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Honestly a proper cardboard bike box is often best. The hard cases work well but take up so much space when not in use. I've used a soft case with plastic boards in the outside edges to help protect the wheels and covered everything in pipe lagging but parts still got scuffed and scratched inside.
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Not a big fan of the rigid boxes, after seeing throwers literally tip them over because they are too awkward/heavy. Compared to the cardboxes where they were laid down.
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I've got an Evoc bag - got it 2nd hand so wasn't too pricey, only used it a couple of times but very pleased both times, packs down a reasonable amount when not in use and reassuringly solid when all packed up
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If you get to a small airport, you can ask if you can photograph your bike as it goes through the x-ray machine!
Make sure you print out the airlines baggage regulations and take a tape measure. Check-in can be awkward and sometimes its easier just to measure for them. My bike bags were inside the normal suitcase dimensions and didn't cost anything extra. I vote for soft bags.
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My tuppence worth. Travelled more than the average bear with my bikes.
Used a box once, did the job, it was beat up but the bike was fine. I watched out of the window of the plane and winced as the handler 1...2...3....lobbed the box through the air onto the plane (Orange 5 at the time)
I've since used an EVOC bike bag, short haul, long haul (South America, Asia, North America, Europe), normally my carbon enduro bike and no issues at all. Usually pack some clothes and what not around some of the fragile parts.
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I've got a BikeBoxAlan which I've used more times than I care to remember and the bike has always arrived without damage. It's expensive for what it is, and storage is a pain if you haven't got somewhere to dump it when it's not in use, but when in use it's been excellent. The only downside is there's not much space for fatter tyred.
I've also got a Helium inflatable bike bag, which works well until the bladders get punctured, which they invariably do, and it's much fiddlier to use.
I've got a soft bag which I used once, and the gear hanger got bent despite being 5mm titanium plate. Never used it again.
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@beseku
Is there a thread about bike bags and putting bikes on a plane? My new Fairlight Strael has arrived in the UK and, unfortunately, it looks like I won't be able to ride it back to Valencia when I go to the UK in September and so will have to fly with it instead.
Any recommendations? I don't mind investing a little as I'll likely use it a fair bit in the future.