Originally Posted by
charliekeri
You're in luck. Just got a Ritchey Breakaway 52cm. I was skeptical about the ritchey case b/c it is over airline dimensions, so I immediately sold it new on ebay and flipped the money and bought the S&S case. I actually just packed it this past Sunday. The bike fits perfectly, but it has to be packed just right. You have to remove the air in the tires and I had to remove the right crank arm.(I think I can pack it without removing it.) There are several ways to pack the bike, and many pictures listed will give you ideas.. the website has packing pictures (click on the "packing" link). I only tried one way, but you can try others with the handlebar in different positions. You will not get much in it besides the bike - maybe shoes, definitely clothing and you might cram a small water or 2,
but space is tight and there is no way you will fit your helmet in.. I put the link below of one packing idea. My bike is small, but you will easyly fit a larger bike in. The S & S case is a little pricey, but it's super strong, and worth it becasue no one makes a case that size. I looked hard.
http://www.sandsmachine.com/pack_r3.htm
Slight digression. My reccomendation is not to pack waterbottles with the bike, even empty ones. I've found a direct correlation with the bike getting inspected by TSA, and having waterbottles in the case.
Could just be a spurious correlation, but I think it has to do with concerns about fluids and fluid containers. so when they see the bottles on XRay, they open it up.
And you can't count on TSA to pack it back right.