Packing the bikes


One option we specified for the bikes are special couplings that essentially allow the frame to split in half. So this is my bike split in tow with the front wheel taken off, and the handlebars twisted around 90 degrees

The large cardboard boxes came from Halfords, who were more than happy to give us them. I’m conscious that we will also have to scrounge boxes and packing stuff abroad - notably Tokyo and Bangkok, so want a system that will just use whats readily available.

The picture above isn't the finished thing - I’ve added some more cardboard protection. The rolls of cardboard between the spokes of the bike are meant to avoid the box being crushed and the wheels with it.

We are flying with BA, where there are basically two options. Either put the entire bike in a ginormous plastic bag, essentially complete, or like I have done above in a box. There is a fair amount of debate as to the best method. The plastic bag afficionados say that it’s obvious to luggage handlers that it’s a bike, and they will therefore treat it with care. The box proponents say that this is saying that luggage handlers don’t really care that much and therefore you are best protecting against all possibilities. We shall see.

We’ve travelled a fair amount, but never with this amount of luggage. In fact I can’t remember the last time we checked in luggage, having joined the hand baggage only revolution some years ago.So we will have 2 bits of luggage each - the bikes and all our panniers in a giant bag. Popularly called “Chinese shopping bags”, you see them often at airports when people are taking large amount of stuff back home to their families. So manoeuvring this lot into the van that we have ordered to take us to Heathrow, and then likewise getting it to check in is a new experience. I’m also thinking of the trepidation of waiting to see whether a) it gets to Basel and b) whether it is one piece. Sian has suggested perhaps tying the panniers together, so that if at least our quality bag loses the will to live the contents will not be dispersed like a giant seed pod to the four corners of a conveyor belt.

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