air travel and bike touring

[commuter]

If I were to fly to Europe, Australia and New Zealand as an example, what would I do with the $400 dollar bicycle case that my bike would be packed in? Do airports have locker space for rent that would hold a bike case for an extended time? The reason is that I may be on a tour for several years traveling to these places and I would really like to ride my own bike.
Thanks

[John Nelson]

You want to store it in one place for several years? Or you want to store it in multiple places for shorter periods?

No, I don't believe airports have storage space. It's a security risk. You may be able to rent a storage locker elsewhere. You may also be able to find a Warm Showers host to store it for you. If the period is not excessive, you may be able to get a hotel to store it for you assuming you spend the first and last night there. If you're going point to point, you can ship it ahead and most shipping companies will store it for a fee. Or you could ship it to a Warm Showers host in the city you will be leaving from.

Details probably depend on your travel plans.

[valygrl]

Use a cardboard box, recycle when you arrive, find another one when you fly again.

[randyberlin]

I just logged in to say the same thing. I've never had a problem finding a box at the end of my tours.

[commuter]

Response to John Nelson
My tenative plan is to fly to Australia and ride the perimeter, go to Tasmainia and explore the island, head for New Zealand - explore again and if I still feel like living the nomad life I would go to Europe visit as much and as long as I cared to then return to my fly-in city, collect my bike case and return home. I wanted to avoid the cardboard box plan if possible it seems like such a waste when I already have a travel case for my bike.

[John Nelson]

Although I personally would use the cardboard box approach, if you want to take your hard shell, you can surely find some place to store it. I just don't think that that place is likely to be the airport.

[Tourista829]

I like the card board box idea. Logistics may be tough with a hard case. Suggestion, if you have a reservation, at the last inn/motel you stay in, (or make sure you make one) before you leave the country, maybe they will store it for you. Sometimes that requires shipping it to them from your starting point.

[driftlessregion]

Check with a hotel if you promise to stay a night at the beginining and end of your tour.

[valygrl]

For a long tour, I think using the bike case is a clear example of letting your stuff rule you.  With the bike case you have to find a way to store it, possibly pay storage fees, leave from the same airport you arrive at or pay/arrange to ship it from one airport to another.  It's just a huge loss of flexibility, just because you want to use a particular piece of equipment that you already own.

On a trip of several years, you are going to want to be really flexible, and just go where you end up going, rather than being pinned down by plans, logistics, and equipment. 

My $0.02, YMMV, etc. etc., and I won't argue my point any more, just saying, you should really think about letting go of this idea.

[BrianW]

Some airports do have left luggage services. Frankfurt and Munich, Germany, for example. But, the costs can add up for long-term storage: 7 euros/day at FRA, for example. See http://www.frankfurt-airport.com/content/frankfurt_airport/en/checkin_luggage/luggage_neu/storage.html

10 days would be around $100 USD, so in a couple of weeks you'll spend more than it would cost to buy a new case.

For the type of trip you are thinking of, I would go the cardboard box route without a doubt.