Bike box or bag?

Great, thanks for all the feedback chaps.

I have decided to get an Evoc, plus the alloy stand.

thats cool. i made one pic for my desktop, hope you don't mind!

1 Attachment

No, its fine. Next time I fly I'll get a better photo for you!

Hehe cheers.

appliez more filters

Very straightforward:

• Remove skewers, put in stand
  
• Pull out wheels
  
• Fit bike onto stand, close skewers
  
• Pull out seatpost (or, if you are shorter than I am, you might not need to do this)
  
• Fit the front velcro wrap to the top-tube/down-tube
  
• With a quill stem pull the stem/bars assembly, with ahead just pull the bars
  
• Velcro the bars to the front velcro wrap with the straps provided
  
• Take the pedals off, pull the chain-cover over the cranks and mech, velcro in place
  
• Shove the whole thing into the bag, strap it down with all the handy velcro and click-fit webbing you'll find inside
  
• Zip the bag up, fit the wheels into the external pouches
  
• Head to airport
  
  

That alu frame looks very neat. I might have to grab one for my Evoc next time I fly.

I'm very impressed with the bag, the stand and the thought that has clearly gone into it all.

I'd like to get some very sturdy, quite large zip-lock bags to fill with clothes etc and then fill all the voids in the Evoc.

The best thing about the Evoc is that you can keep it under 23kg and fly with it as large luggage on BA.

Do you need to alert them, or just book a ticket as normal with hold luggage?

Just book a hold bag but bring the Rapha concierge to wheel it to oversized baggage.

Do you need to alert them, or just book a ticket as normal with hold luggage?

Depends on the airline and the size of your bag. The Aerus bike bags I've got have always travelled as normal hold luggage, they're well under the maximum suitcase size, and fully packed are well under 20kgs. It was about 13kgs with just the Colnago. Usually, I have to take the case to oversized baggage and in smaller airports they'll often ask you to open the case.

Always check to see if the airline has an additional charge for bikes. If your bike bag is under the maximum suitcase size and there is an additional charge for bikes, whatever you do, never say there's a bike inside. They'll always try to charge you the higher price, and at the airport that can be expensive.

Strangely enough, I'm flying with Norwegian Air to the Canaries in May and they charge less for bikes than standard hold luggage!

Good advice. Say nothing.

Yeah, they don't book any (Virgin, BA - for the cheap moneygrabbers its different) of them in - though IIRC there's a "If we cant fit it on this flight it'll be on the next one. You also don't distinguish/tell them if you're hold piece is bike sized or regular, you just need to go to the Oversized Items chute to load it on.

Winner. Colorado in July will see me with my road bike.

I have a very cheap Pinnacle bike bag I got from my old work a while ago, this is perfect to fit inside.

I've got a tardis and whilst it's amazing on trains, or in the boot of a car I'd not be happy flying with it. You can add foam and packing stuff but it's got no real impact absorption if it gets dropped from height. I'm not sure how you'd brace it for bearing weight from all angles.

When flying I've used a cardboard bike box (and lagging, packing, foam, and the fork-end and axle braces new bikes are packed with). You can see the boxes have done their job when the corners are completely fucked and it looks like it's been attacked by wolves.

They're a PITA to carry though. Heavyish but also massive.

Also. I highly recommend driving to Scandinavia. Ferry to Holland then onward. Chill in Copenhagen on your way. The roads are good, you cover ground quickly and the Volvo will feel right at home.

ffs. That post is a response to something pages back...

FML

Google maps puts that at 1,465 miles and 27 hours of travel.

Chunnel, then a ferry from Denmark to Norway. For that to be pleasant I think it'd be three days of travel to get there, versus the plane taking 3 hours.

looks like they're attempting to get the harwich to denmark ferry back http://www.reginaline.dk/index-uk.htm

Or put all your kit in it up to 30kg and fly Emirates.

Apologies if this has been covered, but the Norwegian Air website states they only accept bikes in a hard case and soft cases will be rejected.... has this been peoples experience or is it loosely enforced?

I will be travelling for the first time with my carbon road bike and want to upgrade my budget soft bag which should only be sold for storage use rather than actual travelling!

Tempted by the evoc due to price, convenience and reviews but the niggle of the extra protection available from a hard case is making me hesitate.

Thinking to rent an Alan and see what this hard case lark is all about.

Does anyone have any experience transporting a bike with integrated seat post? I'm thinking of getting a cardboard box, don't think any of the specific boxes / bags are designed for ISP.

@Dammit, @ttm, i think i need to invest in a bike box / bag.

Due to limited space in my homestead it's likely to have to be a bag. Tom, I remember your evoc being pretty good - is it this one?
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/evoc-bike-travel-bag-280-litres/
@dammit, what's the point of the alu frame you got to use with your evoc, is it to give the bag more rigidity, or for ease of packing? And where did you get it from?

And have either of you had any issues on flights with the case?