Box, bag or hard case?
There are three main ways to pack a bike for a flight. A cardboard bike box, often available from bike shops, is cheap and offers decent protection, but it is bulky and hard to store at your destination. A padded soft bag is lighter and folds away, though it relies on careful packing. A hard case gives the best protection and is the choice of many regular cycling travellers, at the cost of weight and price.
Whatever you choose, think about what happens at the other end. If you are riding point to point, you need somewhere to leave the packaging or a way to get it to your final hotel.
Packing the bike properly
Typically you will remove the pedals, turn or remove the handlebars, and take off the wheels. Let a little air out of the tyres, protect the rear derailleur by removing it or padding it well, and put a spacer between the fork ends and the rear dropouts so they cannot be crushed. Pipe insulation from a hardware shop makes excellent frame padding.
Put small parts such as pedals, skewers and thru-axles in a labelled bag, and keep your multitool and pedal spanner in the checked luggage, not your cabin bag. Take photos of how everything fits so repacking for the return flight is quicker.
Registering with AeroVista
Bikes travel as sports equipment. Booking online costs 45 euros per item per flight, and you need to register the bike at least 24 hours before departure so the team can plan the hold space. Do it when you book the trip if you can, so it is simply done.
At the airport, sports equipment is usually dropped at a dedicated counter or oversized baggage point. Allow a little extra time for this, especially at busy summer airports.
Riding at your destination
Reassemble the bike somewhere calm, ideally at your accommodation rather than the arrivals hall, and do a full check: brakes, gears, bolts torqued, tyres pumped to your usual pressure. A short test ride around the block before your first big day is worth it.
Destinations such as Mallorca, the Algarve and the Dalmatian coast are popular with cyclists for their climbs, coastal roads and mild shoulder seasons. Many hotels in these areas offer secure bike storage and simple workshops; ask when booking.
Good to know
- Register the bike as sports equipment at least 24 hours before your flight.
- Attach a luggage tag with your name, phone number and destination address to the box or bag.
- Bring a mini pump or CO2 kit and spare tubes, as bike shops may be far from your base.