Howdy lovely peeps!

Gonna be bringing my bike over from the UK when I go back there in mid April (11th - 13th) and just wondered if anyone had a bike bag that I could borrow for a weekend (there would of course be a beer in it for you and I can collect, so hopefully someone in Zug/Zurich areas) or a cheap one I could buy from them?

Been looking on the internet and found a "Velox Bike Bag" for £35 but seeing how my bike only cost £100 in the first place, it doesn't seem worth paying for a bag that's probably worth as much as the bike is now! (Though I will buy that as a last resort I guess)

Flying with BA, so bringing it over is free (Swiss charge 70chf by the way) but you definitely need a bike bag (Swiss accept cardboard boxes).

Mikey

Your best bet is to go into a bike shop and ask them for an old box, then pack the bike up in this. I have travelled between between Ireland and Switzerland and Ireland and the US quite a few times like this.

I have this bike case which I used to bring my road bike over from the US. You need to disassemble much of the bike to fit it -- such as the wheels, pedals, and handlebar. Also, I think it is designed for road bikes; not sure if it fits mountain bikes or such.

http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Bike-Case-.../dp/B000R9V43G

and you are welcome to borrow it, I would just ask that you leave me a cash deposit as it did cost me quite a bit.

Send me a PM if you're interested.

- Patrick

Getting a used box for free from your local bike store in the UK is definitely the option that I would recommend, too. Contact the store before flying over there to make sure they save one for you, or get a friend to go in there the week before to pick one up to make things easier for you.

I'm with the other guys. A box from a bike shop is the way to go. I shipped a bike from Australia to the UK like that and flew from the UK to Spain and back that way too.

There is a good description on how to pack the bike here: http://www.switch-backs.com/switchba...ke-travel.html

A box would be ideal and my Dad has already gotten one for me from the local bike shop to my folks but BA's terms are that you pack your bike in a bag specifically desgined for a bike (or whatever sporting equipment). Been reading their terms on it and boxes aren't allowed, apparently.

Well, that'll learn you to fly BA, won't it?

Geez, if I was putting a good bike on a plane and had a bike back, I reckon I would still want to put the bag in a box aswell.

The cheapest bags I could track down where these one's

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...x?ModelID=7267
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=22871

It could also be worth checking out the price of posting the bike if you can't get a bag sorted.

That first one (Velox) is the cheapest one I found so far, might just buy that one - not too expensive and chances are I'll use the bike bag at least once more!!

I find it hard to believe that BA would have such a restriction. Where are the terms that you were reading? If you go to this page on the BA website and select "Cycling" then it states that "The bicycle must be contained in a protective case or bag." It also shows 3 illustrations of acceptable packing, one of which is a hard-shell bike box. A cardboard bike box should fit into their category of "a protective case" - it is basically the same as one of the expensive plastic bike boxes that they illustrate except that it can't be used repeatedly. If they did not accept bikes in cardboard bike boxes, then I'm sure that they would say so because it is quite common for people to transport bikes that way.

If you found regulations different from those that I saw, then I would be very interested to read them.

Ah cheers - my take of it was that BA wouldn't allow cardboard boxes. I'm flying back in a couple of weeks with Swiss and going via London City so will ask then as I've got a couple of weeks after that til I fly back.

Cheers for the advice all

I flew from London City with BA last year (April I think) with my bike in a box and it was fine but obviously it would be worth checking, since you're there, that they haven't changed their rules. If they have and you need a bike bag give me a shout as I have one you can borrow.