soft case (transport) recommendations?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Oakmont, PA
Posts: 275
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 57 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
soft case (transport) recommendations?
My apologies if this has been covered; I tried the search function and have been looking around Google also.
I'd like to put my bike (60cm carbon road bike) in the back seat of my Mazda 3 for a trip. I'm thinking of buying a bike bag to simplify packing and schlepping in and out of hotels. Once I'm there the bike will stay together until I come home. I don't need maximum protection/padding or wheels and would like to keep the cost low. I see a bag on the Performance Bike website that is economical, but the photos don't show anything keeping the wheels from rubbing on the frame.
TransIt Soft Bike Case - Bike Travel Cases
Does anyone have this bag or something similar that could be recommended?
I'd like to put my bike (60cm carbon road bike) in the back seat of my Mazda 3 for a trip. I'm thinking of buying a bike bag to simplify packing and schlepping in and out of hotels. Once I'm there the bike will stay together until I come home. I don't need maximum protection/padding or wheels and would like to keep the cost low. I see a bag on the Performance Bike website that is economical, but the photos don't show anything keeping the wheels from rubbing on the frame.
TransIt Soft Bike Case - Bike Travel Cases
Does anyone have this bag or something similar that could be recommended?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minas Ithil
Posts: 9,173
Mentioned: 66 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2432 Post(s)
Liked 638 Times
in
395 Posts
I've had a Performance brand soft case (don't see anything similar on their site now) since 1989 or so and it's been around the block. It's more padded and sturdier than the one you're looking at. For a short trip the one you're looking at would be fine. If you do alot of traveling you would want something better so everything isn't clanking around inside. I have foam padding I use to wrap my frame tubes and cover the open ends of my hubs, a plastic thingy that fits between the dropouts, protective bag for the rear derailleur, ect. Just be real careful because stuff is easily damaged inside there, especially with that cheaper case. Just pad everything even if you have to use old t shirts to wrap stuff up.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Perth, Australia and sometimes Penang Malaysia
Posts: 1,916
Bikes: Litespeed L1r, Litespeed Ghisallo 07, TCR Advanced Team SL 0 ISP, Giant TCR Advanced SL, Giant TCR Advanced Team - T-Mobile, Giant Propel Advanced SL
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Just get a used bike box from your local LBS they usually have heaps lying around from bikes they have assembled. Probably stronger and cheaper than a bag
or just wrap pipe insulation around the tubing, you basically cut it down the side and it will slide over the tops of the tubes and fork's etc., you can get different diameter tubes and cut the length to suit your frame.
or just wrap pipe insulation around the tubing, you basically cut it down the side and it will slide over the tops of the tubes and fork's etc., you can get different diameter tubes and cut the length to suit your frame.
#4
Falls Downalot
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: DC
Posts: 3,103
Bikes: Now I Got Two
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
60 cm is large for sure, but you ought to be able to just take off the front wheel and squeeze it into the back seat without any more disassembly....might have to get a little creative in the arrangement
#6
Senior Member
My apologies if this has been covered; I tried the search function and have been looking around Google also.
I'd like to put my bike (60cm carbon road bike) in the back seat of my Mazda 3 for a trip. I'm thinking of buying a bike bag to simplify packing and schlepping in and out of hotels. Once I'm there the bike will stay together until I come home. I don't need maximum protection/padding or wheels and would like to keep the cost low. I see a bag on the Performance Bike website that is economical, but the photos don't show anything keeping the wheels from rubbing on the frame.
TransIt Soft Bike Case - Bike Travel Cases
Does anyone have this bag or something similar that could be recommended?
I'd like to put my bike (60cm carbon road bike) in the back seat of my Mazda 3 for a trip. I'm thinking of buying a bike bag to simplify packing and schlepping in and out of hotels. Once I'm there the bike will stay together until I come home. I don't need maximum protection/padding or wheels and would like to keep the cost low. I see a bag on the Performance Bike website that is economical, but the photos don't show anything keeping the wheels from rubbing on the frame.
TransIt Soft Bike Case - Bike Travel Cases
Does anyone have this bag or something similar that could be recommended?
Traveling in the car, I'd work on reducing what could go wrong. I'll usually remove both wheels and put in the very back of a hatch (your bike may not fit). For the back seat removing either the front wheel only or both wheels should work fine. In fact once you get a no-wheel frame on the (protected) seat you'll find you have quite a bit of room. Put the wheels next to the frame (front wheel first, then the rear, so the cassette doesn't hit the frame).
For rolling into hotels etc generally speaking I've rolled my bike through the lobbies of fancy and not-fancy hotels no problem. Elevators, just get the bike vertical. Practice in your house if you're not used to it. Motels are easier with your own door to the room.
If you're looking to reduce theft visibility or your car will be packed to the gills and you want to reduce the bike touching other things, okay, that's a different story. If it's the latter I use a moving blanket or an old I don't know what to call it but a blanket blanket that's not that thick but thicker than a sheet. It would help with reducing visibility as well although you won't discourage a pro. It'll also protect the car from any marks etc.
As far as the bag that you pointed out I don't have any feedback. In the days of bendable/steel frames some riders actually flew with such a bag, bending the frame back a bit if it got bent.
Not sure if this helps.
__________________
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
"...during the Lance years, being fit became the No. 1 thing. Totally the only thing. It’s a big part of what we do, but fitness is not the only thing. There’s skills, there’s tactics … there’s all kinds of stuff..." Tim Johnson
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Oakmont, PA
Posts: 275
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 57 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks, everyone, it all helps. I'm sure I can swaddle the bike so that I don't get grease on the car interior or rub marks on the bike. The prospect of packing the bike carefully in a case and then being able to get the case in and out of the car easily is attractive, but a case that's cheap enough to make avoiding a small hassle worthwhile may not do the job well enough in the first place. I may be close to a Performance Bike today and see if they have one in stock.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,951
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
12 Posts
We use Aerus soft cases for our CF road bikes. Total weight is under 35lb with bike and all riding gear so it's pretty easy to carry and maneuver on shuttles, taxis etc. About half the time I don't get charged the bike fee as the agent sees the weight and prints out the tag before looking and seeing how big it is. At that point they ask me what it is and either let it go or redo the tag and charge me the fee. Also, about half the time the bike comes out on the normal luggage conveyor rather than through the oversize window. The only time we use our old hard cases is for shipping the bikes.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Perth, Australia and sometimes Penang Malaysia
Posts: 1,916
Bikes: Litespeed L1r, Litespeed Ghisallo 07, TCR Advanced Team SL 0 ISP, Giant TCR Advanced SL, Giant TCR Advanced Team - T-Mobile, Giant Propel Advanced SL
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,951
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
12 Posts
FWIW, I remove the chain and detach the RD from the dropout when packing up the bike. The Aerus case includes a padded bag to stick the RD into that velcros to a seat stay leaving the cable connected. You can leave the chain on, but I find it easier/tidier to use a quick-link and stick the chain in a baggie. I also put a baggie over the cassette on the rear wheel and wipe off the chain ring with a rag.