00:00Flying with a road bike can be quite nerve-wracking. I'm sure the biggest concern that we all have
00:05is ensuring that it makes it to the destination unscathed and in one piece.
00:11Baggage handlers, conveyor belts and internal airport luggage systems all provide for the
00:16opportunity for your pride and joy to come to unwanted harm. So here are nine things
00:21that I wish I knew before I put my bike on a plane. The first hurdle to navigate is choosing
00:31the vessel to put your bike in and happily you do have a few different options. First is a hard
00:37case. Benefits are that they are the strongest and they generally provide the most amounts of
00:43protection. The downside is is that they do tend to be heavy and rather expensive. There are soft bags
00:49which come in a little bit cheaper but in some cases might not offer the same level of protection.
00:56Lastly there's the trusty cardboard box but this one does come with a couple of caveats. While they
01:02are by far and away the cheapest option, most likely free from a friendly bike shop, they do have
01:07inherent weaknesses to impacts and water damage. Also some airlines do stipulate that bikes need to
01:14be packaged in a recognized bike bag. If you're heading off on a bikepacking adventure,
01:19then perhaps the cardboard box route could be a really good way to go because you'll be able
01:25to recycle it upon arrival and then hopefully track down a new one when you've finished your
01:29adventure. Just be sure you have good access to plenty of tape, scissors and bike protection.
01:36Soft bags alike, the prep is absolutely key to making sure your bike has the best chance
01:41of a safe journey. Another top tip to ensure the airport process is as smooth as possible is to
01:47print out and highlight your airline's bike transport T's and C's. This will mean that if
01:52you're challenged on anything, you can ensure that you are in the right. Also, I would suggest that you
01:58get measurements of your bike bag or box and have those on hand in case they are called into question.
02:04If you do want to fly with a hard case, but you don't want to invest in one, then hiring is a
02:10really good option. Again, just be sure that it fits within the allowed measurements of your airline,
02:15because not all bike boxes work with all airlines. If you do want to see a list of all of our favorite
02:21bags and boxes, then I've left a link to our buyer's guide in the description.
02:25If you're looking to fly for the least amount of money, then you may be making a beeline for a
02:34budget airline. But before you do, be sure to check out their policy on bike transport and more
02:40importantly, the associated fees. It's not uncommon for more premium airlines to have more of a generous
02:46baggage allowance and in some cases not charge you to fly with your bike at all, meaning that a more
02:52expensive ticket up front could actually be cheaper than a more seemingly budget option.
03:01As I mentioned earlier, prep is the absolute key to giving your bike the best chance of survival.
03:07We do have a guide on how best to pack a bike, which I've linked below, but the key takeaways are
03:12to remove your brake rotors, your rear mech, handlebars and seat posts. Then cover everything in bubble wrap
03:19or foam pipe lagging, making sure to cable tie all the loose parts to the inside area of the frame,
03:25essentially so no vulnerable parts are left as an extremity. Also, be sure to drop the pressure out of
03:32your tires so that they aren't rock solid. You want them to be squishy enough to be able to adjust to
03:37pressure changes and take an impact, but not so soft that you risk the seal of the tire breaking,
03:43especially important if you're running a tubeless setup.
03:50When you have packed your bike, you may be left noticing a bit of spare space inside the box
03:56or the bag, and there are a couple of things to consider here. First, how much does the entire
04:01thing weigh? If it's under 23 kilos, then it could be worth grabbing some dry bags, popping some of your
04:07clothes in there and then filling up some of that space. Again, be sure to check in with your airline,
04:12because some will only want the bike in there. Alternatively, you could fill it out with more
04:17bike protection in the form of big air bubbles or bubble wrap. If you do decide to fill it up with
04:22any of your clothing, just be sure that you have all of your essentials in your carry-on. And in this,
04:27I would include your shoes, your helmet, your pedals, and a change of kit, because that means if
04:33anything goes wrong with your bike and you're left without it for a day, you can still go riding.
04:38And also, whatever you do, do not put CO2 canisters in your hand luggage
04:43or in your bike box, because it will only end badly.
04:51If you're hopping to the other side of the world and you're taking a couple of flights to get to
04:54your end destination, using an Apple AirTag or other tracking devices can be a really useful way
05:01of keeping an eye on where your possessions are. Hopefully, they'll always be in the same airport
05:07as you. However, if you get off your flight and you see your bike is still in the airport you took off
05:12from, then you will know to get in contact with your airline pretty quickly. Or if your bike has
05:17ended up in a completely different part of the world, then again, it's great to have that knowledge
05:22of where your stuff is so you can help the airline quickly track down and get you your stuff.
05:32It goes without saying, but if you're really concerned about what might happen to your bike,
05:37then getting yourself some insurance does mean that if the worst does happen,
05:41you'll hopefully not be too out of pocket. Of course, there are plenty of cycle insurance
05:46companies out there like Yellow Jersey Insurance. So, if you do want to get some for yourself,
05:51be sure to do all of the research and make sure you get something that's right for you.
06:01Something that I always tend to forget when I go away is to bring all of the right tools
06:06and spares. Everything that you use to pack your bike, you'll need to bring with you. But also,
06:12it's all the things that would be near impossible to get hold of when you're away from home. So,
06:17things like spare mech hangers, brake pads, and spokes come in really handy should any of those
06:23things need replacing. A multi-tool with a chain breaker and a widespread of allen key sizes
06:29will also keep you pretty covered. But if you're left wondering whether you should or shouldn't bring
06:34something, just bring it to be safe. Extra cable ties, scissors, tape, and plastic bags are also
06:40really good to bring, especially when it comes to packing your bike up again.
06:48There's a bit of a hidden headache that comes along with flying with your bike and it's one
06:52that doesn't even involve a plane or an airport. It's just about getting there in the first place.
06:58Bike bags and boxes take up a lot of space and they are really cumbersome and quite tricky to maneuver in
07:05and out of cars. You'll then obviously have that same problem when you arrive at your destination,
07:11so if you're hiring a car or getting a taxi, just be sure that it's of an adequate size.
07:21The last thing that I wish I knew before I flew with my bike was to do my research on local bike shops
07:28and mechanics. Going somewhere new armed with this knowledge, if things were to go wrong,
07:33is really valuable. And also it's not just useful for if things go wrong, but as we all know,
07:39local bike shops are a hub of knowledge for the best local riding spots and the staff might be able
07:45to share with you some absolutely beautiful hidden gems that otherwise you may never have known about.
07:52Clearly flying with your bike comes along with a lot of things to think about and there's a
07:57lot of opportunity for things to go wrong. So consider this. If it all gets a bit too much,
08:02then perhaps hiring a bike at your destination is a better route to go down. If you're heading
08:08somewhere with a good cycling culture, then you'll likely have some pretty good options available to
08:13you. I understand that going bikepacking in remote places demands that you bring all of your own gear,
08:19but if you're heading away for a week of riding with friends or just on a solo trip, hiring a bike
08:26really will make life a whole lot easier. Consider this, how much extra value and enjoyment are you
08:33going to get just from being on your own bike? Let me know down below, is there anything you wish
08:39you knew before you flew with your bike? If you enjoyed the video, then please do drop it a like,
08:43subscribe to the channel for more content and I will see you again very soon.
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