jollycycle

Hi,

planning for a travel frame (breakaway or with couplers) for a road bike or gravel bike. I want to make sure it fits in a 26x26x10 max airline baggage sized case. From what I‘ve read it‘s basically a tight fit. Does the axle standard 142mm vs 130mm make a noticeable difference? 130mm (rear wheel) + 100mm (front wheel) already come close to the case height of 10“. In doubt I would decide for rim brakes. On the other hand 142mm and the possibility to mount wider gravel tires is appreciated.

Ritchey Breakaway vs S&S couplers - does it make a difference how they fit into the case? The disconnect point ist different (top tube vs seat tube)

Any suggestions?

Thank You

unterhausen

As far as the coupler goes, it depends on your frame geometry. The Ritchey leaves your top tube longer. The thing about 142mm rear ends is they go with disc wheels. Discs are harder to pack.

jollycycle

Thanx. Discs are harder to pack because they can be bend easily in the case?

Andrew R Stewart 

It's been a long time since I packed a coupled bike but IIRC I rotated the fork 90* to reduce the whole width thing. When i made the two S&S bikes I did I made a "picture frame" from cardboard, to mimic the suitcase, and place it against a bike to see where the tight points would be. Andy

unterhausen

They make it a lot harder to overlap the wheels. I am pretty sure many people take them off to avoid bending them

jollycycle

Thank You guys. I think it shall be a slim roadbike (130mm rear) instead of a gravel frame (142mm). Size is around 56. I will make some drawings to check for the 26x26x10 case.