Wrapping a bicycle

[thecyclist]

I have baggage wrapped foldable bicycles before , at both airport, several times, they have always done it, sometimes reluctantly or demanding more than the regular 150 Baht per wrap, which I avoided by pointing to the  sign saying all sizes 150 Baht.It will be my first time with a non-foldable mountain bike.Anybody done this before?

[ChouDoufu]

velothailand will box your bike for 250 baht

including materials.

[drtreelove]

9 hours ago, ChouDoufu said:

velothailand will box your bike for 250 baht

including materials.

Hire it done for you if you can. That's a really reasonable price.

It needs to be done as a very specific step by step, and it's a learning process to get it right.  I've done it many times, taking my old and much loved Mt Bike with me wherever I go. The last time, I shortcut and didn't drop the rear derailleur and it was damaged.  The good thing is it gave me the opportunity to upgrade. 

I posted a description and photos on TV several years ago, but can't find it now.  Briefly: 

• get a correct size cardboard bicycle shipping box. In Thailand they are available for sale at a bike shop if you're lucky, In the US they are free from a bike shop.  (Or if a high-end expensive bike, buy a proper hard-side container.) 
• Pull the front wheel off, pull out the axle pin and pack it with your tools and pedals. (If you don't pull this bolt, it projects too far and pokes holes in the box and could become damaged.
• Install a spacer between front fork axle bolt slots to prevent side compression of the fork. Rotate the fork 180 to face rear.
• Remove the handlebar and drop it to the side with cables intact. Manipulate position, wrap with padding and tape in place on the frame so it doesn't bang around.
• Remove the pedals from the crank and store with small parts/tools. You need a special, slim pedal wrench. And be aware of reverse threads on one side. 
• Unbolt the rear derailleur, leave cable and chain hanging, wrap it with padding (bubble wrap or foam or towel) and tape it up inside the rear frame/rear spokes as best possible. 
• Position the front wheel set on the left side of the frame, with padded left crank inside the spokes, as tight as possible to the frame. This is tricky and it will move as you try to get it all inside the box, best to have a helper to hold open and position the box while you hold it all together, lift and lower the whole disassembled, properly positioned bike into the box. 
• You may need to make several attempts as you learn to handle this process of getting it in the box
• Ask the airline ticketing check in clerk to sticker the bike box as FRAGILE.
• I used to pack all kinds of other items in the box with the bike until I got up to the 50lbs max allowed. Now the airlines are more restrictive, to bike and bike parts only.  And lately they have consistently opened the box to inspect, and charged for additional items. Last trip I got away with packing a tire pump an a bag of tools in the bike box. They don't do a good job of re-taping, so If you have a connecting flight or big trip after your flight lands, take some duct tape along to repackage. 
• You will check it in as regular luggage, But when you claim baggage it will come out at the "oversize luggage" station.  

I hope that helps, hope I haven't forgotten anything. Don

 

[ChouDoufu]

velothailand has been recommended on other

travel and cycle forums for the packing service.

add a dot com to get their english website.

 

if you do it yourself, ask for a "fatbike" box.

it's wider and longer than mini-mtb boxes.

budget carriers like jetstar/tiger fly A320's

that allow boxes up to 1.9 meters' long.

 

i always leave derailler on with spacer/padding, and

leave front skewer in fork with short piece of pvc

between legs.  put the end of the fork in a styrofoam

nest.  (not a problem with the wider boxes)

 

zip ties are your friend.

 

roll some cardboard strips into cylinders, cut to

size and tape inside the box to prevent the sides

compressing.

 

you should not need a pedal wrench.  most modern

pedals can be removed with an allen wrench.

 

plenty of room to pack stuff for padding.

check your airline regs.....above mentioned

carriers allow boxes up to 32kg.

 

unless you're flying into the usa...land of the free...

your box likely will NOT be opened.  never had

a box opened in over 50 flights within asia.

(china, myanmar, thai, viet, cambo, singapore)

[thecyclist]

Thanks for the replies.

Where is velothailand ?

Treelove, your packing method is way too complicated for me, and anyway only necessary for high-end expensive bikes.

With my old 15000 Baht bike I am not really worried about damage(I have checked it in completely unpacked several times without any damage to it, that is if airlines allow it,which they often did in the past ), but only that airlines won't accept it unpacked.

The wording in their websites, or when you call them is ambiguous, and it often depends on who is at the check-in :Once checked in a completely unpacked bicycle for the first leg of a round trip with same airline without any problems, and then a few weeks later flying back they wouldn't accept it.