just to fit the bikes in, would have been heaps cheaper to hire bikes over there, but then you have the whole issue of hire bikes....

 

[teK--]

I've got a big hard case, it's great and holds a 29er with wheels off but forks on. I just take the rear mech off and it's all good.
The downside is that the case is MASSIVE and doesn't fit in any cars. Unless you've got a ute at both ends, it's kind of crap. I had to hire a tarago in NZ just to fit the bikes in, would have been heaps cheaper to hire bikes over there, but then you have the whole issue of hire bikes....

I did consider hire bike for first o/s trip, but once you add in the cost of the hire vs oversize luggage fee and bag hire... it's just not worth it to ride some (usually poorly maintained) beater that never feels dialled, especially riding in a unfamiliar area.

Even a soft bag e.g. Evoc. Halbek etc doesn't fit in a standard sedan. I have to borrow the missus' hatchback with the folddown rear seat. Then on the other end to carry more than 1 bag you either need a station wagon, van, or a mtb airport transfer as they usually have a trailer.

The biggest advantage to a soft bag though is they roll up into much smaller size for storage at home.

 

[Calvin27]

I did consider hire bike for first o/s trip, but once you add in the cost of the hire vs oversize luggage fee and bag hire... it's just not worth it to ride some (usually poorly maintained) beater that never feels dialled, especially riding in a unfamiliar area.

Yep just came back from trip and that's what I did. Didn't really bother me and it was nice being underbiked for once, had support too so it was way less hassle.

Plan is to use this for future bikepacking, maybe once a year on a plane, but until i die or can't ride anymore. So low usage but for long duration. With bikepacking, the whole shemozzle with bags and sizes makes own bike a better idea - I'd much rather be in my own gear. I don't mind spending a bit, but obviously try to limit excesses.

So are we going with soft or hard case?

The downside is that the case is MASSIVE and doesn't fit in any cars.

Ok I didn't think of that. I have roof platform racks and that works but it would be a heavy job to get it up there. As for storage at the other end, plan is to use the airport long term storage for the box and pick it up on the way back. That would mean I'd have to pack it at the airport too which is not ideal. Maybe hotel storage, but if it doesn't fit in most cars....

Why are these things so shit shaped lol

 

[teK--]

Yep just came back from trip and that's what I did. Didn't really bother me and it was nice being underbiked for once, had support too so it was way less hassle.

Plan is to use this for future bikepacking, maybe once a year on a plane, but until i die or can't ride anymore. So low usage but for long duration. With bikepacking, the whole shemozzle with bags and sizes makes own bike a better idea - I'd much rather be in my own gear. I don't mind spending a bit, but obviously try to limit excesses.

So are we going with soft or hard case?

Ok I didn't think of that. I have roof platform racks and that works but it would be a heavy job to get it up there. As for storage at the other end, plan is to use the airport long term storage for the box and pick it up on the way back. That would mean I'd have to pack it at the airport too which is not ideal. Maybe hotel storage, but if it doesn't fit in most cars....

Why are these things so shit shaped lol

Get the soft case in that situation. Once flattened down and rolledup they aren't too onerous to store in a luggage holding place.

Packing the bike at the airport isn't too bad as you are just pulling things off quickly and packing them up just-so they don't get damaged. It's putting together a bike at the airport read for riding is more of a pain as you want to get everything properly torqued and aligned etc. If you can put it together roughly enough to transport, but have a proper workspace at the destination to do final tweaks then that is best.

 

[rowdyflat]

Soft case is the go IMO .