Bike Flight Case

[Miss-Higgy]

Basically my other half has started manufacturing flight cases for all types of things. Bike flight cases are on the cards, and upon doing some research on them it seems theres a demand for rental of such cases.

I'm wondering what the demand would be if any for a trials specific bike flight case rental or purchase. And if people would prefer a case you just open and pull the bike out of, or one where you take the wheels off.

That is my question, Thanks Lucy

[shercofray]

This is something I will be in the market for for summer hopefully! Definitely one that the wheels are taken off. And will Jim be doing a bike bag rather than case? Cheers

[Miss-Higgy]

Bags are a different ball game all together, the flight cases are there and could be made within 2 weeks.

[Ali C]

I'd be interested depending on the price, I travel a couple of times a year and just don't have the space for a bag at home.

I's say make it as small as possible while still getting long frames in. Most bike bags are designed to take bikes up to DH size and that's just not needed for trials bike. I don't mind taking my wheels off if it means it's uber small. It would also have the advantage of being lighter and less likely to give you excess baggage costs.

Would be cool if it was disguised as something else, I know some flights charge more for bikes than say golf items.

[N.Wood]

When taking my bike to the Caribbean I found it tipped from side to side real easy. Something with wheels that could be opened out to be wider than the case then folded back when storing / going on the plane would be good. I used a CRC one.

[FamilyBiker]

is that different in the uk?german airlines class bikes in a case as normal baggage

Edited March 22, 2013 by FamilyBiker

[JD™]

I'd probably be up for a couple of these depending on price for storage as much as anything else. If the bikes can go in a couple of cases and stacked on each other in a garage/shed then that'd be great for not scratching them when moving other stuff around.

[shercofray]

Ok, yeah if you can get sizes and prices up that would be great.

[Miss-Higgy]

I'd be interested depending on the price, I travel a couple of times a year and just don't have the space for a bag at home.

I's say make it as small as possible while still getting long frames in. Most bike bags are designed to take bikes up to DH size and that's just not needed for trials bike. I don't mind taking my wheels off if it means it's uber small. It would also have the advantage of being lighter and less likely to give you excess baggage costs.

Would be cool if it was disguised as something else, I know some flights charge more for bikes than say golf items.

It would be a purpose built version of one of these, with more lightweight hinges and extrusions etc to save on weight. I don't think that would be charged as extra as its an industry standard. As far as fitting different length bikes in if its viable then theres no reason not to have a box for each size or one with removable foam cut outs to accommodate different bikes.

When taking my bike to the Caribbean I found it tipped from side to side real easy. Something with wheels that could be opened out to be wider than the case then folded back when storing / going on the plane would be good. I used a CRC one.

Worth taking into consideration with design, thanks for that one. Wheels are also a thought and maybe a handle and rear wheels like a suit case?

I'd probably be up for a couple of these depending on price for storage as much as anything else. If the bikes can go in a couple of cases and stacked on each other in a garage/shed then that'd be great for not scratching them when moving other stuff around.

If you wanted a box building to spec then thats totally possible! If you have a rough idea of max size and shape wanted, and how many bikes you wanted to fit in it then we can formulate a design and price on that.

[Ali C]

can they be made with curved ends? Like a wheel shape

[dezmtber]

We have a Polaris bike box at work which we hire out.

It does really well with road cyclists. And the odd buisiness man going to les gets.

[Ali C]

[monkeyseemonkeydo]

From my experience at work these type of cases are really quite heavy. No problem when you're transporting a 200kg wind tunnel model but more of a problem if you're trying to convince Ryanair not to charge you £100 for excess baggage to transport a 10kg bike in a 20kg case. Just food for thought.

[Ali C]

the old bike bag I used to use was close to15kg on it's own and even a cardboard box when taped up and padding fitted (and a couple of other mods) ended up weighing more than the bike did.

the usual luggage allowance I've found is 32-35kg, so if you work out the combined weight of a case and bike and find it's less than that then I'd say it's alllllll good

[Miss-Higgy]

He could bevel it at 45 degrees to create a curve, but get the clean curve you may be thinking of it would need to be set, and he's building them out of policarbonate, and you'd be hitting realms of having it custom set and made in that shape and thats if you have silly money to spend.

From my experience at work these type of cases are really quite heavy. No problem when you're transporting a 200kg wind tunnel model but more of a problem if you're trying to convince Ryanair not to charge you £100 for excess baggage to transport a 10kg bike in a 20kg case. Just food for thought.

And yes that one in the picture would be excessively heavy and this is all part of the design to keep it uber lightweight, again why maybe curves would be a little daft as it would add unneeded weight.

I've had a brief scan on the internet and the max weight for most airlines is about 30 to 40kg and the max dimensions not to exceed 62 inches (157 cm) when you total length + width + height. So for use with airlines it will need to be kept simple.
A box is also easier to pass off as something that isn't a bike.

Edited March 22, 2013 by Miss-Higgy

[Ali C]

just thought with a curved end you might be able to pass it off as an instrument, but It's no big deal if that's harder/heavier to do.

[jigga]

I fly regularily international and all the carriers I use include bikes as check-in baggage, which is usually 23kg limit. That includes your check-in bag with clothes/shoes etc and the bike in a box. I have looked at loads of options for this. I like the EVOC bike bag as it has a pretty tough chassis to it, though its still a bag, not abox and will collapse if weight is put on top of it. This is 7.4kg's. Most Hardcases I ve looked at are 10-12kg's. With a 9+kg bike inside thats used up all of my weight limit so Im going overses in only the clothes Im wearing. No thanks. I fly from Australia to asia 5x per yr and sometimes back to UK, with Emirates, Thai, Etithad, Cathay Pacific and thwe normal allowance is 23kg's. Emirates give 30kg as an exception and most of these carriers will give an unoffical of extra allowance of a few kg's More. I have been caught out a few time assuming they'd be generous, particulalily with Royal Brunei and had to throw a couple hundred quid's worth and belongings away just to get on the flight. Air asia and Jetstar charge during the booking process, giving a choice of baggage allowance, but you pay accordingly. An average cardboard box from the bike shop weigh's 4kg. I often use one of these, shortened around the bike once inside, and some of the top flaps cut-down to get the weight down. I cover all the frame in pipe insulation as padding and fit those plastic axle covers that come on new bike delivered to the shop then wedge polystyrene sheet btwn frame, wheels, etc. Luckily, most of my destinations have good weather so getting the box wet isnt a problem as it might be flying round Europe. I made my own box on wheels from plastic sheet which also weigh's 4kgs which can take up a lot of room storing it wherever Im going. I can always chuck a cardboard one away and get another free before flying home. Hope this helps your thinking in designing a case. Weight is VERY important on International. I dont know who Ali was flying with but those allowances are usually only 1st class or on flights inot America where allowances are more generous.

[dezmtber]

Youl need a compartment for clerits hammer. So he can travel to a non snowy part of the world

[Ali C]

I fly regularily international and all the carriers I use include bikes as check-in baggage, which is usually 23kg limit. That includes your check-in bag with clothes/shoes etc and the bike in a box. I have looked at loads of options for this. I like the EVOC bike bag as it has a pretty tough chassis to it, though its still a bag, not abox and will collapse if weight is put on top of it. This is 7.4kg's. Most Hardcases I ve looked at are 10-12kg's. With a 9+kg bike inside thats used up all of my weight limit so Im going overses in only the clothes Im wearing. No thanks. I fly from Australia to asia 5x per yr and sometimes back to UK, with Emirates, Thai, Etithad, Cathay Pacific and thwe normal allowance is 23kg's. Emirates give 30kg as an exception and most of these carriers will give an unoffical of extra allowance of a few kg's More. I have been caught out a few time assuming they'd be generous, particulalily with Royal Brunei and had to throw a couple hundred quid's worth and belongings away just to get on the flight. Air asia and Jetstar charge during the booking process, giving a choice of baggage allowance, but you pay accordingly. An average cardboard box from the bike shop weigh's 4kg. I often use one of these, shortened around the bike once inside, and some of the top flaps cut-down to get the weight down. I cover all the frame in pipe insulation as padding and fit those plastic axle covers that come on new bike delivered to the shop then wedge polystyrene sheet btwn frame, wheels, etc. Luckily, most of my destinations have good weather so getting the box wet isnt a problem as it might be flying round Europe. I made my own box on wheels from plastic sheet which also weigh's 4kgs which can take up a lot of room storing it wherever Im going. I can always chuck a cardboard one away and get another free before flying home. Hope this helps your thinking in designing a case. Weight is VERY important on International. I dont know who Ali was flying with but those allowances are usually only 1st class or on flights inot America where allowances are more generous.

I was talking about total weight of normal luggage rather than just bike allowance. Last time I flew I used my cardboard box wrapped in tape to waterproof it a bit and a skateboard attached to make it easier to pull. With my bike and clothes it came1kg under the total allowance (which was handy). I may be mistaken with the weight though, it could have been 22~kg

My box with padding.loads of tape, skateboard and innertube handles came in pretty heavy, I think it's not impossible to have a box made at roughly the same weight.

[Miss-Higgy]

See ali knows to trust is the jebus of box building