Tandem Tom

We have an upcoming tour where when we get into Portsmouth we are about 15 minutes walk from our Airbnb. Our bike boxes will probably not fit in our hosts vehicle. So....
My "crazy" idea is some type of rolling cart that I can roll 2 bike boxes to her home!
So I would appreciate your creative input!
Thanks!!

saddlesores

there was a thread on this topic just a couple months ago.

a couple plywood plates with luggage wheels you can clamp onto the bottom of the box, with a rope to pull it along.
enjoy the walk.

tyrion

UberVan or UberXL. (crazy!)

mev

I have wheeled a single bike down the street using a standard hand truck without too much difficulty.

For example, when I got to Panama City, I had a bike shop box my bicycle for travel. I then had to pick up that boxed bike to bring it back to my hotel, 2.4km away (1.5 miles) - so I borrowed a hand truck from the hotel. One of the hand truck tires went flat and some of the curbs on sidewalks were obnoxious, but otherwise it wasn't too difficult. If not difficult for your hosts to borrow a hand truck and route isn't treacherous that might work. Alternately, there are also foldable versions of hand trucks (https://www.amazon.com/Magna-Persona.../dp/B000HVVSDU), though likely more flimsy than standard hand truck.

Alternately if it isn't too difficult, then I've also carried my bike box down the street. For example, in Amsterdam I took public transit to close to my destination and then carried my box down the street the last bits.

rumrunn6

Portsmouth, where?
how are you going to transport the rolling cart?
why not call a taxi that can provide a van?
​​​​​​​why not assemble the bike & ride it?
do they have a bike lane for you & your bike boxes? are there sidewalks the whole way?
perhaps your host has an idea & perhaps their vehicle can transport your bike boxes, have you asked them? maybe they have a p/u truck

Tourist in MSN

You did not say if you were arriving by air, train, bus, or something else. When I rode the Glacier Waterton Loop, I arrived at the Whitefish Amtrak station at 1am. Asked Amtrak if I could leave my bike and some of my luggage there and pick it up the next day. They said yes. I walked the 1.5 mile to my motel, and the next morning after breakfast walked over to Amtrak, unboxed my bike, packed up my panniers and rode off.

Tandem Tom

We fly to Heathrow then a bus to Portsmouth. I have never used Uber but maybe that would be a solution. I will also ask our Airbnb host for ideas.
We did this2 years ago and used plastic bags for our bikes as we were ending our tour in Copenhagen. This time in and out of Heathrow via Portsmouth so we will be using boxes.

rumrunn6

oh the UK! Fun! jealous!

Tandem Tom

Actually the only riding will be to the port to take ferry to France!

Pratt

If in US, I might think of renting a pick-up truck from HomeDepot. Does England have an equivalent. Failing that, calling around to local: cycling stores; cycling clubs; moving companies.
Good luck

schoolboy2 

There are many ways to solve this problem. As another poster noted, there are foldable lightweight handtrucks that would probably do the trick; buy two and bring them with you. Or, if the walk is as short as you suggest: ask your host to meet you at the airport and give him/her all the other bags to carry home in their car. Then, cut or fashion handholds on the bike boxes and one of you take the front end of each box, and the other take the back end of each box and walk to your AirBnB. Or build the bikes at the airport and ride them to the AirBnB after packing your other luggage and the flattened bike boxes into your host's car. Or use UberXL or a taxi service which has a van.

We spent last summer cycling in France and we have fallen in love with the country, have fun!

bikenh

Skateboard trucks with the wheels. I used to use this idea when whitewater kayaking at East Race Waterway in South Bend, IN. It was nice uphill walk back to the put in of the park and I would wheel the kayak back up. The wheels tucked into the kayak for the paddle back down. Nothing fancy just operational.

I would have the agree though, depending on what time you will be arriving in town, why not assemble bike then ride to the bnb.

Tandem Tom

I like the skate board wheel idea! The reason for not assembling the bikes is the challenge to carry the box.
We are using ebike boxes as there are wider and sturdier. I am able to go bigger because of Iceland air generous baggage size.
I go a bit overboard with box prep. I actually use polyurethane on the exterior to protect from rain so if it is sitting on the runway during a storm the box is protected. As we are flying via Iceland this is quite common. Also I use cheap nylon webbing and buckles so TSA diesn destroy the box.
Preparation is part of the fun!!

Trevtassie

Done wheels on plates many times, make sure you use good wheels so they can take the abuse! I'm working on boxes for Japan today, need to do a few buses and trains. I use fancy aluminium plates now. You can also easily carry folded boxes on your rack, untape them and then fold flat, on the rack hanging over the back with a good elastic strap, looks weird but works! Once you fold them back out and retape with good tape they get around 90% of their strength back.

djb

I've put bike boxes in cars and suvs a number of times, but if your boxes are larger, this may be tricky for Brit vans, as cars tend to be smaller.
but for such a short drive, there has to be a vehicle option. Giving box dimensions to a bike shop, perhaps they will know someone happy top pick up x quid for an easy pick up and drop off....
I did this in Mexico, bike shop guys took me and box to airport at reasonable price.

rivers

Most UK cars will not be able to take 2 x bike boxes. Some should be able to cope with one. My car most definitely cannot fit a single bike box. Unless the taxi company has a Ford Galaxy or similar, you might have an issue. Most mid to extra long wheel base vans will fit 2 x bike boxes. Have you checked with the coach company to see if you can take bikes onto the coach? Some have rules specifically banning bicycles.

Tandem Tom

The bus company, National Express, does take bikes as long as they are bagged or boxed. My idea now seems to make up 2 light weight dollies with skate board wheel.
Planning is part of the adventure!

djb

if it keeps you out of the pool halls young feller, then its all good ;-)
given its such a short distance, even if one larger taxi van thingee did the trip twice, it would all be over in 10 mins if its really a 15 min walk, and probably cost a tenner or something....
Everyone is different, but after a trans Atlantic flight, the last thing I'd want to be doing is fighting with a bike box, my panniers that were luggage, and all of this periodically falling off a skateboard whatsit every time it hits a crack......and heck, it could be raining!

Tandem Tom

Problem solved! I just heard back from the Airbnb host and she will be able to make 2 trips and get us squared away!
Sometimes I try to solve a perceived solution.

djb

Well there you go, there's always a solution.
nice to know it's sorted.

3speed

Haha. Well it's always good to be optimistic. : P

reynoldsarts

Luck