Bike bags for travel
11-13-24 | 08:44 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 784
From: San Diego
Bikes: Columbine, Lynskey GR300, Paramount Track Bike, Colnago Super (4), Santana Tandems (1995 & 2007), Gary Fisher Piranha (retired), Bianchi Track Bike, a couple of Honda mountain bikes
Bike bags for travel
I'm looking for a padded bike bag for a single (63cm) bike (wheels off) to use when traveling in a personal vehicle. It needs to be soft to fit under the fixed hat deck.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
11-14-24 | 11:05 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 710
From: Albuquerque NM USA
I use a bag I got from Bud Sports https://buds-sports-us.com/
I got mine in 2021 the model was called the TravelBag. They do not seem to have one by that name anymore. But their RMTBAG ORIGINAL seems to be similar if not the same.
It's VERY well made and I highly recommend it.
A 63 is a very large bike. So, you'll have to do some checking with them on the fit. One of mine is a 60 and fits fine. I think a 63 would fit fine. The exception is, my saddle sticks up too high to fit inside. If you had to, you could lower your saddle for transport. In my case, I just let it stick up out of the bag. The bag can be zipped from both ends. Since I'm just tucking in behind my seats. it doesn't matter that the saddle sticks out.
You do remove both wheels. Though they have a model you only remove the front. For a road bike, you don't need to remove the bars. I bought the fork protector separately, but it looks like it is standard now. There is also an accessory for supporting the BB (Universal Bike Support). This keeps the weight off the chain rings. This mattered to me because I have the bike upright. It wouldn't matter if you were laying it on its side.
I got it so I could put it behind the front seats in my pickup for road trips. I could certainly fit the bike in by itself. But this was so much better because the wheels and everything were together. No worries about this or that rubbing on the bike frame. No worries about getting grease on something in the truck.
It's a soft bag with padding. Perfect for loading into your own vehicle. NO WAY I would check it on an airplane.
I made a point to "standardize" how I put the wheels in the pockets so the cassette was always against the same place. This made sure I didn't end up transferring grease or wax onto disc rotors.
I bought a separate chain/chain ring sleeve from Amazon. This prevents the chain from possibly slapping around and prevents getting grease or wax on the inside of the bag.
By the way, what is a "fixed hat deck"?
I got mine in 2021 the model was called the TravelBag. They do not seem to have one by that name anymore. But their RMTBAG ORIGINAL seems to be similar if not the same.
It's VERY well made and I highly recommend it.
A 63 is a very large bike. So, you'll have to do some checking with them on the fit. One of mine is a 60 and fits fine. I think a 63 would fit fine. The exception is, my saddle sticks up too high to fit inside. If you had to, you could lower your saddle for transport. In my case, I just let it stick up out of the bag. The bag can be zipped from both ends. Since I'm just tucking in behind my seats. it doesn't matter that the saddle sticks out.
You do remove both wheels. Though they have a model you only remove the front. For a road bike, you don't need to remove the bars. I bought the fork protector separately, but it looks like it is standard now. There is also an accessory for supporting the BB (Universal Bike Support). This keeps the weight off the chain rings. This mattered to me because I have the bike upright. It wouldn't matter if you were laying it on its side.
I got it so I could put it behind the front seats in my pickup for road trips. I could certainly fit the bike in by itself. But this was so much better because the wheels and everything were together. No worries about this or that rubbing on the bike frame. No worries about getting grease on something in the truck.
It's a soft bag with padding. Perfect for loading into your own vehicle. NO WAY I would check it on an airplane.
I made a point to "standardize" how I put the wheels in the pockets so the cassette was always against the same place. This made sure I didn't end up transferring grease or wax onto disc rotors.
I bought a separate chain/chain ring sleeve from Amazon. This prevents the chain from possibly slapping around and prevents getting grease or wax on the inside of the bag.
By the way, what is a "fixed hat deck"?
11-14-24 | 11:11 PM
#3
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 1,949
Likes: 784
From: San Diego
Bikes: Columbine, Lynskey GR300, Paramount Track Bike, Colnago Super (4), Santana Tandems (1995 & 2007), Gary Fisher Piranha (retired), Bianchi Track Bike, a couple of Honda mountain bikes
I use a bag I got from Bud Sports https://buds-sports-us.com/
I got mine in 2021 the model was called the TravelBag. They do not seem to have one by that name anymore. But their RMTBAG ORIGINAL seems to be similar if not the same.
It's VERY well made and I highly recommend it.
A 63 is a very large bike. So, you'll have to do some checking with them on the fit. One of mine is a 60 and fits fine. I think a 63 would fit fine. The exception is, my saddle sticks up too high to fit inside. If you had to, you could lower your saddle for transport. In my case, I just let it stick up out of the bag. The bag can be zipped from both ends. Since I'm just tucking in behind my seats. it doesn't matter that the saddle sticks out.
You do remove both wheels. Though they have a model you only remove the front. For a road bike, you don't need to remove the bars. I bought the fork protector separately, but it looks like it is standard now. There is also an accessory for supporting the BB (Universal Bike Support). This keeps the weight off the chain rings. This mattered to me because I have the bike upright. It wouldn't matter if you were laying it on its side.
I got it so I could put it behind the front seats in my pickup for road trips. I could certainly fit the bike in by itself. But this was so much better because the wheels and everything were together. No worries about this or that rubbing on the bike frame. No worries about getting grease on something in the truck.
It's a soft bag with padding. Perfect for loading into your own vehicle. NO WAY I would check it on an airplane.
I made a point to "standardize" how I put the wheels in the pockets so the cassette was always against the same place. This made sure I didn't end up transferring grease or wax onto disc rotors.
I bought a separate chain/chain ring sleeve from Amazon. This prevents the chain from possibly slapping around and prevents getting grease or wax on the inside of the bag.
By the way, what is a "fixed hat deck"?
I got mine in 2021 the model was called the TravelBag. They do not seem to have one by that name anymore. But their RMTBAG ORIGINAL seems to be similar if not the same.
It's VERY well made and I highly recommend it.
A 63 is a very large bike. So, you'll have to do some checking with them on the fit. One of mine is a 60 and fits fine. I think a 63 would fit fine. The exception is, my saddle sticks up too high to fit inside. If you had to, you could lower your saddle for transport. In my case, I just let it stick up out of the bag. The bag can be zipped from both ends. Since I'm just tucking in behind my seats. it doesn't matter that the saddle sticks out.
You do remove both wheels. Though they have a model you only remove the front. For a road bike, you don't need to remove the bars. I bought the fork protector separately, but it looks like it is standard now. There is also an accessory for supporting the BB (Universal Bike Support). This keeps the weight off the chain rings. This mattered to me because I have the bike upright. It wouldn't matter if you were laying it on its side.
I got it so I could put it behind the front seats in my pickup for road trips. I could certainly fit the bike in by itself. But this was so much better because the wheels and everything were together. No worries about this or that rubbing on the bike frame. No worries about getting grease on something in the truck.
It's a soft bag with padding. Perfect for loading into your own vehicle. NO WAY I would check it on an airplane.
I made a point to "standardize" how I put the wheels in the pockets so the cassette was always against the same place. This made sure I didn't end up transferring grease or wax onto disc rotors.
I bought a separate chain/chain ring sleeve from Amazon. This prevents the chain from possibly slapping around and prevents getting grease or wax on the inside of the bag.
By the way, what is a "fixed hat deck"?
Fixed hat deck - picture below (in contrast to a hatchback that has unrestricted access to the back seats). BITD, folks put their hats on it.
Fixed hat deck (headrest and speakers mounted on it).
11-22-24 | 08:21 PM
#4
Zoom zoom zoom zoom bonk
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,926
Likes: 986
From: New Zealand
Bikes: Giant Defy, Trek 1.7c, BMC GF02, Trek Marlin 6, Scott Sub 35, Kona Rove, Trek Verve+2
I've used the Tardis for flights and a few bus/car trips.
https://www.groundeffect.co.nz/colle...ke-travel-bags
https://www.groundeffect.co.nz/colle...ke-travel-bags
11-24-24 | 12:24 AM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 763
Likes: 139
I sort of don't see padding playing any role. Either to protect the bike, or the vehicle interior. Duffle style bicycle bag is plenty good for personal transportation, for airplanes you insert 1" thick styrofoam style boards into the bag and it should be fine.
