rahill

I think this has been mentioned before, but the Samsonite Stryde Long Journey seems to be a good choice for airline travel with a Brompton. We just got back from a trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland with our bikes and the suitcases performed well and the bikes arrived undamaged. We chose these cases over the B&W because they actually met the airline size limits and were less likely to raise suspicions about contents. We packed the bikes with some egg crate foam as well as a layer of high density polyethylene foam (a cheap camping pad cut to fit) - this may have been overkill but it worked well. In addition to the bikes, there was room for tools, 2 spare tubes, a spare tire, a U-lock, 2 IKEA Dimpa bags, a camping towel, a jacket, and a few other small parts. The packed case came in at 48 lbs (21.8 kg).

The Dimpa bags were very helpful. The airline for the short flight to the Aran Islands initially said they couldn't take the bikes, based on past experiences, but agreed when we said they'd be in bags - at that point they were just normal baggage. We also used them in hotel rooms to keep everything clean.

This was mostly a driving tour of Ireland, but we did manage five days of cycling - the Waterford Greenway (a converted railway line), the Gap of Dunloe, Inis Mór (Aran Islands), a ride to the Cliffs of Moher, and a train/ride to Giant's Causeway. Stashing the bikes back in their cases and back in the trunk of the car at the end of each day was trivial.


Brompton + tools, 2 spare tubes, spare tire, U-lock, and a few other things in a Samsonite Stryde.




Viaduct on the Waterford Greenway.

bugly64

Thanks for the idea; your vacation pics look amazing.

2_i 

Thanks for the info. It is so good to have a report of direct experience.


We did some Royal Canal Way this summer, also on Bromptons .



*

fietsbob

I'd have to tow the suitcase behind me..

my last trip I landed in Dublin, but flew home from Aberdeen Scotland.
I rode for months..


..

rahill

I guess a cardboard box (and another to get home) would be better in that case...

fietsbob

That's what I did,
Bike was not a Brompton, no rental car , I camped and used Hostels,
and rode every mile..

With exception of some sea crossings and some bus excursions ,
I took with Friends I made along the way ..

pakeboi

Samsonite Stryde Glider Long Journey or Medium ?

rahill

It has to be the Long Journey - basically you want the biggest thing you can get that still meets the airline limits (length + width + depth = 62" or less).

https://www.amazon.com/Samsonite-Stryde-Hardside-Journey-Charcoal/dp/B01LZAUBOE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1540391674&sr=8-1&keywords=stryde+long+journey

blakcloud

Most airlines, are 62 inches such as Air France, Air Canada, United Airlines and Lufthansa, just to name a few. You may get away with 64" but you also may get dinged for oversized baggage fees. .

rahill

Typo (or thinko I guess) - edited to 62". The B&W case is more than 62" which is one thing that made me apprehensive about it and more comfortable about the Stryde (I physically measured both to confirm this).

wesgreen

It's 63" according to Amazon. I trust your measurement, of course. My Delsey suitcase measured a little larger than Delsey's specs.

3speedcliff

Could you provide the interior dimensions? I am looking for a case for a demountable bike with 24" (507) wheels. So I need a case where the minimum interior dimension needs to be at least 21", preferably 22". Thanks, Cliff