Traveling (flying) with your bike. how to?
08-16-07, 06:54 PM
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this may/may not be relevent: i went to munich, germany last summer and met a "pro" (meh, he may have been, i dunno, he claimed to be) on a luftansa flight... he told me that most european airlines let you take your bike onboard as a "carryon"... granted, you may want to remove the saddle and losen the headset...
oh yeah, and dont put "loose baggage" (helmet, spare parts, tools) in the hard/soft case with your bike cause if they check it, stuff has a tencency of dissapearing....
oh yeah, and dont put "loose baggage" (helmet, spare parts, tools) in the hard/soft case with your bike cause if they check it, stuff has a tencency of dissapearing....
08-16-07, 09:46 PM
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My bike gets a little banged up when in a trico hard case. I can't even imagine the damage it would suffer in a soft shell case or regular cardboard box.
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08-16-07, 10:29 PM
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Interesting. Especially orcanova's thoughts about the soft case. I'm interested that nobody has suggested the S&S coupling option (https://www.sandsmachine.com/#Touring%20Bike%20Photos
. Or a folding road bike like the new Dahon Tournado. Any thoughts about those options? I realize they're a little pricey, but having just been in Europe renting remarkably uncomfortable bikes I would love be able to take a good (or great) bike abroad.
. Or a folding road bike like the new Dahon Tournado. Any thoughts about those options? I realize they're a little pricey, but having just been in Europe renting remarkably uncomfortable bikes I would love be able to take a good (or great) bike abroad.
08-17-07, 07:04 AM
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Looks very nice, but it seems like if another bag was thrown on top of this one it woudl squash your bike from the side (breaking bending spokes or something). I know bikes are probably much more delicate than I think, but bent wheels aren't exactly conducive to fun riding abroad. I'm surprised you haven't had any trouble. I travel a lot, and my suitcase looks like it's been through a war zone.
Do baggage handlers tend to take better care of big items assuming they are some sort of specialty item?
Is there any extra insurance you can buy from the airline or anyone else to protect your bike against damage?
08-17-07, 07:16 AM
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Just curious. Does anyone read the For Sale forum here?
08-17-07, 10:03 AM
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I noticed they have a discovery channel version. Is this what Lance and the boys used?
Looks very nice, but it seems like if another bag was thrown on top of this one it woudl squash your bike from the side (breaking bending spokes or something). I know bikes are probably much more delicate than I think, but bent wheels aren't exactly conducive to fun riding abroad. I'm surprised you haven't had any trouble. I travel a lot, and my suitcase looks like it's been through a war zone.
Do baggage handlers tend to take better care of big items assuming they are some sort of specialty item?
Is there any extra insurance you can buy from the airline or anyone else to protect your bike against damage?
Looks very nice, but it seems like if another bag was thrown on top of this one it woudl squash your bike from the side (breaking bending spokes or something). I know bikes are probably much more delicate than I think, but bent wheels aren't exactly conducive to fun riding abroad. I'm surprised you haven't had any trouble. I travel a lot, and my suitcase looks like it's been through a war zone.
Do baggage handlers tend to take better care of big items assuming they are some sort of specialty item?
Is there any extra insurance you can buy from the airline or anyone else to protect your bike against damage?
I read somewhere that Postal used them. On the Sci-Con website theres a pic of a baggage handler with several stacked up on a dolly and the caption says its the Navigators team bikes being transported.
As far as durability and damage, maybe they are more durable than we think. Of couse I think there's the possibility of damage, but so far it hasn't happened, and I'm willing to accept that risk in order travel with my bike, since I do travel to some cool places for work. I mean what is the worst that could happen? Once out of twenty times I had to pay for a wheel repair, and maybe I couldn't ride that trip? Well, I've already got lots of rides in on trips, so I am ahead of the game. If it happens I just take it to a shop and put down a credit card and, viola, problem solved.
The weels are tucked outside the frame so they are the most exposed, and I think the wheels actually act as padding and are more durable than you think to sideways stress. A wheel is more likely to go out of true hitting a pothole or just from a loose spoke than some sideways pressure. Spokes have high tension but can absorb a little weight. We probably put way more lateral stress on a wheel sprinting than a box would leaning against it temporarily.
The way the bag is designed it tends to sit up rather than lay on the ground. If it is on the ground, it is not flat, and the cordura nylon is slippery, and it would take some effort to balance cargo on it without it sliding off. Think about it, a bagggage handler wouldn't put boxes on something unstable because he knows it would make more work to go pick them up after they all tumble. He would more likely toss the bike bike bag on top, and I think the padding and design is so good that the bike won't get hurt tossing it. Therefore, the bag is most likey to wind up on top of other stuff, not under it.
It is also bottom heavy so if tossed it would probably land on one or more of the caster wheels first then either tip over or stand up. The exterior padding is very thick. I don't know about cargo holds in planes but I think cargo is secured pretty well with netting or pods and whatnot to keep it from shifting, so I don't things are tossed on top of each other when loaded. The only tossing would likely be on and off the loading belt, and maybe on the baggage claim belt, but its actuall easier to just place this bag than toss, because of its weight and shape and the slippery cordura exterior. I am confident the bike is well protected for this kind of minor tossing. However, I do think handlers in general would be more gentle with something like this. If it is light, it takes less effort to handle it gently, and more effort to handle it roughly. They would be more rough with something heavier. If a handler wanted to move it ten feet up to the next guy, since it is sitting on caster wheels, he would brobably give it a shove and let it roll forward to the next guy.
08-17-07, 10:09 AM
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I have both a hard case and a soft case...I prefer the hard case...
My hard case weighs about 32 pounds, so I am going to be over the 50 lb limit on baggage...
I know this and am ready to step up and pay the extra fee...
Southwest charges $50 one way...
Ironic that a ticket from Hartford, CT to Baltimore/Washington costs $49 one way...
I always knew my bike was worth more than me...
My hard case weighs about 32 pounds, so I am going to be over the 50 lb limit on baggage...
I know this and am ready to step up and pay the extra fee...
Southwest charges $50 one way...
Ironic that a ticket from Hartford, CT to Baltimore/Washington costs $49 one way...
I always knew my bike was worth more than me...
08-17-07, 07:25 PM
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I'm flying Virgin Atlantic from SFO to Heathrow in a couple weeks and my bike will fly for free as a piece of checked luggage. You might check Virgin out.
05-24-08, 08:03 AM
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Lock
Hi There, my bike case has a combination lock should I lock it? or leave unlocked so it can be inspected by the TSA guys and run the risk of something being stolen? I'm traveling to Milan from Mexico this summer, the case I'm using is an SCICON Aerothech evolution.
Thanks
Thanks
05-24-08, 08:12 AM
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Hi There, my bike case has a combination lock should I lock it? or leave unlocked so it can be inspected by the TSA guys and run the risk of something being stolen? I'm traveling to Milan from Mexico this summer, the case I'm using is an SCICON Aerothech evolution.
Thanks
Thanks
Saludos.
05-24-08, 08:21 AM
#37
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Well, as long as your bike doesn't contain more than 4oz of any clear liquids, you should be fine. 
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05-24-08, 08:22 AM
#38
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I would echo everything said here. The soft case really is the best for frequent use. The only thing I have done, in addition, is to buy at Home Depot some of those 2 foot by 4 foot Corrugated plastic sheets.
They weight nothing and if you slip them down inside each side of your soft bag they add a little protection, for transporting the bag in a cab, or storing at home or hotel, they slide right out of the bag.
I use 4 sheets in my bag, They are 4mm thick so they add a whopping 16mm to the bag. I put in each side and 1 in between each wheel and the frame.
Never had anything happen to my bike.
They weight nothing and if you slip them down inside each side of your soft bag they add a little protection, for transporting the bag in a cab, or storing at home or hotel, they slide right out of the bag.
I use 4 sheets in my bag, They are 4mm thick so they add a whopping 16mm to the bag. I put in each side and 1 in between each wheel and the frame.
Never had anything happen to my bike.
Man, I think there should be a sticky on this topic because the threads keep popping up. Its a good question, and I keep answering without bashing people for not searching, but you guys/gals, after reading this thread, should also search, because there is a lot more good info out there in other threads as well.
I transport my bikes a lot. I had a hard case, which I just sold on craiglslist. I now have a Sci-Con Aero Comfort soft case, which I can't rave enough about.
The hard case is great. It protects so nothing can harm the bike, but it can also compress the rear stays on a steel bike if it sits in the case for a really long time (couple weeks) without a hub/skewer or something to keep that from happening.
The hard case takes up a lot of room in your home. Too much IMO. It is also heavy so you have to pack it light or else you get hit with excess weight charges. It sometimes gets hit with oversized baggage charges, even if it is not too big...just because it LOOKS big to the ticket agent. As a result, traveling is more stressful at check in and you feel like you are constantly trying to negotiate a bribe. I have gotten away without paying charges almost all of the time with a hard case, but it involves diplomacy and nice tips to the skycaps, and always some stress.
The soft case is smaller and much lighter, so you get it through more easily without hassle. The padding is great. The fork and rear stays lock onto a rigid platform with quick release skewers. The derailleur is protected by a metal cage that attaches easily with the skewer. It rolls and carries like a dream. The padding IMO and experience is more than sufficient and it handles itself nimbly in the hands of strangers like baggage handlers, because it is soft and hard to get a grip on...so It can't really be tossed. Even if it is tossed, it seems to land on all four feet like a cat, due to the rigid platform at the bottom.
It requires much less disassembly than a hard case, so the bike is packed or unpacked in 10 minutes. As a result of that ease, if you get one ride in on a trip, it was worth it (as opposed to a hard case where you really have to justify the time commitment, stress, added expense, etc.) All you do besides taking the wheels and pedals off, is loosening the stem and the headset, so that they rotate sideways and tuck under the frame (for road bikes). That is simply loosening or tightening six bolts, as opposed to a hard case where you have to remove the stem and bars and twist them around in the case, etc., which takes exponentially longer to get it to all fit and close. The soft case just zips closed. It is amazing.
It also rolls up and stuffs into the back of a closet, or above some rafters or pipes in the basement, so it is not an albatross in the house, like the hard case is if your space is limited. You could probably fit it between a fridge and a wall if you had to.
I have traveled with the soft case many times, with a pristine and pricey carbon road bike. It is usually packed in a cargo hold with tons of TV network equipment in hard cases. The bike has never had so much as a scratch. The brifters have not been pushed in the slightest. The wheels, likewise, arrive pristine.
And, like any case, if you don't use it much, consider going in half with a nearby friend or club ride partner, as you may never need the case at the same time (unless you both do the same races or events). Splitting $350.00 with a buddy of mine was worth it, and we both have used it many times without a scheduling conflict.
My feeling is this: The soft case is so much easier, and I get so many more amazing rides in places I have never been, that even if I do get some damage somewhere, I am willing to take that risk because I am living my life and enjoying it now. I can pay for the damage. I cant get those moments back if I were wishing I had brought my bike somewhere. My advice is, get a good soft case, take your bike everywhere, live your life, and dont worry about what-ifs. You pay for repairs anyway, just from riding. Take your bike and ride that is what it is for. Live your life that is what it is for.
Edit: forgot to mention that the Sci-Con fits right into the trunk of a mid-sized rental car. It is so hassle free it is amazing. The hard case you would have to drop the seats and make sure you get a car with a wide enough trunk to pass through, or rent an SUV or a van.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/?id=...on-aerocomfort
I transport my bikes a lot. I had a hard case, which I just sold on craiglslist. I now have a Sci-Con Aero Comfort soft case, which I can't rave enough about.
The hard case is great. It protects so nothing can harm the bike, but it can also compress the rear stays on a steel bike if it sits in the case for a really long time (couple weeks) without a hub/skewer or something to keep that from happening.
The hard case takes up a lot of room in your home. Too much IMO. It is also heavy so you have to pack it light or else you get hit with excess weight charges. It sometimes gets hit with oversized baggage charges, even if it is not too big...just because it LOOKS big to the ticket agent. As a result, traveling is more stressful at check in and you feel like you are constantly trying to negotiate a bribe. I have gotten away without paying charges almost all of the time with a hard case, but it involves diplomacy and nice tips to the skycaps, and always some stress.
The soft case is smaller and much lighter, so you get it through more easily without hassle. The padding is great. The fork and rear stays lock onto a rigid platform with quick release skewers. The derailleur is protected by a metal cage that attaches easily with the skewer. It rolls and carries like a dream. The padding IMO and experience is more than sufficient and it handles itself nimbly in the hands of strangers like baggage handlers, because it is soft and hard to get a grip on...so It can't really be tossed. Even if it is tossed, it seems to land on all four feet like a cat, due to the rigid platform at the bottom.
It requires much less disassembly than a hard case, so the bike is packed or unpacked in 10 minutes. As a result of that ease, if you get one ride in on a trip, it was worth it (as opposed to a hard case where you really have to justify the time commitment, stress, added expense, etc.) All you do besides taking the wheels and pedals off, is loosening the stem and the headset, so that they rotate sideways and tuck under the frame (for road bikes). That is simply loosening or tightening six bolts, as opposed to a hard case where you have to remove the stem and bars and twist them around in the case, etc., which takes exponentially longer to get it to all fit and close. The soft case just zips closed. It is amazing.
It also rolls up and stuffs into the back of a closet, or above some rafters or pipes in the basement, so it is not an albatross in the house, like the hard case is if your space is limited. You could probably fit it between a fridge and a wall if you had to.
I have traveled with the soft case many times, with a pristine and pricey carbon road bike. It is usually packed in a cargo hold with tons of TV network equipment in hard cases. The bike has never had so much as a scratch. The brifters have not been pushed in the slightest. The wheels, likewise, arrive pristine.
And, like any case, if you don't use it much, consider going in half with a nearby friend or club ride partner, as you may never need the case at the same time (unless you both do the same races or events). Splitting $350.00 with a buddy of mine was worth it, and we both have used it many times without a scheduling conflict.
My feeling is this: The soft case is so much easier, and I get so many more amazing rides in places I have never been, that even if I do get some damage somewhere, I am willing to take that risk because I am living my life and enjoying it now. I can pay for the damage. I cant get those moments back if I were wishing I had brought my bike somewhere. My advice is, get a good soft case, take your bike everywhere, live your life, and dont worry about what-ifs. You pay for repairs anyway, just from riding. Take your bike and ride that is what it is for. Live your life that is what it is for.
Edit: forgot to mention that the Sci-Con fits right into the trunk of a mid-sized rental car. It is so hassle free it is amazing. The hard case you would have to drop the seats and make sure you get a car with a wide enough trunk to pass through, or rent an SUV or a van.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/tech/?id=...on-aerocomfort
05-24-08, 12:45 PM
#39
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Mine comes on the plane with me (in the baggage compartment, of course) in a cardboard box which I have either acquired at a bicycle shop, or at the airport.
Read over this site for more information:
https://www.ibike.org/encouragement/travel/bagregs.htm
And check with your airline for regulations regarding the size and weight of the baggage you're allowed. Most airlines are reducing the limits.
Read over this site for more information:
https://www.ibike.org/encouragement/travel/bagregs.htm
And check with your airline for regulations regarding the size and weight of the baggage you're allowed. Most airlines are reducing the limits.
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05-24-08, 02:19 PM
#40
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The dicey part about traveling with a bike isn't the airplane, it's the cab/rental car on the other end. As in how the F will you FIT this big honkin' case in said motor vehicle. That's where a soft case is much easier than a hard case:
• The edges are squishable, not rigid, that makes it easier jamming the bag in the back/trunk of a car.
• I pack motorcycle compression straps with me in my bike case and I can strap that bag down tightly to the roof of any vehicle, which is also much easier with a compressible soft bag that it would be with a hard case. It won't scratch the car you're fastening it to either.
After my experience I'd never use a hard case, the soft case has worked out for me so well over the years.
05-24-08, 03:58 PM
#41
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Interesting. Especially orcanova's thoughts about the soft case. I'm interested that nobody has suggested the S&S coupling option (https://www.sandsmachine.com/#Touring%20Bike%20Photos. Or a folding road bike like the new Dahon Tournado. Any thoughts about those options? I realize they're a little pricey, but having just been in Europe renting remarkably uncomfortable bikes I would love be able to take a good (or great) bike abroad.
. Or a folding road bike like the new Dahon Tournado. Any thoughts about those options? I realize they're a little pricey, but having just been in Europe renting remarkably uncomfortable bikes I would love be able to take a good (or great) bike abroad.I have two bikes with S&S couplers.
I am gradually moving away from he soft case I have used for years and getting used to using the coupled bikes.
It is a wonderful system that works well. A little more assembly/ dis-assembly involved but once you get the hang of it, works like a charm.
With the changes to policies and pricing for checked luggage on many of the airlines now, I think the S&S couples bikes are all I will be using in future.
05-24-08, 04:16 PM
#42
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Last edited by Ritterview; 05-24-08 at 05:25 PM.
05-24-08, 04:17 PM
#43
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Oddly enough, I'm shipping my bike back to the UK this weekend. I knew brown-boxing it would be a risk but now I'm really worried that the journey over with no dramas was a fluke!
I took a few pictures as I was packing yesterday (for insurance purposes...) a couple of which are attached.
It should be ok but I'm always glad when I see the box on the other side with no bits missing out of it.
I took a few pictures as I was packing yesterday (for insurance purposes...) a couple of which are attached.
It should be ok but I'm always glad when I see the box on the other side with no bits missing out of it.
05-24-08, 06:48 PM
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Update: I just buy an extra plane ticket and my bike sits next to me. Its now cheaper than paying the airline fees...
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05-24-08, 07:53 PM
#45
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BikePRo USA race case. Been to Europe multiple times without incident,
05-24-08, 11:21 PM
#46
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Yes. Soft case I've had since 1989. It's ballistic nylon with 8" foam rubber padding. I also bubble wrap sensitive areas like the derailleur, brifters to be extra safe, though that's overkill. I fly to Europe with the bike like that, never had a problem.
The dicey part about traveling with a bike isn't the airplane, it's the cab/rental car on the other end. As in how the F will you FIT this big honkin' case in said motor vehicle. That's where a soft case is much easier than a hard case:
The edges are squishable, not rigid, that makes it easier jamming the bag in the back/trunk of a car.
I pack motorcycle compression straps with me in my bike case and I can strap that bag down tightly to the roof of any vehicle, which is also much easier with a compressible soft bag that it would be with a hard case. It won't scratch the car you're fastening it to either.
After my experience I'd never use a hard case, the soft case has worked out for me so well over the years.
The dicey part about traveling with a bike isn't the airplane, it's the cab/rental car on the other end. As in how the F will you FIT this big honkin' case in said motor vehicle. That's where a soft case is much easier than a hard case:
The edges are squishable, not rigid, that makes it easier jamming the bag in the back/trunk of a car.
I pack motorcycle compression straps with me in my bike case and I can strap that bag down tightly to the roof of any vehicle, which is also much easier with a compressible soft bag that it would be with a hard case. It won't scratch the car you're fastening it to either.
After my experience I'd never use a hard case, the soft case has worked out for me so well over the years.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
