Bike transport -advice please

[RichieH]

Boxes, bags, cardboard packing... What's best for a long haul flight?

Halfords gave me a large cardboard box but I was surprised to see there's no styrofoam, only a few bits of cardboard that surely wouldn't provide any protection to the bike. The young lad at the desk told me all I needed to do was remove the front wheel, sounds dodgy to me.
I was thinking of removing most bits and bubble wrapping them?

Has anyone got anything their looking to sell?

[Scrivo]

Google some packing instrutcions and buy something like this. I'm not sure I would trust a cardboard box as if it rains you are fairly screwed. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=23169

[ryan]

I have the bag Steve posted and it works pretty well. Google for bike packing instructions and cover all the bike bits with bubblewrap/clothes.

50+ trips with my bike and only one incident (that BA fixed)

[TomH]

Have only done it once, but remove wheels, put blocks of cardboard in brake discs to stop them jamming. Tape brake levers to bars, remove rear mech and tape to inside of chainstay and remove pedals. Wrap forks in cloth, and the frame it your so inclined. Bike bags are good, cardboard boxes can work just as well...tape them shut and forget about it.

Pack loads of crap into your bike bag if you want, as they don't weigh them in Dublin.

[Rory]

There's a good guide on the Switchbacks Spain site:

http://www.switch-backs.com/switchbacks-how-to-pack-mountain-bike-mtb-travel-guide.html

They run good MTB holidays too, XC ranging towards DH, based near Granada.

[RichieH]

Fair play lads, that's a great help