Basically I want to fly with my bike and ride it from the airport. Then after a few days I want to turn up at the airport and fly home. I won't have anywhere to store a bike bag etc so I need to keep any packing (and even tools) to an [b]absolute[/b] minimum. I suppose I could put some disposable padding on for the outward flight but I'd still need to get it back 'naked'.
Is it still OK to just turn up, let the tyres down, take the pedals off and spin the bars flat with the frame?
If it makes a difference I'll be flying Jet2 or EasyJet to Geneva.
hmmm.... had a brilliant idea and checked the EasyJet website.
Found this...
The bicycle must be packaged in a bicycle box or bag
I could bung it in a box for the flight out but that gives me a problem getting it back.
in a word - No
I'd try and find an LBS near the airport you're returning from and asking in advance if they can put a cardboard bike box to one side for you...
Soft bag & 'left Luggage' at Geneva airport?
10CHF per day, unlimited size, locker looks like one answer. It will end up costing nearly as much as a bike bag itself though.
I might ask the same question on a more road/touring forum. I'm sure there must be other ways to do it. I can't see all those grey beardies with ancient Dawes messing about with bike boxes and lockers.
We ancients with Dawes ride to Switzerland. No box required.
local bike shop the other side and get a bike box from them
or try using one of them waterproof bike covers that will pack small enough lol
p.s. I have a Dawes myself and am not desperately young (though I'm not yet grey and my experiment with facial hair didn't last long at all)
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Hand luggage it. No ones ever hi-jacked an aeroplane with a bicycle.
Assuming it is the same airport both ways, could you take it in a bag that packs down not too big and doesn't mind being rained on, and just find somewhere not too far from the airport to dump it?
I've done that in New Zealand - dumped a bag in a load of nettles the first point I got to the countryside. It may be harder in Switzerland though, I hear they're quite keen on tidying up!
I've also had success with informal left luggage - grab a meal in a bar, get chatting to them, ask if they could do you a favour and hang onto an empty bag for you for a few days, although I dunno if my language skills would be up to that in Europe.
The bad side of this idea is that you risk your bike getting squished by the luggage people when they put it on the plane.
I've heard of people flying on posh airlines (BA / Virgin etc.) who have gone on with just a bike, but I'm guessing Easyjet would just refuse to carry it.
Joe
How about just putting it in a big plastic bag?
Would that meet Easyjet/Jet2 requirements?
I've got away with a huge plastic bag scrounged from BA. Folds up fairly small too. Post it to yourself "post restante" at Geneva for cheap storage.
Higgo, these Ozzo bike bags come unpadded and fold up reasonbly small
(35x 18cm). You just need to find some cardboard or old Karrimat to protect the contents.
[url] http://www.inmotionproducts.com/productDesc.asp?session_id=d9354f9920462e7485bb2d20aadd5d44&text_product_id=BB [/url]
Are you still intending on doing the TMB? I flew out to Geneva in June to attempt it after reading your post and 'borrowing' your route (Cheers!)
Originally I was going to dump the bag at left luggage at Geneva Airport. But found out the it was cheaper to get a transfer to Chamonix and stash the bag in the woods. ChamExpress [url] http://www.chamexpress.com/ [/url] do the journey for 25 euros each way including the bike, which you can book online along with your seat to give you peace of mind.
BTW, snowed up high passes frustrated my TMB attempt but thanks for the route anyway. Have fun.
Yes, it's for the TMB.
I was thinking of getting the train. I wonder if ChamExpress would look after my bag for me - don't suppose you asked them? It could well be that the transfer works out cheaper than left luggage and train.
I think Ground Effect (the new zealnd clothes lot) do a lightweight bag that folds down to not bigger than a small handbag
Higgo wrote ...
No,didn't ask them but Chamexpress will drop you anywhere in the Cham Valley from Les Houches to Le Tour, there's plenty of scope to stash stuff in the woods, or leave it in the store locker at a hostel like Le Vagabond or SkiStation if you spend a night there.'I was thinking of getting the train. I wonder if ChaExpress would look after my bag for me - don't suppose you asked them?'
Higgo also wrote....
'It could well be that the transfer works out cheaper than left luggage and train.'
Definately, I think that the return transfer alone was roughly equivalent to a week's left luggage costs.
I have the a bike bag from Ground effect. Folds down to about the size of a reem of A4 paper and doesn't weigh much. It does require that you remove the bars though and I would want to pad stanchions if its an mtb.
I would think for a train it would be fine without padding.