I need to take 2 bikes over to Australia later this year. The bikes are one medium Santa Cruz Chameleon, one large Cotic Soul, and we are flying Emirates if that makes any difference.

2 questions:
1. Can anyone recommend a good bike bag?
2. Should I even consider buying secondhand, or is this a bad idea? Obviously I want our bikes to be protected, but this trip is already costing a fortune.

1. Evoc, quick easy, well made – borrow a mates I often lend mine out
2. If you skimp you risk not only your bike but the holiday

A bag’s a bag really. It’s all about the packing. ChunkyMTB off of here always uses a large cardboard bike box and tapes up the corners for added strength.

Rachel

Well, having done some research for an upcoming trip to Spain.

1. The EVOC bags are really nice.
2. But, yes, they are many, many £££. Yes, you can find 2nd hand ones on Ebay that people have bought to go on holiday once with, and then tried to sell on, but, you’ll probably not be saving that much, as they will want a maximum return for their outlay, and you’ll be in the middle of a bunfight with other bugger trying to get it.

so..

3. What about hiring one ? The lovely people at 18 bikes have a couple.

http://shop.18bikes.co.uk/products.php?mode=search

Now the only reason I didn’t take them, was because I’m just that bit too far away to collect, and it was going to be too expensive to courier. If you’re nearer then it may be an option.

or, another alternative.

http://bikeboxalan.co.uk/

HTH

+1 trailofdestruction Used mine many times and hope many times more 🙂

A sound investment

Used my CRC one about ten times now, never an issue.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=68409

large cardboard bike box

Cardboard boxes are fine until it rains and it’s in a trailer for a couple of hours

On the other end of the scale money wise, the CRC one is good value for money, and you could always put it inside a cardboard box as well.

I think the hard shell cases are much, much better at protecting your valuable, and flimsy bike from the baggage orcs,

but, weight penalties for sports equipment means that unless you are willing to shell out even more £££, then a soft bag has to be the way to go.

Either an EVOC bag ( I’ve yet to see anyone else do an equivalent for less than £300. Sure it’s very well built, but it’s still £300 ), or a CRC one and lots of foam pipe lagging.

I have one of these: http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/BAPXDLBB/planet_x_deluxe_bike_bag

Then I line the inside with cardboard.

Then something roughly like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHChlpIKs0U

& If you ask nicely at your lbs they may have some packing items to protect mechs/rotors as all new bikes come with specific packaging.

Ive got an Evoc one I never use! Its brand new less one short trip

Cardboard boxes are fine until it rains and it’s in a trailer for a couple of hours

that’s why my box has been waterproofed.

Watch the weight of the bag – this can easily make you exceed your allowance, In some cases before you even put the bike inside.

If you are taking bikes out to Australia then be sure to get them spotless. They are very fussy about what else you may be bringing in unknowingly with you.

There is a school of thought which says that if the baggage handlers can see that it’s a bike, they’ll treat it as such and it’s less likely to get damaged. If your airline then insists that you must have a bag, you could try the CTC Plastic Bag approach:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/ctc-plastic-bike-bag/

These also have the added advantage of being easier (possible?) to carry or forward to your destination if you’re doing a point-to-point ride or won’t have a fixed base for the holiday.