To protect my stanchions, I remove all the air from the fork, then fully lower it into the fork legs. For my dropper, I place it in the lowest setting and zip tie the lever to prevent it going back up
When I get a new bike I keep the foam protection they use when boxing your bike for freighting and re-use that. But if you need some go to your local bike shop and ask them for some. They’re usually happy to give it away because it means less rubbish for them to pay for to be collected.
I know that Australia and New Zealand are very careful about about your bike being spotless. They might get weird if you have dirt on your bike from another country
I have the same bag you presented. I love it, but twice now I have had bent brake rotors. I now take the extra time to remove them before packing them. Also, I keep my tools in a small bag that attaches to the bike, in the case. No worries on trying to figure out where to pack them.
I stood my ground when challenged by customs officers at Manchester airport for my CO2 canisters. When I explained that they are not combustible, are used in and as fire extinguishers aswell as inflates life vests, they allowed me to take one in my hand luggage. Had no problem on return flight as I left the cartridge on the bike in a bike bag, also stuffed with my shoes, pads, tools, goggles, glasses 🤘❤️🌈🕊️🌎
Do RyanAir and their competitors classify helmets as safety gear that can be carried additionally to the hand luggage? Their site says that spots equipment can be carried onboard as long as it fits in the cabin bag allowance. Getting to the front of the queue and being told to ditch the helmet or the carry on bag would be a poor start to a holiday.
To protect the stanchions and fork it self I use foam pipe insulation. It comes n different diameters you can literally use it all over. I keep it on my bikes even in the garage cause I’m clumsy and have scratched them in garage.
In Thailand you can just wheel your bike onboard a train. But when I did it, I packed all kinds of pool noodles around everything. Watching from afar, I was amazed how carefully the train baggage people handled everything, including my bike. I also hear that you can do the same on some Thai domestic planes.
A while back while skiing, our group took helmets as hand luggage, thinking the same. We were fine flying out, but on return we were told no, with zero budge from the French officials. Imagine the chaos as 10 people were then trying to squeeze helmets into other bags.. It might be fine departing but you always need to prepare for any 'grey area' items for the return trip. Just play safe and stick everything that could get questioned, in your checked luggage.
Even with your axels back in, please add a spacer. This is ment to prevent the fork legs/ rear from getting pushed together and bend whenever your bike case gets sqeezed. Use a piece of pipe, an old hub or any of these spacer blocks covering all the different axle sizes. Or build your own from a piece of wood, cut to the needed length and drill lengthwise a (15mm/12mm) hole into. I use a piece of pipe for my rear and I´m lucky to not really need a spacer for my fork. That´s cause it comes not only with a threaded axle but also clamping bolts on both dropouts of the fork legs. These bolts tightened will hold the axle in place. But most new forks come with threaded axles only as you know from the rear and therefor it´s fixed on the threatened side but loose on the side with the leaver and does not prevent your frame/ fork from getting smashed together.
What scares me are the brutal, careless baggage handlers, seen crazy stuff online, bikes, wheelchair, being rolled down and smashed and flipped and smashed on top of the asphalt, regular luggage being abused, dropped, falling off the transport car to the plain. The social media algorithms likes to show me stuff like that sometimes. Tassing luggage out of the plane. So if treated like this there might be some damage to the frame. Some workers tread stuff like they are trying to destroy it. But I know hard cases exist.
Use down pool noodle with a slit over the stanchions and handlebars. Will require a bit more of a cut out for the brakes and shifter. Held in place with some Velcro straps.
if you don't have pad spreaders or if they tend to fall out: adjust your break contact adjustment (most breaks have this by now) all the way out (e.g., Shimano all the way left hand turn). This way nothing can happen und this is super simple to do without the need for extra pieces which you can loose.
Get the insurance if the bike will be lost/stolen during the journey. Picture all of it and all of the parts when packing that, to proove that all the things are in, and not broken at the monent of giving it over to carrier.
To protect my stanchions, I remove all the air from the fork, then fully lower it into the fork legs. For my dropper, I place it in the lowest setting and zip tie the lever to prevent it going back up
When I get a new bike I keep the foam protection they use when boxing your bike for freighting and re-use that. But if you need some go to your local bike shop and ask them for some. They’re usually happy to give it away because it means less rubbish for them to pay for to be collected.
I know that Australia and New Zealand are very careful about about your bike being spotless. They might get weird if you have dirt on your bike from another country
They made me give up my used tires at customs. This was after I scrubbed them before packing.
Even dirt in your shoes 🤓🤓
I have the same bag you presented. I love it, but twice now I have had bent brake rotors. I now take the extra time to remove them before packing them. Also, I keep my tools in a small bag that attaches to the bike, in the case. No worries on trying to figure out where to pack them.
Yeah, mine seem to get bent every time, too. It's probably worth the trouble of removing them.
I stood my ground when challenged by customs officers at Manchester airport for my CO2 canisters. When I explained that they are not combustible, are used in and as fire extinguishers aswell as inflates life vests, they allowed me to take one in my hand luggage. Had no problem on return flight as I left the cartridge on the bike in a bike bag, also stuffed with my shoes, pads, tools, goggles, glasses 🤘❤️🌈🕊️🌎
Do RyanAir and their competitors classify helmets as safety gear that can be carried additionally to the hand luggage? Their site says that spots equipment can be carried onboard as long as it fits in the cabin bag allowance. Getting to the front of the queue and being told to ditch the helmet or the carry on bag would be a poor start to a holiday.
To protect the stanchions and fork it self I use foam pipe insulation. It comes n different diameters you can literally use it all over. I keep it on my bikes even in the garage cause I’m clumsy and have scratched them in garage.
In Thailand you can just wheel your bike onboard a train. But when I did it, I packed all kinds of pool noodles around everything. Watching from afar, I was amazed how carefully the train baggage people handled everything, including my bike. I also hear that you can do the same on some Thai domestic planes.
The brake spacers from Magura go in from the top, not the bottom, as it was shown here.
My trick for keeping the space between the brake pads is to use one of those ice cream flat wood stick
A while back while skiing, our group took helmets as hand luggage, thinking the same. We were fine flying out, but on return we were told no, with zero budge from the French officials. Imagine the chaos as 10 people were then trying to squeeze helmets into other bags..
It might be fine departing but you always need to prepare for any 'grey area' items for the return trip.
Just play safe and stick everything that could get questioned, in your checked luggage.
Very helpful video! I am about to fly to Europe and would like to bring my 2006 Klein MTB along in a hardshell bikebox.
Even with your axels back in, please add a spacer. This is ment to prevent the fork legs/ rear from getting pushed together and bend whenever your bike case gets sqeezed. Use a piece of pipe, an old hub or any of these spacer blocks covering all the different axle sizes. Or build your own from a piece of wood, cut to the needed length and drill lengthwise a (15mm/12mm) hole into.
I use a piece of pipe for my rear and I´m lucky to not really need a spacer for my fork. That´s cause it comes not only with a threaded axle but also clamping bolts on both dropouts of the fork legs. These bolts tightened will hold the axle in place. But most new forks come with threaded axles only as you know from the rear and therefor it´s fixed on the threatened side but loose on the side with the leaver and does not prevent your frame/ fork from getting smashed together.
Good video Anna. I've traveled a lot with my bikes but still have learned things with you...👍
Remove your brake rotors. Even if your bike bag has protective padding for them, they might still get bent in transit.
Great video, and useful points for consideration. Thank you.❤
What scares me are the brutal, careless baggage handlers, seen crazy stuff online, bikes, wheelchair, being rolled down and smashed and flipped and smashed on top of the asphalt, regular luggage being abused, dropped, falling off the transport car to the plain. The social media algorithms likes to show me stuff like that sometimes. Tassing luggage out of the plane.
So if treated like this there might be some damage to the frame. Some workers tread stuff like they are trying to destroy it. But I know hard cases exist.
Looking out of the plane window, I have watched them purposefully break an antique leather suitcase. It is just hateful jealous vandalism.
Use down pool noodle with a slit over the stanchions and handlebars. Will require a bit more of a cut out for the brakes and shifter. Held in place with some Velcro straps.
EasyJet will allow up to 2 CO2 canisters in hold baggage, but you do need to tell them at check-in.
Waoww that bike looks insanely good 💯💯🤩🤩
Ugh, I had to pads stuck together once what a nightmare it was to separate them even with the right tools.
if you don't have pad spreaders or if they tend to fall out: adjust your break contact adjustment (most breaks have this by now) all the way out (e.g., Shimano all the way left hand turn). This way nothing can happen und this is super simple to do without the need for extra pieces which you can loose.
is that the same saddle as what Blake uses too? what saddle is it? i can’t find it online
Pipe insulation is perfect to protect stanchions
Pool Noodles for the win mate
Multi tools are allowed on the plane in the USA as long as it doesn't have a knife. I believe in Europe even knives are allowed under 6cm
Get the insurance if the bike will be lost/stolen during the journey. Picture all of it and all of the parts when packing that, to proove that all the things are in, and not broken at the monent of giving it over to carrier.
Heh, I live in the UK, so bikes are just in the back of the car. 😉
The UK isn't all that
@@dystopiaisutopia Yep, small and soggy.
@@wordreet 😮😟
Best trick. Go and take a free bike box for travel. You are welcome.