[Rose]

Can anyone give us advice about dismantling and packing up a bike to take with us as luggage? We are flying Thai and they don't allow you any extra kg for sports gear. They have just told us to take off the pedals, make it as flat as possible and wrap it ourselves so it can withstand the usual luggage treatment. Has anyone got any other tips for us?

Thanks in advance,
Rose

[ruthyroo]

Hi there

we brought a couple of bikes over and our advice from the packers was...

Visit your local bike shop and blag / borrow / steal a cardboard bike delivery box that is the right size. Remove pedals and (if you can) take the handle bars off. Wrap bubble wrap round the frame to pad it as much as you can - basically wrap everything. Then fill the box to prevent the bike moving around (in your case with light stuff - we were shipping the bikes so filled the box with other stuff). Then tape it all shut.

Also, remember that NZ customs are really picky about bikes and outdoor gear - make sure the bike has been absolutely scrubbed and disinfected before you pack it. If you are bringing it through customs they will almost definitely ask you to open the box and let them inspect the bike - so be prepared for that.

Good luck

[Lupin]

Our shippers said to make sure outdoor gear was not only really clean but smells of disinfectant.

[Rose]

:laugh how do you maintain a smell for the months of shipping?

Thanks so much for your advice. I will go and see the bike dealer!

Rose

[Charlosparky]

:o Our shippers told us to clean they tyres with car dashboard cleaner as it gives them a "new rubber" sheen that fools customs into thinking the tyres are new

[Rose]

Oooh, sneaky. I like it.

[beano_bill]

I would have thought that there would be a company someone on this fair isle that you could hand over all your outdoor kit and have them prep it for you.

Or am I just being extremely idle & avoiding the task of cleaning my m/bike, tents and hiking bits & pieces ;)

Beano

[Rose]

Beano, you might be on a fair isle, but I'm on quite a large peninsula (aka Scandinavia). I am planning to carry the bike up into our flat, throw it into the shower and give it a blast.

[pieeater]

It is possible to bring bikes as luggage on the plane.You can purchase special bags for this purpose from good cycle shops.They should be able to help re.the amount of dissasembly required to fit the bike in the bag.Normally removing wheels,pedals,and turning handlebars sideways letting the pressure out of the tyres etc.I don't know about other N.Z.Airports but Auckland has a cycle reassembly area with clamps bolted to the wall to hold the frame whilst you reassemble them.

[Rose]

Cool news about Auckland. So if we are not too zonked we could reassemble the bike there.

Thanks!
Rose

[Jo_b]

If you are flying them, deflate the tyres so they don't go pop. And you can still use a cardboard box from a bike shop for shipping on a plane - I just sent my boyfriend off to Wellington with one!

Another good idea is to get some pallet wrap (industrial cling film basically) and wrap the box in that too - it adds strength and it means noone can get in it until you want them to, at customs.