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- CommentAuthorAstediks
- CommentTimeFeb 7th 2009
So im goin to NY in the summer and im bringing my bike with me. Problem is that Ive never flown with my bike. I need advice on how to go about this in the cheapest way with the least hassle in breaking down parts. And no i dont have anyone there to ship it to...
Help -
- CommentAuthorgreg
- CommentTimeFeb 7th 2009
Some people have had success using Amtrak to send their bikes separately from their flights. I believe it is pretty cheap and insured -
- CommentAuthorterrible_one49
- CommentTimeFeb 7th 2009
They make flight cases, but they are expensive.
I've always just gone to a local bike shop and got a old bike box, took off my seat, bars, pedals and wheels and packed it inside with tons of bubble wrap and just checked it on the airplane as a piece of my luggage. No problem.
Is it a track bike? Regardless, it's not hard to take off pedals, seat, bars and wheels. You will have to do that regardless if you put it in a box, or put it in a flight case. -
- CommentAuthorRideEveryday
- CommentTimeFeb 7th 2009
Make sure to let the air out of your tires if you fly. Baggage areas are not pressurized, so your tires will blow up. -
- CommentAuthorsixspeed
- CommentTimeFeb 7th 2009
i was going to get a travel case for my 6 week trip to tokyo and philippines. you can find them for about $100 used. though, they are quite heavy and bulky. i've decided i'm going to use a bike box for just my frame and wheels which will be packed with padding and clothes. 65 lbs. limit, so that should be enough padding. i'm going to place my components in another luggage. should work fine.
depending on the airlines, you may have to pay extra to check-in an oversized box. you can also request to mark it "fragile," but it might not matter. my cousin works for the airlines and she suggested to get the package insured by the airlines.
if you're staying at a hotel, you can ship your bike to the hotel too. -
- CommentAuthorwhipithard
- CommentTimeFeb 8th 2009
DONT FLY INTO LA GUARDIA!
sorry for caps but i packed my bicke up pretty legit and they dented the downtube on my brand new aluminum frame ~ on a side note fuck aluminum i prefer steel anyways... but good luck -
- CommentAuthorwowzah
- CommentTimeFeb 8th 2009
if you are going to spend a few months there i would just buy a bike off craigslist and sell it when you leave
if you know what you are doing it will only cost you the time to buy/sell the bike, which on nyc craigslist should be quick -
- CommentAuthorroadie
- CommentTimeFeb 9th 2009 edited
i'm a baggage handler,so listen up! go with the used bike box idea, break it down and store it when you get there. pack it well but don't load it up with all your other junk, 30lbs max. any heavier than that and i'm going to curse and swear and kick the shit out of your box. they are very large, heavy and cumbersom to handle,not to mention the fact that it may not fit on the aircraft flying that route. you will be charged extra, and your tires will not blow up. (we transport pets as well) cheers, happy flying. -
- CommentAuthorXdiamondsimonX
- CommentTimeFeb 11th 2009
I'm flying from Ottawa to Vancouver this Friday, I took my bike apart and stuffed it in a old bike box. I will let you know when I get back from the trip on how my bike handle the trip. -
- CommentAuthorXdiamondsimonX
- CommentTimeFeb 14th 2009
Ok, I just flew from Ottawa to Vancouver yesterday on WestJet. I didn't get charge for oversize baggage or anything, I just went for a ride and my bike is fine. -
- CommentAuthorwowzah
- CommentTimeFeb 14th 2009
if you are lucky they won't charge you, or they could charge you $100-150, kinda like a small time lottery -
- CommentAuthorje taime
- CommentTimeFeb 16th 2009
i got charged $250 for flying a hard case to chicago from phoenix. They lost it =/ I got it back. Didnt get my money back though, but my tyres did not blow up and other than misplacement there wasn't a dent or scratch on anything. if youre going for a long time, ship it. -
- CommentAuthormaxmatias
- CommentTimeMar 9th 2009
Bike tires exploding on planes is a myth and here's why:
Atmospheric pressure is 15 psi at sea level, so the most it can drop is 15 psi. This would correspond to a 15 psi change in the difference between the outside air pressure and the pressure inside your tires, which is the same as saying that your tires are feeling 15 psi more.
15 psi more is usually not enough to blow a tire (or really to blow a tube out between the wheel and tire), and in reality it will be a smaller change in pressure because most people are not flying from sea level nor does the pressure drop close to zero at cruising altitude.
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