Bike box or bag?

I'm flying off to Ireland for xmas and wanted to know if i'd be better off with a bag (this is the one i had in mind http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/dhb_Marsden_Wheeled_Bike_Bag_And_Wheel_Bag_Set/5360034155/) or pack it with foam/bubble wrap and put it in a cardboard box, i'll be sending it by Royal Mail as the allowance on the flight is something ridiculous like 32kg including all my other baggage, whereas RM is £14 for 20kg.

Any thoughts appreciated (helpful thoughts especially) =P

ETA - If I went for the bag, would I have to put it in a box still, or just stick a label on it?

to be extra safe why not buy the bag, itll always come in useful in the future..
place the bike in the bag along with bubble wrap/padding then place the bag into a box, along with padding.

i took my bike to new york and used a bike bag, arrived dented and shaken. On the way home I just used a bike box and wrapped all the tubes in household pipe insulation (get in from B&Q or somewhere similar). Worked a treat and is a lot easier to carry than a bike bag.

I was thinking about pipe insulation, I think someone mentioned it before, to be honest i'll be moving it about like this at least 6 times per year, more if i'm taking it on holidays, so I guess I may as well just go all out with the protection, thanks for your responses guys.

http://www.onyourbike.co.uk/p890/Avenir-Padded-Bike-Bicycle-Bag-by-Raleigh/product_info.html

Opinion? I'm a bit reluctant as it doesn't say about a solid base and I remember seeing a similar bag for sale with a hole where the chain ring broke through the material, any thoughts?

The only bike iv taken with me anywhere has been my bmx and iv done the box thing and also taken it in a large holdall with clothes etc.
The holdall got completely buggerfucked by the luggage handlers and was torn and had the wheels broken off by the time it got to Barcelona.
The box faired much better, only casualty to it was one handle hole got a little torn.
Iv sent plenty bikes iv sold on ebay via RM packed only in a box. No bubblewrap or anything. I try and get a box thats a nice snug fit so things aren't rattling around punching holes in the box.
Must have sent upwards of 10 bikes like this and never had any complaints about them arriving damaged.

I have one of these. It's good and it's light - so you might even get in under your weight limit. I have been on several 2-3 week trips and taken everything i needed in the box, under 32kg. Might not work for Christmas packing tho ;-)

I know that several people on the forum have these boxes and have had good experiences. Short-haul, people say that a bag is OK, but I wouldn't risk it personally.

These boxes are pretty cheap at the moment. Worth the investment...

That box is worth more than his bike.

bags are ok, boxes are better, but they cost a lot, they're a major pain to store and transport and they weigh a lot on their own. Horses for courses.

bags are shite in my opinion.
Either use a box or buy that hard case one.
When I went to Berlin my friend's chainring got totally squished in a padded bag, someone else's forks got bent.... Bubble wrap won't do anything at all

Get down your LBS and get some dropout spacers, wee plastic bars that fit in the fork/frame and save it gettin squished. Every new bike they receive will come with one in the forks.

I'm flying off to Ireland for xmas and wanted to know if i'd be better off with a bag (this is the one i had in mind http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/dhb_Marsden_Wheeled_Bike_Bag_And_Wheel_Bag_Set/5360034155/) or pack it with foam/bubble wrap and put it in a cardboard box, i'll be sending it by Royal Mail as the allowance on the flight is something ridiculous like 32kg including all my other baggage, whereas RM is £14 for 20kg.

Any thoughts appreciated (helpful thoughts especially) =P

ETA - If I went for the bag, would I have to put it in a box still, or just stick a label on it?

did you go with the bag or box? whats your opinion on it? Im heading off o/s with my bike and Im in 2 minds which option to take

did you go with the bag or box? whats your opinion on it? Im heading off o/s with my bike and Im in 2 minds which option to take

Went for this

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/id32947.html

RRP of about £80-£90

It's pretty good, nice and light but still pretty prtective, pulling it along with the wheels doesn't really work as it tends to tip over, though with my bike and tools/lock it was something like 16kg, so carrying it with the shoulder strap was fine, the wheel bags are pretty good however the skewers went through the bags (nothing serious, just doesn't look fantastic). I'd still advise to wrap the bike in something protective and get a pair of dropout spacers. I guess the box is better for higher end bikes (i've just got a Langster) or if you're going to be using it pretty often (i'll be using mine just about 6 times/year). But that bag is perfectly acceptable.

Hope that helps.

bike bags are ok, but it is annoying if you have two, and then have to pop into a shop/restaurant and carry everything around.
Tess

i recently bought one of these. wrapped my wheels in bubble wrap for extra protection. pretty happy with it.

Went for this

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/id32947.html

RRP of about £80-£90

It's pretty good, nice and light but still pretty prtective, pulling it along with the wheels doesn't really work as it tends to tip over, though with my bike and tools/lock it was something like 16kg, so carrying it with the shoulder strap was fine, the wheel bags are pretty good however the skewers went through the bags (nothing serious, just doesn't look fantastic). I'd still advise to wrap the bike in something protective and get a pair of dropout spacers. I guess the box is better for higher end bikes (i've just got a Langster) or if you're going to be using it pretty often (i'll be using mine just about 6 times/year). But that bag is perfectly acceptable.

Hope that helps.

thanks for your advice mate

Really interesting idea for a bike bag.

http://vimeo.com/7539708

nightmare...but I'm telling you...wrap the sucker in bubble wrap really well... make sure you tie everything close together to stop vibration and banging...and stick it in a carboard box, cheaper more padding and safe in the knowledge that u trust yourself...and yeah..whack a label on it.
Have a good xmas

I want that mini Snap On tool box

I get a cardboard box from my LBS, the tighter the fit the better (currently using a boys 24" apollo mountain bike box) cram it full up to 32kg with shoes and clothes too to bulk out the space. Easyjet cycle allowance and 1 piece hold luggage gives you 50kg total as long as any single item is no more than 32kg. BA used to do free sports equipment carriage and don;t usually charge if you're a bit over limit as long as you're polite.

make sure you deflate your tyres mind.

Edit:just read the date of the oP....

Pipe lagging (http://www.wickes.co.uk/Economy-Pipe-Insulation/invt/210454) is the way forward rather than bubble wrap which won't give much protection - local Wickes should sort you out (http://www.wickes.co.uk/page/store)...BA are in the process of changing their fares so you could find yourself being charged for the honour of carrying your velo

The insulation pipe Gustav recommends is fantastic. Much better then bubble wrap. Ive used it before and its brilliant.
Using it now for my longest haul, transporting my bike to London. Will let you know how it stands up to the 20,000km journey.

I want that mini Snap On tool box

Snap.

On.

:)