Anyone know of a company that makes oversized cases or bags for airlines transport for a large frame? I really like the Pika Packworks hybrid soft case style but their largest model doesn’t appear large enough. Looking for something for a fall trip to Croatia-Slovenia-Italy…

See if you can find a used CrateWorks Pro XC-L for sale. My 60cm LHT fits in one.

Apparently they have become rather hard to find!

That’s too bad. I’ve had mine for some 20 years. It has survived at least 5 round trip flights and at least 8 round trip shipping for tours. I can even fit my racks, stove, and empty fuel bottle inside.

REI appears to carry these EVOC bags, We each transported our Salsa Marrkeshes on a trip to Italy a few years ago. There was plenty of room for bikes, parts, accessories, etc.
https://www.rei.com/product/247321/evoc-bike-travel-bag-xl?sku=2473210001&store=&CAWELAID=120217890019414066&CAGPSPN=pla&CAAGID=107744801224&CATCI=aud-1396942686435la-552346347747&cm_mmc=PLA_Google%7C21700000001700551_2473210001%7C552346347747%7Cbrand_flag%7C10023999 036&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=10023999036&gbraid=0AAAAAD_DTlyncX32xBMdm2TKXTu9D3x_5&g clid=Cj0KCQiA9t3KBhCQARIsAJOcR7x1_W7h7g1d-NFjVlSTPRVbDVUZMCzutz3tQM2nKv2-SEE1CWT0ZQsaAhimEALw_wcB

I have one in the way! They had a rental version at my local shop and so I was able to test the fit. And then ordered from the shop who gave me the current manufacturer’s sale price.

That looks like a nice case, but what do you do with it when you're riding the tour? Just hope to find somewhere to store it until you get back?

Also, what happens to the handlebars? I don't see the on the REI photo of the packed bike.

…handlebars removed and turned to the side, held with padded straps to frame. The bag is kept at the hotel near the airport until we return.

That looks well over 62 inches, but below 115.

Nice that you do not have to remove the fork. That looks pretty convenient.

The Pinion drive looks like a TSA agent could confuse that with a motor. Thus, TSA might want to do a thorough search for a large Lithium Ion battery. You might consider adding a note to TSA that there are no Lithium Ion batteries in the case for when they open it up to inspect it.

Based on my history of flying with an S&S coupled bike, with a note on how to pack and my phone number, I'm not sure all TSA agents can read. They haven't made a regular practice of it.

I do not know if they can read, but I was unable to read their writing on the TSA note that they left for me.



It says NO something, but I have no clue what.

Take your pick of my guesses:

no luggage
no liege (no King)
no house, written by a dyslexic?
no luge, its clearly a bobsled

Helpful pics! I never thought of banding my wheels together when I pack my travel bike. And the small piece of cardboard is a good idea too.

My TSA story of the day - I have many BTW - I had to take my Ritchey break away to the large bag / TSA check in Santa Ana, CA. I asked them if I could help, they said no. I left that area, walked by 10 minutes later, the entire case was unpacked and they had three guys trying to figure out how to get it back in. I told them I was the owner and asked if I could repack it, they said no. I stood across from them and instructed them on how to get each piece back in the case. Almost missed my flight.

Only once have I been where I could observe TSA. I told them I would stand there until they told me if they needed to unpack my bike. They put my bike ahead of the others to X ray it and said they did not need to unpack it.

I usually type up a sheet of paper that says if they have to inspect it closely, there are a few loose items, after they remove the loose items the rest if it is bundled together so they can lift the entire bundle out and visually inspect it from all sides. And I note that there are no combustible gases or liquids or Li Ion batteries in the case, but there may be some small coin type batteries in the bike computer. And I usually also include my phone numbers and my itinerary printed out for them.

A friend used to have a Bike Friday, he said that he had been called a few times on his cell to go to TSA to tell them how to re-pack the bike.

The photo you saw above was my folding bike, that is why the 24 inch wheels were so much smaller than the case.

The sheet of cardboard in the bottom and the one I put on top have been replaced with Coroplast. I am surprised you could see the cardboard. The wooden center support was a homemade item, I wanted better support in the middle.

My heavy duty touring bike with 26 inch wheels, below. I am slowly replacing the velcro straps that I used to strap my bundle together with zip ties. In the photo below, I have a mix.



The pedals, rear rack and saddle are not in the above, the rack does not fit and the other parts came out to get it below 50 pounds. You can see the white coroplast under the bike in the case.

I have not yet flown with my Ritchey Break Away. It is a Raleigh Grand Prix, but the Ritchey logo is cast into one of the seatpost clamps, so I know who made the frame. Considered it a few times, but have not done it yet.

Is there a nurse or an older pharmacist on the board? They can read doctors' handwriting, they might be able to read this.

I fed that picture into both ChatGPT and Claude AI and asked them to to decipher. ChatGPT guessed "No Issues" while Claude suggested "No Damage". Both seem plausible but I can't say either seem very definitive to me !

You will like traveling with the Break Away - mine has over 150 flights on it, I’ve gone through 3 cases. It is a great travel bike.