Hi,
I am new here and currently planning my first trip this year. I have no experience of touring or bike packing so it will be a great adventure I'm sure!
I am planning to do my first trip to Germany, currently my only problem is where do you store a bike bag for a few days? I'm flying into Cologne Airport and their luggage storage isn't suitable.
Any help would be great!
Thanks x
Hello
Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew
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Bearbonesnorm
- Posts: 23942
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
- Location: my own little world
Re: Hello
I don't know whether airlines still view it as acceptable but a plastic CTC bikebag doesn't take up much room or weigh a lot and can be carried with you ... can also be used as a shelter 
The other option is to use a box and discard it on arrival, then arrange to buy another box from a bike shop close to the airport when you return.
The other option is to use a box and discard it on arrival, then arrange to buy another box from a bike shop close to the airport when you return.
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: Hello
Thanks for your help, I will look into it!Bearbonesnorm wrote:I don't know whether airlines still view it as acceptable but a plastic CTC bikebag doesn't take up much room or weigh a lot and can be carried with you ... can also be used as a shelter
The other option is to use a box and discard it on arrival, then arrange to buy another box from a bike shop close to the airport when you return.
Re: Hello
I don't know if you are doing any part of the trip by train, but i remember that there are luggage lockers at the main train station.
Also i found this website recently:
https://stasher.com/luggage-storage/cologne
You can stash baggage at various hotels or similar arranged by them, i was looking to stash a hard plastic bike container and they would arrange it.
Also i found this website recently:
https://stasher.com/luggage-storage/cologne
You can stash baggage at various hotels or similar arranged by them, i was looking to stash a hard plastic bike container and they would arrange it.
Re: Hello
the options are
1) something disposable and replaceable like plastic wrap o a bike cardboard box and ditch when you get there and reacquire something for the return
2) storage of a proper bike box
the later requires either
1) a specialist agency near a route - easier if its a popular route and was easy to sort for the camino - do some googling
2) book a hotel for the start and finish and ask them [ before booking] if you can store the box there
3) a local contact/friend/ cycling nut who will do it for free
I prefer option 2 as a damaged bike on arrival is a really bad and annoying start to a ride.
They once managed to bend my QR skewer on a wheel despite it being a relatively solid , but not a flight case but not those floppy material only ones]dedicated cycle bag and i was unable to attach my front wheel till i got to a bike shop. It was a poor and costly [ taxi fares] start to a trip,
1) something disposable and replaceable like plastic wrap o a bike cardboard box and ditch when you get there and reacquire something for the return
2) storage of a proper bike box
the later requires either
1) a specialist agency near a route - easier if its a popular route and was easy to sort for the camino - do some googling
2) book a hotel for the start and finish and ask them [ before booking] if you can store the box there
3) a local contact/friend/ cycling nut who will do it for free
I prefer option 2 as a damaged bike on arrival is a really bad and annoying start to a ride.
They once managed to bend my QR skewer on a wheel despite it being a relatively solid , but not a flight case but not those floppy material only ones]dedicated cycle bag and i was unable to attach my front wheel till i got to a bike shop. It was a poor and costly [ taxi fares] start to a trip,
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In Reverse
- Posts: 1821
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:08 pm
- Location: Manchester
Re: Hello
Hi Jodie
If I'm flying into and out of the same airport I'll get a cardboard bike box from a bike shop and use that. You can pack the inside with some foam/clothes to protect any delicate stuff. At the destination airport just fold the box flat and pop it into left luggage - they usually fold up to the size of a small suitcase. After your trip collect the box, unfold, tape back up*, put bike back in and check into airport.
*you'll need to take a roll of parcel tape for the folding up/retape-ing bits. a small pair of scissors is handy too. I usually stuff them both into the folded box when I leave it at left luggage.
If I'm flying into and out of the same airport I'll get a cardboard bike box from a bike shop and use that. You can pack the inside with some foam/clothes to protect any delicate stuff. At the destination airport just fold the box flat and pop it into left luggage - they usually fold up to the size of a small suitcase. After your trip collect the box, unfold, tape back up*, put bike back in and check into airport.
*you'll need to take a roll of parcel tape for the folding up/retape-ing bits. a small pair of scissors is handy too. I usually stuff them both into the folded box when I leave it at left luggage.
Re: Hello
In Reverse wrote:Hi Jodie
If I'm flying into and out of the same airport I'll get a cardboard bike box from a bike shop and use that. You can pack the inside with some foam/clothes to protect any delicate stuff. At the destination airport just fold the box flat and pop it into left luggage - they usually fold up to the size of a small suitcase. After your trip collect the box, unfold, tape back up*, put bike back in and check into airport.
*you'll need to take a roll of parcel tape for the folding up/retape-ing bits. a small pair of scissors is handy too. I usually stuff them both into the folded box when I leave it at left luggage.
Great idea!!
Thank you for that, I was even thinking of hiring a bike or another way of doing it.
Obviously for my first trip I haven't allowed enough time, so will need something that will work without too much faff!
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In Reverse
- Posts: 1821
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2015 9:08 pm
- Location: Manchester
Re: Hello
Might sound obvious but check your bike fits in the box you've acquired. Some are bigger than others and if you're a last minute packer like me it can lead to you having to fully dismantle your bike to get it into the box which in turn leads to not getting any sleep before you have to go to the airport.
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Bearlegged
- Posts: 2308
- Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2017 5:00 pm
Re: Hello
And make sure you don't try to pack the small scissors in your hand luggage.
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lune ranger
- Posts: 2380
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- Location: Peoples Republic of Devon
Re: Hello
If they are really small scissors they are ok in hand luggage. Mrs Ranger always has some for knitting.Landslide wrote:And make sure you don't try to pack the small scissors in your hand luggage.
If you are going through hell, keep going.
WSC
WSC
Re: Hello
+10 on checking the box size. Some airlines will be fine with a 2m long box, some wont. I like the boxes with enough height I can leave the back wheel in. I recently did this - last minute found Lois wouldnt fit with her rear wheel still mounted.
Greetz
S.
Greetz
S.
Re: Hello
Welcome JodieJodie wrote:Hi, I am new here and currently planning my first trip this year. I have no experience of touring or bike packing so it will be a great adventure I'm sure!I am planning to do my first trip to Germany, currently my only problem is where do you store a bike bag for a few days? I'm flying into Cologne Airport and their luggage storage isn't suitable.Any help would be great!Thanks x
Interesting stage. All is new and tempting.
Best part, it's likely to stay like that.
If flying to and from the same place I tend to bring my bike bag and leave it with a friend/host/left luggage etc. with this I also leave handier tools than the multitool.
If getting there and back are from completely different ports, I go and look for a bike shop for a box and some spare cardboard (to protect crucial parts) and get some tape or string. Try not to use string on the outside of the box though.
Never had an issue with the size of the box, rather fitting my long bikes (way beyond 1200 mm wheelbases, sub 63° head angles) into regular boxes.
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JohnClimber
- Posts: 3919
- Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:41 pm
Re: Hello
Hi Jodie,
I can't help you with the bike box and flight stuff, but one thing to point out.
Have you had any touring experience here in the UK?
If not I'd advise you to do a couple of trips closer to home to learn about your kit and how it all fits in before you fly away and have a trip that could be nothing but trouble.
Learn your mistakes when you can escape home is my best tip for you
I can't help you with the bike box and flight stuff, but one thing to point out.
Have you had any touring experience here in the UK?
If not I'd advise you to do a couple of trips closer to home to learn about your kit and how it all fits in before you fly away and have a trip that could be nothing but trouble.
Learn your mistakes when you can escape home is my best tip for you
Re: Hello
JohnClimber wrote:Hi Jodie,
I can't help you with the bike box and flight stuff, but one thing to point out.
Have you had any touring experience here in the UK?
If not I'd advise you to do a couple of trips closer to home to learn about your kit and how it all fits in before you fly away and have a trip that could be nothing but trouble.
Learn your mistakes when you can escape home is my best tip for you
I was going for the sub standard or champagne approach!
Re: Hello
If you put the bike in a box the baggage handlers will lie it flat on the trolley and then pile all the cases and other bags on top of it. This can do a lot of damage to the bike, particularly vulnerable areas like the derailleur. If you wrap it in plastic then it is an awkward shape for the handlers to deal with so they lay it on top of the cases after first piling these onto the trolley. It takes a bit of courage to try it at first, but we have used plastic twice now without any issues.
It is also much easier to travel to the airport with a bit of plastic and some duct tape than it is with a bike in a box, which is impossible to carry easily. You can save a lot of money by cycling to the airport with your plastic supplies and wrapping the bike there. We get a supermarket 'bag for life' and put all our other luggage in it, which qualifies as hand baggage. We then wrap it in cling film and duct tape the lot well to keep things from falling out.
I don't know how to upload photos here any more, but if you scroll to the bottom of the page I have linked to below you will see some photos of our bikes and luggage ready for travel...
https://www.weirdosonbikes.com/2018/05/20/spain/
It is also much easier to travel to the airport with a bit of plastic and some duct tape than it is with a bike in a box, which is impossible to carry easily. You can save a lot of money by cycling to the airport with your plastic supplies and wrapping the bike there. We get a supermarket 'bag for life' and put all our other luggage in it, which qualifies as hand baggage. We then wrap it in cling film and duct tape the lot well to keep things from falling out.
I don't know how to upload photos here any more, but if you scroll to the bottom of the page I have linked to below you will see some photos of our bikes and luggage ready for travel...
https://www.weirdosonbikes.com/2018/05/20/spain/