Flying My Bike Using A Plastic Bag - Is It Possible?

[@BikeTouringMike]

I've done a complete rundown of all the gear that I used on the trip over on Patreon: www.patreon.com/BikeTouringMike460

[@DoriBoulean]

I have unforgettable memories from last summer tour of Loire valley. I finally started to post videos on my channel and it is amazing how beautiful the region is. Editing the videos, I relive the moments. And indeed it is very important to book in advance the place for bikes in the TGV. Otherwise you have to struggle with the low speed trains where you can or not get a spot for the bicycle . Even if I didn't pay for transporting back the bikes, it was one of the stressful parts of the journey

[@grahamm2015]

Excellent adventure. Top tip for water bottles getting warm, try insulated flasks. I use Super Sparrow flasks, and they are excellent. I can recommend them. You will need oversized bottle cages. Most likely too late for your needs, but them will keep soup warm on a winter ride.

[@Mark-u2b3f]

We just had terrible torrents of rain last night here in Melbourne Australia..and it's summer 🤪

[@ollejansson7237]

I did do this kind of packing my Heron Touring in 2007 and with my Rivendell Atlantis in 2011, when I fly to Bordeaux, for ride Raid Pyrénéen Randonneur and Touriste version 2011, and we fly back from Barcelona. I have done this trip twice, and both times I had my bike in giant plastic bag. I secure my bike with some cheap sleeping pad, I bought at Decathlon.

[@sueg2658]

Terrific series! Thank you for sharing the France trip with us. Yes indeed you have a most beautiful country. It’s good to get away for a bit and perspective as you mentioned. I would never have guessed you could put your bike in a plastic bag for flights!

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thank you! I really like to mix things up, by going on trips here in Scandinavia as well as in other countries.

[@sueg2658]

@@BikeTouringMike I’m looking forward to them. Be well.

[@stevedavis8065]

Personally I would advise cyclists to be cautious about putting a bike in a plastic bag for a flight. I had an incident in 2022 when I was flying from Toulouse to Bristol UK and although I had used the same plastic bag for a flight from Bristol UK to Nice with no problems the people at Toulose airport said the bike must be in a box even though it was the same airline company (EJ) as the outgoing flight. However after much pleading they allowed me on the flight. Always check with the airline first (which I did when in the UK).

[@Leroy115]

Hurry back brother. I really miss your videos ❤. Blessings…

[@RedHeadAgent]

"There's no place like home!" I'm glad to see that you made it through Paris and onto the plane without incident. It's nerve wracking to watch you and to think about meeting timetables, and security and airports and train stations. Thanks for a great series. Enjoy your holidays!

[@philkarn0]

Brilliant Mike, what a great tour ! I watched all of these and really enjoyed them, thanks 👍🏼

[@kathleenhart707]

Thank you for taking us along with you. What an adventure! Planning my ride on the Tasmanian Trail for next Spring!

[@MrCyclist]

Thanks Mike. A great adventure that all cyclists can relate to. I will now rewatch the series in one binge. Weather here in Toronto will be cold at 2C and windy. The cold is ok but not when it is windy over 25 km/h.

[@steliananiculescu]

So simple! Thanks for sharing

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@wzlwcg]

Congrats man!! Nice ride UP to Bordeau.... Hope you share another largue ride with us

[@Rlaplante73]

What a great tour of France. Thanks for taking us along. Beautiful scenery and very informative!

[@cherj960]

I really enjoyed your adventure, Mike. glad you made it home safe and sound. I’ll bet you are glad to spend the first night in your own bed! Thanks so much for sharing your adventure. Ride safe!

[@driftwood4458]

Enjoyed the tour Mike.

[@davidroberts7996]

Another great video & invaluable information - Thank you! You make a dream appear doable.

[@Mrlittlebit394]

Thanks Mike, really interesting re the plastic bag, you are fortunate that airlines like SAS let you do that, the cheaper budget airlines insist the bikes are boxed or bike bagged (I.e padded) to be honest the way they handle them at speed I'm not sure I'd plastic bag it anyway! Enjoy all of your videos Mike, lycka till for the next trip.

[@harrygrimley4352]

This was an awesome series. Thanks for sharing this with us. Glad you made it home safe and sound. What a cool adventure

[@PumpkinVillage]

Another well done video. That ride into the airport would make me very nervous and packing up a bike in a plastic bag. Learned something new. It's always good to get back home. Thanks for the videos and looking forward to your next tour. Take care, Al

[@BikeTouringMike]

Yeah, it's always a great feeling when you get home safe and sound. At least until you have to start packing up everything after the trip ;-)

[@chrislonsberry1974]

That was quite a trip. Just a plastic bag for the bike? I would have been so worried about it getting damaged. Thanks for taking us with you through France.

[@alirezafazeli8222]

Perfect.

[@Naufrago_Noroeste]

Thanks for the videos, I really enjoyed them!

[@MichaelMatthews-gu5gz]

Happy holidays Mike my friend.

[@stitchergary]

Just started watching Ryan's trip down Sweden and came to the video where you joined him....Came to subscribe and will start watching all your videos....

[@kizzmitten1]

I loved the train and plane connections. It's always soooo stressful for me during those times, but so satisfying when you get through it! Great video Mike! Thx

[@BikeTouringMike]

The train I caught halfway through there trip was a bit stressful for me, even though it might not have shown that much on video. But that was a spur of the moment kind of thing, and that's usually not my kind of move. But in hindsight I'm really glad I made that decision, otherwise the rest of the trip would have been pretty tough for me.

[@RolandCats]

Thanks for sharing your adventure with us, dear Mike!

[@Sebisanyi]

Helló what kind of tent are you using

[@BikeTouringMike]

It's a Naturehike Cloud Up 2.

[@Sebisanyi]

@@BikeTouringMike and how did it work in practice? I have a lanshan1 but I'm thinking..

[@lancecrawley9542]

Mike, great series!!! I’ll be sorry next Sunday for sure. If you plan a ride in the US, let us know. I’m sure you will have lots of hosts and riding companions. Bon Voyage!!!

[@BikeTouringMike]

I'll be back new Sunday. I'm really looking to coming over to the States soon. But there are a lot of things that have to coincide. First of all, my schedule for 2024 is looking a bit full, both regarding upcoming tour, job wise and regarding family obligations. So I have my mind set for 2025. Do you have any tips on where I should go? I have a short list already but I'm open for suggestions. In the best of worlds I would love to do a really long bikepacking trip like the GDMBR, but for the next couple of years I can't be away from home for that long. So I'm more looking into trip that last 1-2 weeks.

[@lancecrawley9542]

I’d say RAGBRAI in late July…but dang, heat will definitely be an issue. Great way to experience the Kindness that can still be found here. Could combine that with a trip on the CNO / GAP trail to DC.

[@artmiliner5914]

Really enjoyed this video series and thanks for the sections on train travel and the preparations getting the bike ready to fly. As others have commented, this part of a bike tour is generally the most stressful part of any tour! Snow has come to Canada as I expect it has in Sweden also and the bikes are put away for the season. Time to get on the skis again until Spring!

[@BikeTouringMike]

Glad you enjoyed following along! It's always difficult to be able to document everything regarding preparing the bike for air travel since you always have that stress of miking it before the close the check-in. But this time around I got their way in advance to be able to film prepping the bike. We basically have February around here. About 35 inches of snow outside and we've had temperatures below -10C since early November now. It's going to be a long winter around here.

[@mikefoster3901]

Hello Mike I have been following your trip to France 😊 What a wonderful journey ❤️ Thanks so much for sharing this great adventure Good luck, keep safe and I look forward to future vdos Best wishes from Thailand 🇹🇭

[@CoffeeAddictLee]

Really enjoyed following you through France. Living the dream!

[@rabh6746]

Very nice tour Mike, shame about the weather the last couple of days but I'm sure you are used to that in Sweden😉At least it was perfect weather on your return, I agree about 18C being an ideal cycling temperature👍It will be many months before we see that again😂

[@BikeTouringMike]

It wasn't that bad. Rain on and off during the last day, I can certainly live with that. Glad you enjoyed the tour!

[@buckydoc8303]

Another great, behind the scenes video depicting the practicalities of a complicated tour! I'm wondering whether you've ever considered a tour in the States?

[@BikeTouringMike]

Haha, you don't know how many people have asked me that question lately. I really want to go overseas but my calendar is pretty full for next year. I'll try to make room for 2025.

[@myronas]

Great series of videos in France. Congratulations! It's funny that you experienced so hot days and the last days were so wet. By the way, how did Naturhike tent hold up in so much rain? Was it dry inside?

[@alethearobinson8132]

Thank you for another fine series. The Euro Velo looks like a beautiful route. Curious about shipping your bike in a plastic bag. Is that just on certain airlines? Sure looks easier than a cardboard box. You are correct. Traveling is exciting, but the best part is coming home. I have not been to Swedan, it does look alot like my state of Oregon (USA) with tall evergreen forests.

[@alirezafazeli8222]

Has your nature hike tent ever leaked?

[@mauritzallberg7302]

Tack mike....nu får du lägga upp sista biten till nord kap..annars tror vi inte att du kom dit😂

[@BikeTouringMike]

Haha, ja nu borde jag väl få tummen ur snart.

[@JeanMiFox]

Really enjoyed following your adventure. I discovered your channel via Ryan Van Duzer's. Your content is really informative. Thanks for sharing ! What software do you use to draw the map with the moving arrow along the red line ?

[@frankcaputzal5643]

What an incredible trip. Thanks for all you do to make and publish the videos. Just curious, the bag and tape you used to pack your bike for the plane trip, did you pack and carry those things the entire trip ? Thanks again 🙏

[@georgeskinner2474]

I don't think airlines accept bikes wrapped in plastic film anymore (January, 2025). Soft-sided bike bags require signed waivers now. Check your airline rules very closely. Thank you for all the great videos!

[@michaelganshirt8795]

Is this bike in a bag thing a common way to transport a bike on a plane? It's been several decades since I have taken a trip on a plane with my bike.

[@marcinkwiatkowski9926]

I think most people use cardboard boxes from bike shops. There's also bike specific luggage manufactured now.

[@franknobody5965]

Nice series of videos! Thanks for sharing! May I ask you two questions: Why did you check the bike in a plastic bag, instead of a carton/box? Seems like a big risk for the components! 2) do you use a pressure gauge, or how do you decide when to stop pumping? Best wishes from Germany, Frank

[@BikeTouringMike]

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. 1. The main reason I use a plastic bag for my journey back home is to save time and stress from having to allot a day at the end of the trip trying to fins a card board box for the trip back home. It also saves me some money as well, since I don't have to pay for a taxi out to the airport. This way I can just ride out to the airport and prepare the bike there, and not have to worry about finding a bike box during the last day. I rather spend a day out on the road riding my bike than running around trying to find a bike box. 2. No, the pump I use have no pressure gauge, but I've tried it at home and compared it with my floor pump and it seems like I can get in around 55-60 psi before it gets to hard to inflate the tires any more. So that's a good amount for me I guess.

[@franknobody5965]

@@BikeTouringMike Cool, thanks!

[@bjornotter4298]

Du gjorde en fin resa på väldigt fina vägar. Men kunde du duscha tvätta av dig på flygplatsen? Inte så trevligt att byta till rena kläder när man är oduschad. Hur gör du?

[@TheBikeChallenge]

bike in a plastic bag? Not with my bike for sure :O

[@the.communist]

U cant do this with carbon😉

[@BikeTouringMike]

No, that's why I ride a steel bike.