Kingsley wrote:
>
> On Fri, 17 Mar 2006 04:56:58 +0000, Andrew Price wrote:
>
> >> Just wondering if anybody has any recommondations for bike cases..
> >
> > Qantas bike box $15 from just next to their check in counter in Syd or Melb
> > (or free if someone has just unpacked and left a box near their special
> > luggage hatch).
>
> I don't want to seem negative about this, but Qantas bike boxes suck!
>
> They're a non-standard size (whatever that is), and to get 700C bikes
> in, you have to remove both the front and back wheels, including any
> sort of mud-guards. You've got plenty of width - they're about 40cm
> wide, this allows your bike to wobble around inside the box.
>
> I'd get some of those 'pool noodles' (about $2 from $2-shops) and glue
> sections of them in the box as cross-members, because inside the plane the
> boxes will be put atop each other (hopefully not under other luggage).
>
> If you've plenty of time, hanging around the airport and getting a 2nd
> hand box is a good option, but we've never come back with a box that was
> in good enough condition to use again. Maybe you'll get lucky.
>
> The boxes alone weigh a few kg 5? So watch your tickets weight allowance.
>
> Oh - and *always* remove your rear derailleur too.
>
> -kt
I love my bike box.
I bought a Qantas bike box and promptly ignored the "how to use"
instructions. I took off the front wheel and put a fork guard thingy on
it, that I had from when I bought my bike. I loosened the handlebars,
steered hard right and folded the bars under the top tube (so I didn't
need to take the profile bars off, yes I was a triathlete at that
stage). I took the seat out but only because my extra bidon cages behind
the seat didn't fit, but seeing as the clamp for them marked how far I
should insert the seatpost, it wasn't a concern. I didn't pack the box
with anything else except for a towel and some paper. I didn't take the
pedals off, because I didn't need to, I just put some towelling around
them to ease the pressure points on the box. The whole thing was quite
snug but still easy to carry and fit into the boot of my car (with the
seat down). I taped up the box with good packing tape.
It emerged in Cairns lookin' fine, no damage to the box. Had I wanted to
ride my bike from the airport, the total time to get it ready would have
been about two minutes. It would have required a 5mm allen key and
nothing else. (But I didn't). It did fine on the way back to Brissie
as well.
I had friends who swore that Virgin took good care of their bikes as
well. Something people may not know is that you can claim to be an elite
athlete and they might just give you an extra baggage allowance.
Of course, if I was planning on racing in lots of different countries,
I'd buy a hard case, and my team's mechanic could just pull my bike
apart every time I fly, and all the tools could go in his baggage, not
mine.
Tam