Syncmaster

I realize you'd have to take off almost all components to fit it, but is there a company that makes a durable suitcase that will not cause oversize luggage fees and will fit a complete road bike?

This looks like a track bike, but I think it'd be doable with smaller road bikes:


Would be nice to be able to travel with my bike to distant places and not have to pay huge fees for checking a bike.

slims_s

google S&S couplers

bikemig 

Why not get one of these for traveling: https://www.bikefriday.com/. I think they start around $1k and are made to fit within a suitcase. I've been thinking of picking one up exactly for this purpose.

ttakata73

As mentioned S&S couplers are a proven and solid alternative.
Or check out the folding bike section here, tons of alternatives that fold or break apart.
They can be cheap to expensive (look up Moulton Double Pylon).
Many (Tern, Brompton, Bike Friday, etc.) feel just as solid as a real road bike.
I have 2 Dahon folders myself for travel purposes.

Chris Pringle

Full S&S road bikes with tires under 28mm fit fine in the S&S case. The limiting issue is the size of the wheels (w/ tires on.) Wheels with over 28mm tires normally require removing the tires and tubes so the wheels fit in the case. Some people are fine with that while some others wish to avoid this extra step. My understanding is that most frames with S&S couplers (topping at 62 cm) fit fine in the S&S case. Out of the S&S cases, I personally prefer the "Backpack" case.

Talking about options, Ritchey produces the "Breakaway" model(s) that are also quite popular among those who need a travel bike. The bike apparently rides nicely and it is offered at an attractive price point. I believe it even comes with its own case. The caveat is that the case is 2" over the airline restrictions. Most owners report not having had any issues at the airport ever (YMMV.) I bet it is still in the back of their minds every time they show up at the airport. Many of us have seen once or twice airline agents get out their tape measures.

merlinextraligh

S&S couplers work great. I've paid for the cost of retrofiting my Merlin, and the case in a handful of trips.

Took it to Spain recently, and that would have cost me $320 for the one trip.

Syncmaster

I've looked into S&S couplers and they look great, but I'm looking for an option that will work with the bike I current have. I don't have the money or space to buy or build a new bike. I was hoping to find a case that will work for what I have. I may even build a custom case from scratch. Like a music "road case" used for touring musicians but designed to fit a bike and be within airline restrictions.

I wanted to see if something like this existed already.

carpediemracing 

The picture doesn't show the dimensions of the box. I used to ride a size S Giant. I had a bunch of bike boxes laying around so I could cut them down to whatever size I wanted. The frame alone would exceed the maximum length/height/width total. Frames are just a touch too long.

The only way to get a full size bike down to a non-oversize suitcase would be to use S&S couplers or the Ritchey Breakaway frame. A Tern (the best riding folding bike I've ever ridden in terms of ride quality being close to a regular bike) would work fine - it'll fit in my gear bag where I carry my bike clothing.

merlinextraligh

What's your current bike? S&S couplers can be retrofitted on many steel and titanium bikes. Number of frame builders do it. I like Bilenky Cycle Works.

Other than retrofit S&S couplers, you're SOL; no standard size, not coupled, frame will fit in a case that meets airline criteria for standard luggage.

Syncmaster

I unfortunately ride an AL frame and will eventually have a carbon frame, so I don't think S&S couplers will work for any of the road bikes I have or will have. :-(

This is the article that first picture came from:
https://bicycling.com/blogs/ramblingm...y-with-a-bike/

Seems like the suitcase he found is actually a couple inches larger than airline max checked baggage size allows. But he seemed to get away with it.

If a bike was packed into separate boxes. One for the wheels and one for the rest. That'd be doable. This company seems to think so:
https://www.rustersports.com/hen-house.html

But I would think that airlines would be able to guess that it's a bike....

Fox Farm

Look for some close out prices on the Ritchey break away frame if you would like a steel or Ti frame travel bike.

jrobe

That case in your picture is clearly over the airline limits. The S&S case is exactly the square dimension of a bike wheel (you have to even let the air out of the tires to fit) and the one in your picture is definitely larger than that. You would be at the mercy of the person at the airline check-in counter as to whether they would make you pull out your credit card. I would hate to walk up to the ticket counter every time wondering whether they would nail me.

If you packed it in 2 bags, you would probably need a 3rd bag for luggage, helmet, shoes, etc etc.. The 3rd bag fee is expensive (Delta is $125 each way). I think your options are shipping the bike to your destination, renting a bike or getting a S&S travel bike. They basically don't want people hauling large things on airplanes.

merlinextraligh

And in my experience, they show little mercy these days. I think they incentivize the Agents to collect fees now.

That said, I avoided a $160 fee for my bike (which was obviously a bike in a bike pro USA race case, weighing in at 65 lbs, with all the crap in it) on the way back from Dirty Kanza Sunday. I think the fact that I'm Platinum on Delta, and I had a first class ticket helped.

Chris Pringle

+1 on this.

...And often they don't want you to haul even smaller bicycle parts in your carry-on. I tried this a couple of years ago and got over $100 in products taken away from me. They were all brand new: brakes/derailleur cables, rear derailleur, cassette. They told me the could be used as "weapons."

Leinster

I don't suppose anyone's ever considered bringing a representation to the FAA/airlines to try and sort out a feasible solution for checking common or garden average (but within certain weight limits obv) bicycles in a luggage device that can be designed to fit specifications they might be happy with?

Obviously the airlines themselves are as likely to shut off a possible revenue stream for themselves as turkeys are to vote for Thanksgiving, but there must surely be a way of persuading them to allow us bring a 30-35lb item (allowing for some non-lightweight bikes, the weight of the case itself, and some extra tools etc thrown into the box as well) that isn't to out-of-this-world shaped, possibly with ergonomically designed handles to make it easier for the baggage workers, on board a plane?

foresthill

You could just fly an airline like SW that doesn't try to screw you out of $ for it. $50 fee each way for bikes in normal bikes cases there.

Nachoman

In retrospect, I probably would have been happier to have kept my old titanium litespeed and retro-fitted it with s&s couplers, but the Bike Friday fits easily into a standard samsonite suitcase and as stated above, paid for itself after a couple years of use.

nhluhr

I love this bike.


2013 Ritchey Breakaway Road, 60cm.

jrobe

Except that bike case is probably over the limit too.

nhluhr

It is by 2 inches not enough to stand out - the Ritchey case is thinner than the S&S case but a bit longer. Word is you can fit either an S&S bike or a Ritchey Breakaway in either case. As you can see, the frame itself has plenty of room to spare in there.

Looigi

My wife and I use Aerus soft cases to fly with our CF bikes. Bag with bike and all riding accoutrements is ~35lb. It's oversize so bike fees apply. Jetblue, Southwest, and Virgin all charge $50 domestically. I only got charged the $50 fee once on the last four flights on Jetblue. Maneuvering the soft case onto and off of shuttles, taxis and rental cars is way easier than hard cases.

foresthill

Given that the airlines won't insure for damages, soft cases sort of scare the crap out of me for that.

Syncmaster

Syncmaster

FYI, I just heard from the guy who took that picture I originally posted. He apparently travels with his full Road Bike in that case (yes it fits) and doesn't have any issues. While his case is a couple inches oversize, I think it can often get overlooked since it is an actual suitcase and doesn't look like a specialty case.

carpediemracing 

Go measure your frame. Length and height at the absolute minimum, add a realistic width (at least 140mm or about 6 inches). Post your number.