So you’ve booked your mountain bike holiday, you're excited, stoked, anxious...It’s time to replace cables, bleed brakes, get online for a new set of brakes or head down to the local bike shop and find yourself some new riding kit. Maybe you'll yourself to that new bike, new gear and new helmet. But how are you going to get it all on the plane?
The Cardboard Box
Some go to the local bike shop and get a tatty old cardboard bike box, strip their bike down to the basics, usually quite a bit of effort. They'll also want to get an unholy amount of bubble wrap, cardboard and use half their riding kit to protect the frame, stuff it into the box and hope for the best.
This works. It's free and it's safe most of the time. But, your bike has minimal protection, that box is liable to disintegrate when it's left our in the rain waiting to board the flight, and those carry handles aren't exactly designed for being tossed about by careless airport baggage handlers. You're also in for alot of reconstruction when you arrive, with the added potential of damage or missing parts.
Your bike probably cost somewhere between £2500 - £5000, maybe more. It makes sense you would want to try and look after that investment. Imagine your bike not arriving with you, that's it sat at an airport somewhere, sometimes for days before it makes it's way to it's final destination.
Don't be this guy! Hire a bike bag!
Which is the best Bike Bag
There are loads of options on the market these days for a decent bike bag that will last you for years. They, are in comparison to your bike, not expensive and their smart design solutions that get you packed up hassle free and out on the trails once you land far sooner.
Evoc have been the industry leader for some time with easy to carry, lightweight and heavily protected bags, though in the upper price range they have been proven reliable again and again. We've always used them and can't fault the product.
Douchebags, Dakine, Chain Reaction and Thule are all more examples of brands with a good bag in their line up at a good range of price points. Douchebags get extra points for being able to fold down into a smaller package in between use, great for storage, and Chain Reaction being the slimmest and best value MTB bike bag.
Most of these bags have similar basic features that make your life easier and your bike safer;
- Wheels to carry the bag through the airport
- Zips you can lock
- Reinforced material and padding
- Separate wheel compartment to protect the wheels and the frame
- Handy pouches to store bolts, pedals and any loose items
- Ergonomic straps to keep the bike solid
- Great design meaning minimal parts are removed from the bike
What do you have to do to get your bike in a bag?
- Remove wheels and make sure you put the axles back in the bike
- Advisable to remove rotors aswell (label them F & R so you don't mix them up)
- Remove either stem or handlebar, whichever is preferable
- Remove pedals
- In some cases remove derailleur and leave hanging in between the swing arm
That's most of what you'll have to do. It takes 5-10 minutes to pack, and the same to unpack. Easy!
Evoc have been industry leaders for some time
Renting a bag?
So if you want to protect your pride and joy with the best bike bags available, whilst looking cool at the luggage carrousel but don't want to shell out for a bag? look no further than Bike Bag Hire for the ultimate travel bag rental. They'll ensure your Downhill, Enduro, XC or Road bike arrives with you in one piece. There is a range of colours available to suit your taste. They'll even deliver t to your door and collect it after the trip!
Just a small rental fee secures your dates and we require you to leave a security deposit upon collection. Prices start from £5.50 per day with £100 Security deposit which is refunded upon safe return of the bag. You then get to enjoy your holiday safe in your mind that your bike is in safe hands. For full details and to keep up to date with offers and promotions visit: www.bikebag-hire.com
