Taking bike to Mallorca- advice please
Discussion
Hi,
A friend has asked me to take part in a team triathlon - bike and maybe run for me.
Not been on a plane since 2018, and things seem to have changed a bit, and never taken anything like a bike. Airlines seem to charge extra for everything now!!!
What advice can the PH cycling collective offer??
Oh, and it’s in April, the week after Easter …….
A friend has asked me to take part in a team triathlon - bike and maybe run for me.
Not been on a plane since 2018, and things seem to have changed a bit, and never taken anything like a bike. Airlines seem to charge extra for everything now!!!
What advice can the PH cycling collective offer??
Oh, and it’s in April, the week after Easter …….
Damp Logs said:
Hi,
A friend has asked me to take part in a team triathlon - bike and maybe run for me.
Not been on a plane since 2018, and things seem to have changed a bit, and never taken anything like a bike. Airlines seem to charge extra for everything now!!!
What advice can the PH cycling collective offer??
Oh, and it’s in April, the week after Easter …….
Nothing has changed since 2018 as far as I am aware. Pay for flight and bike carriage (cost varies between £30 and £45 each way) ... buy or hire a bike box ... if its an aero or tri/TT bike, get the Triathlon Aero Easyfit box instead of the regular bike box.A friend has asked me to take part in a team triathlon - bike and maybe run for me.
Not been on a plane since 2018, and things seem to have changed a bit, and never taken anything like a bike. Airlines seem to charge extra for everything now!!!
What advice can the PH cycling collective offer??
Oh, and it’s in April, the week after Easter …….
I would personally go down the bike box route. Paying special attention to items that can be bent/damaged during transit like discs and wheels and giving them extra protection with padding etc..
When six of us went to Morzine many summers ago, we hired Evo bike boxes, flew via BA and the only damage was a front disc to my own bike.
G
When six of us went to Morzine many summers ago, we hired Evo bike boxes, flew via BA and the only damage was a front disc to my own bike.
G
Ive a hard case for my bike, its the PBK one but its just a generic copy and loads of places do similar, £175.
must have been on 10 trips with it, never a spot of damage.
the ball ache however you might just decide for 1 ride just rent a bike there.
buy / rent box
pick up
learn how to pack it
ball ache getting to airport
drag it round / pay extra
fit it in a rental car
annoy your misses
unpack / pack and repeat
take back rental box
must have been on 10 trips with it, never a spot of damage.
the ball ache however you might just decide for 1 ride just rent a bike there.
buy / rent box
pick up
learn how to pack it
ball ache getting to airport
drag it round / pay extra
fit it in a rental car
annoy your misses
unpack / pack and repeat
take back rental box
Absolutely would not take a bike away in anything other than a hard case with some sort of crush protection.
I recall sitting watching my bike box unloaded in the UK - it picked up speed on the ramp, the guy at the bottom of the ramp moved out the way and let it drop to the floor. That broke one of the clips, took a big gouge out of the bike box, and you could see a big impact mark through the box material itself. Bike and wheels were fine.
I recall sitting watching my bike box unloaded in the UK - it picked up speed on the ramp, the guy at the bottom of the ramp moved out the way and let it drop to the floor. That broke one of the clips, took a big gouge out of the bike box, and you could see a big impact mark through the box material itself. Bike and wheels were fine.
I'm about to book a MTB holiday to Andorra, flying to Barcelona.
My buddy has spoken to BA about taking a bike and they have said there is no extra charge to book in a bike bag under standard hold luggage (ie no cost for oversized bag) and also if it is over weight (24kg allowance) they waive any excess weight fee?
This sounds very un-airline like, as in my experience they charge for everything they possible can.
Anyone have any real world knowledge of BA and taking a bike/costs?
My buddy has spoken to BA about taking a bike and they have said there is no extra charge to book in a bike bag under standard hold luggage (ie no cost for oversized bag) and also if it is over weight (24kg allowance) they waive any excess weight fee?
This sounds very un-airline like, as in my experience they charge for everything they possible can.
Anyone have any real world knowledge of BA and taking a bike/costs?
there is no cost to take a bike on BA, - it acts like a hold baggage allowance.
the weight thing you were told is rubbish, if you are unlucky they make you take s
t out of your box which is really annoying.
I find if you check in try and put your foot under the case when its weighed to take some of the weight off.
the weight thing you were told is rubbish, if you are unlucky they make you take s
t out of your box which is really annoying. I find if you check in try and put your foot under the case when its weighed to take some of the weight off.
I use BA every winter to cycle in southern Spain, never had any issues. I use the EVOC soft bag, measurements fit within the hold luggage size, max permitted weight is 23kg, so plenty of room for accessories in the bag. As for the handling, they are design to be abused, as long as the bike is packed correctly you shouldn't have any problems. The bonus is that you still get a generous hand luggage allowance, so you don't need to check in another bag.
My Bike Box Alan has survived three round trips with a few scuffs so far. A couple of luggage straps round the outside aren't a bad idea, and it can be helpful to have one to use to pull the thing along if there's a lot of walking involved.
Cost can be partially offset if you pack as much of your riding gear as possible in the box - and so save the cost of a large carry-on bag. I get helmet, shoes, track pump, tools and four or five days' worth of kit in mine.
Bike boxes are big and awkward - hire cars and transfer need to be planned accordingly.
Cost can be partially offset if you pack as much of your riding gear as possible in the box - and so save the cost of a large carry-on bag. I get helmet, shoes, track pump, tools and four or five days' worth of kit in mine.
Bike boxes are big and awkward - hire cars and transfer need to be planned accordingly.
I have the evoc and a bonza hard case
Taken the (carbon fwiw) road bikes away to Italy, Croatia and Spain so far
Bonza is preferable I think given the protection on offer although my wife had no problems with her evoc yet, blantantly at risk from knocks. The skewers for the wheels bent at the ends facing inside the box in the bonza for some reason but never been an issue, plenty of reviews say their skewers also bent. Clips are all in tact showing no damage after 3 trips, we use stty little padlocks to lock them shut.
Size wise the Bonza has been an issue getting it in some taxis in the way to the airport, like touch and go at 5 in the morning but luckily fit with the seat down. We always rent a car in Europe- megane 3 estate, some vauxhall/opal estate thing and a 2022 golf estate and we generally take our own big car on the way to the airport now so we know it'll fit. Parking can be expensive.
Bonza takes up more room than the evoc in apartments never bothered me.
Loads of people ask what it is as you wheel it through the airport. Some people can't fathom how you can get a bike inside a box.
Boxes have to go through oversized baggage which is no problem, never a queue.
Nowt else to say, brilliant experience especially Italy and Croatia. Majorca is on my list didn't manage it this year so did Southern Spain instead. Britain really is horrible in comparison.
Taken the (carbon fwiw) road bikes away to Italy, Croatia and Spain so far
Bonza is preferable I think given the protection on offer although my wife had no problems with her evoc yet, blantantly at risk from knocks. The skewers for the wheels bent at the ends facing inside the box in the bonza for some reason but never been an issue, plenty of reviews say their skewers also bent. Clips are all in tact showing no damage after 3 trips, we use s
tty little padlocks to lock them shut.Size wise the Bonza has been an issue getting it in some taxis in the way to the airport, like touch and go at 5 in the morning but luckily fit with the seat down. We always rent a car in Europe- megane 3 estate, some vauxhall/opal estate thing and a 2022 golf estate and we generally take our own big car on the way to the airport now so we know it'll fit. Parking can be expensive.
Bonza takes up more room than the evoc in apartments never bothered me.
Loads of people ask what it is as you wheel it through the airport. Some people can't fathom how you can get a bike inside a box.
Boxes have to go through oversized baggage which is no problem, never a queue.
Nowt else to say, brilliant experience especially Italy and Croatia. Majorca is on my list didn't manage it this year so did Southern Spain instead. Britain really is horrible in comparison.
Bathroom_Security said:
Boxes have to go through oversized baggage which is no problem, never a queue.
I was at Heathrow T5 and both oversized baggage drops broke, for like 45 mins. There was a Tri / Ironman on and there must have been 40/50 people behind me in the Q. Some missed their flights. Flying with a bike is a doddle, and without question better and cheaper than hiring some overused/under serviced bike once there - AND you are riding YOUR bike.
I've flown across Europe and to the US loads of times. Used to have a Thule Transition, great but heavy. Now got a Scion hard case, take 5mins to pack the bike up, never had an issue during transit, easily rebuilt on arrival.
My tip would be to put an Apple Air Tag in the box, dead easy way to track it through an airport or on the other side of the world, just in case
I've flown across Europe and to the US loads of times. Used to have a Thule Transition, great but heavy. Now got a Scion hard case, take 5mins to pack the bike up, never had an issue during transit, easily rebuilt on arrival.
My tip would be to put an Apple Air Tag in the box, dead easy way to track it through an airport or on the other side of the world, just in case
I’ve flown with my bike to Mallorca many times and rent out my own Scicon 2.0/3.0 bike bags when I’m not using them.
Never had a moments trouble with any damage between Leeds Bradford and Palma.
If you’re only doing 1 or 2 rides out there, it might be cheaper renting one whilst over there. Depending on where you are stopping / what bike you ride, I might be able to recommend a couple of rental places.
If you are based anywhere near Skipton or Ilkley, I can supply you a bike travel bag for a few beer tokens.
Also - as above - the AirTag with your bike is a great idea. Would be a good idea to take it on rides with you also for safety etc.
Chris.
Never had a moments trouble with any damage between Leeds Bradford and Palma.
If you’re only doing 1 or 2 rides out there, it might be cheaper renting one whilst over there. Depending on where you are stopping / what bike you ride, I might be able to recommend a couple of rental places.
If you are based anywhere near Skipton or Ilkley, I can supply you a bike travel bag for a few beer tokens.
Also - as above - the AirTag with your bike is a great idea. Would be a good idea to take it on rides with you also for safety etc.
Chris.
Flown around 6 times to spain and Italy with my mountain bike in a soft case evoc bag with some extra padding inside. I’ve not had any issues but I do tend to go over board with extra protection and dismounting - take rotors of the wheels, replace steering tube with stem spacers once the stem (and bars in one) have been removed, pipe lagging on fork stantions to prevent scratches, letting air out of shock and forks. The biggest thing to think about and plan is what tools you need to reassemble yourself the other end if you aren’t taking it to a shop to do it for you (that’s what my father in law use to do as he didn’t known what end of a hammer to use to tighten up a bolt).
Hiring a bike can be an easier solution, but you have very little control over what you end up with.
4 of us went to see the Giro in Abruzzo last year, I got lucky and had the nicest bike, but it was still a bit of a novice machine and the saddle was so uncomfortable I didn't ride as much as I wanted. My mates all ended up with "Italian Stallion" gearing - no compact cranksets and cassettes that stopped at 28.
4 of us went to see the Giro in Abruzzo last year, I got lucky and had the nicest bike, but it was still a bit of a novice machine and the saddle was so uncomfortable I didn't ride as much as I wanted. My mates all ended up with "Italian Stallion" gearing - no compact cranksets and cassettes that stopped at 28.
Flown around 6 times to spain and Italy with my mountain bike in a soft case evoc bag with some extra padding inside. I’ve not had any issues but I do tend to go over board with extra protection and dismounting - take rotors of the wheels, replace steering tube with stem spacers once the stem (and bars in one) have been removed, pipe lagging on fork stantions to prevent scratches, letting air out of shock and forks. The biggest thing to think about and plan is what tools you need to reassemble yourself the other end if you aren’t taking it to a shop to do it for you (that’s what my father in law use to do as he didn’t known what end of a hammer to use to tighten up a bolt).
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