Advice for long-term bike transport plan

jaleslie

As I contemplate doing races henceforth involving travel (by air), I am debating whether to use a service like TBT vs. purchasing a travel bag/box/thingy.  I have never done a race that I couldn't drive to before....but am signed up for IMMD (I live in San Antonio) and hope to do a variety of races in the future (IMMT, IMC, IMChoo, IMCdA, etc.).  I'm not a "wrench", but I don't think I'd have any problem with disassembly (although the thought of removing rear derailleur and then having it actually work right is a little daunting!....maybe it's easier than I'm imagining).  I have a QR carbon TT bike, Zipp 101/wheelcover for rear, and Flo 60 up front....not that that probably matters?

So, you vets/travelers out there, if you had to "do it all from scratch" all over again, what would you do?

If this has already been hashed out in a forum/post somewhere else I'm happy to review that....don't need to re-invent the wheel.  

Thanks in advance.  JL

Dave Tallo

I have travelled with my bike a fair amount, and have used the Biospeed bag for years. I would definitely recommend it. Now ... if I had to do it again and didn't mind spending the extra scratch, I would go with the Ruster case(s) or the Scion. The former to possibly avoid bike fees on planes (although I only get charged about 50% of the time with the bag), and the later, because it has wheels.

jimmy augustine

Jeff - Ive done both. I have a Scicon bag with wheels and have used TBT. TBT is to my mind the safer easier choice. Even with a good bag, TSA will dig through it and they will most likely not re-pack it correctly which will mean that your bike wont be as safe as it could be.
I used my bag for IMFL. Bag fees hurt. Having to rent a minivan to haul everything hurt. But, having my bike with me the whole time was comforting. Packing it after the race to go home was not comforting.
I used TBT for Tremblant and it was very very easy. I will use TBT for IM Coz for the same reason.
The bike bag gets used on vacations and shorter trips. But the longer the trip, the more likely I will be to use TBT.
Also, be sure to check airline bag fees. Southwest isnt bad but I was violated on continental earlier this year.

Scott Alexander

If TBT (or alternative) is available, I'd choose it EVERY time.

I just flew back from Spain with my road bike in my hard case. 4th year I've done it. Over those four years, it's been late once for me, by a day, but such an inconvenience to get back to the airport (45 miles away). Another year some friends didn't get theirs for four days after arrival. It's always a crap shoot, but somewhat reliable. To Spain, on American, it was $150 USD on the way out and on Iberia Airlines, it was 75 euros (~$105 USD) on the way back. Fees will be different on every airline, so make sure to check.

I've been told repeatedly, although I haven't personally tried it, to NEVER ship your bike internationally. Mostly because you cannot get an absolute timeline on its arrival, with Customs, etc.
I've shipped domestically several times (shipbikes.com), that utilizes FedEx. Heck, if you know someone with a FedEx contract (ex, a business person) you could probably just use their contract to ship that way!

Brad Marcus

I've never packed my own bike and do not own a bike bag/box. But, last year I traveled from CT to CA for a race and used TBT for my wife and my tri bikes. Upsides: SUPER easy - I simply dropped the bikes at a LBS about :30 from my home and TBT was at packet pickup at the race where they gave us our bikes and we took them out for a short spin and checked them into T2. They even adjusted my gears a bit since they weren't shifting precisely (possible from travel). After the race, I literally rolled my bike out of the transition area and handed it over to them. My bike was covered in sports drink and piss and they didn't bat an eye. DOWNSIDES - it wasn't cheap, especially for 2 bikes! I used the EN discount which was helpful. Also, since I'm on the East coast, I was one of the first pickups and last to be dropped off on return. Thus, I had to ride my roadie bike for a week before the race and 10 days after I returned. All in all it was a good experience. No need to deal with packing, unpacking, assembling, etc. I watched guys do this at my hotel and I got stressed watching them! No special car rental needed. We had a compact car and were fine. However, if you plan to travel with your bike a lot, a bag or box may be the way to go!

Mike Roberts

Ruster for me. I'm no wrench either, but removing pedals, derailleur and fork is pretty elementary. It saves me $200-$400 in bag charges every time I fly. I like to do international races, so it's the only practical, cheap option for me.

Paul Hough

I've used TBT 6 times and my PikaPackworks 8 times (4 CONUS, 1 St Croix, 3 Europe). I'll travel 2-3 more times this year with the case. If I had to do it all over again I would buy the exact same case...hands down, no question. TBT is a no-brainer for some locations and I enjoy their service, but I've chosen my case over them a couple of times just because the service wasn't worth the extra $200 or so it would cost me to do the bike bag drag. I would add that TBT doesn't go to Europe but that is changing this year and they announced they will be supporting IMs France, Austira, Switzerland for $650 a trip. Definitely would not use TBT for those races because it's so much cheaper to go with the soft side. My bag always comes through with a slip inside that says TSA has peaked, but I've had no problems and no damage.

I raced in Cary, N.C. this weekend, and while others were putting their bikes in/on their cars, I was dismantling mine into the case. This was the first trip with a bike that has an integrated front end (BMC TM01), so there was a few minutes more work taking the headset apart so I could lay the bull horns over, but it's not a big deal.

One other note. The Pika Packworks has no wheels but is light...typically 32-35 lbs packed. I'm getting older and lazier though so I have a very small luggage cart that folds into another suitcase...and I can bungee the bike case onto it. It's a little awkward with a big old softside on this little 2 lb cart but it works and I can just roll it behind me. Easy peasy.

jaleslie

@ Paul...with all your travels with you Pica, what sorts of range of airline fees are you typically having to pay (each way)?  I like that bag and your enthusiasm with it....but the Ruster can be checked as regular luggage and usually avoid fees (I'm told).  

GMAN 19030

I have used TBT 5x and brought my bike on the plane 2x.

I'm with Scott.  I will use TBT every time if it's an option.  I will be using TBT twice this year.

Paul Hough

@ Jeff - pretty much $75 each way in the U.S. sticking mostly with Southwest (used to be $50) and Jet Blue ... paid the same to St Croix. So, assuming you buy insurance, TBT is about $200 more expensive than what it costs me to drag the bag...although after a full IM it's worth the money to unload that sucker! Going to Europe - $0 on the way over three times straight and about $150 coming back each time. Makes no sense but I don't question it...I'm always prepared to pay.



The Ruster sounds interesting and worth checking out, but that's two bags and you have to figure in per bag charges since few airlines will give you more than 1 free checked bag. I'm taking Alaskan Air to Lake Stevens this August and I'm hoping to take it free per their policy since my bike is neither overweight or oversize.

BTW - I chose the Pika after a NYT review article where the author flew to five races with a different bag each time...4 hard cases and the soft side.  He named the Pika the best overall case and the one he intended to travel with from then on.  I've met a couple of guys who ditched their hard case for the Pika.  If it wears out I will give the Ruster a good evaluation, but I think the Pika has got many, many more years of life in it.  Other than grease marks on the inside from the chain, etc., it looks brand new. 

jaleslie

Well, this is just great (insert sarcasm).  Tons of solid, well-thought-out, logical advice.  Unfortunately, it's not all the same!  Why can't anything be simple!  If this were a poll, TBT would have won.  So, I guess I'll just use TBT for Maryland (I assume they'll offer service there?) and then revisit this later if needed.

Thanks for all the input.  JL

Scott Alexander

Do these cases, ex the Pika, work for either a tri or road frame (issue being geometry and esp the handlebars)?

kimmydct

Jeff- I would say you should prioritize your needs and that will give you your answer. If # 1 priority is not having to do anything ie assmebly/disassembly and cost isn't a factor, looks like TBT is the way to go. If you don't mind some assembly/disassmbly and want to save some bucks, then a case might be your best bet.

And yet another option, shipbikes.com aircaddy. Kind of the best of both worlds, if you don't plan on flying a ton w/ the bike.... Little assembly (even I could handle it!) and they have kick-ass FedEx rates.

http://www.shipbikes.com/HowDoes.html

Did I help, or make it harder? LOL

Jan Schorpion

I posted this in the dashboard as well, but I was trying to make reservations with TBT for IM Canada and the discount code doesn't work. Has anyone booked them using the EN discount?

Scott Alexander

Posted By Jan Schorpion on 22 May 2014 01:09 PM

I posted this in the dashboard as well, but I was trying to make reservations with TBT for IM Canada and the discount code doesn't work. Has anyone booked them using the EN discount?

I replied to that post on the dashboard.

Robert Sabo

After doing a ton of research and internal debating, I just ordered the Scicon Aerocomfort TRI TSA case to bring my bike to Cairns 70.3. I'll let you know how it goes.

novaavant

I finally replaced my 15 year old Performance bike hard shell case with the Pika. Last year I shipped the hard shell case a week ahead of time for Alcatraz. I didn't want to drag the awkward case around the airport and getting a cab is always a pain since it didn't fit into a standard sedan trunk. Well I paid the price for being lazy and the bike never made it there for the race on time so I had to rent a bike. So this year I was taking my bike with me no matter what.

I just got it in this week and it looks pretty solid. I'm using it next week for cross country flight to Alcatraz. I'll let you know how the bike fares.

jaleslie

@ Robert and Attila....great.  You can be my guinea pigs!  Look forward to how they work out.  

novaavant

Return trip with pika also a success from San Fran. Flew virgin America and it was supposed to be $25 each way for bag plus $75 each way for oversize charge. No oversize charge on way out, woman was very nice and let me slide. Way back they asked what was in the bag and I told them camping gear. They took my $25 and put it on the plane. I got the case for $330 and in one trip I am almost 50% of the way to break even so I'm happy. It was great to have the bike with me after last years's debacle. The TBT line after the race was ungodly long so I'm happy I could just pack and go. I couldn't say that I was happy about my red eye flight since as if now I've been up since yesterday morning at 3:15.

So for me thumbs up for the pika. Solid case plenty of room and easy enough to lug around by yourself. I was in San Fran by myself with pika, speedo large swim backpack and large timbuk2 bag and I had no problems getting around. It also fit just fine in airport shuttle.

jaleslie

Thanks Attila.

GMAN 19030

As the saying goes...

A soft case is great until it isn't. The isn't part is an eventual inevitability. It may be the first time you use it or the 5th or the 10th or the 20th. But at some point your bike is going to be damaged with a soft case.

Paul Hough

@ Attila - no one has ever tried to charge me oversize on my Pika. I just packed it again last night for this weekend's HIM in Grand Rapids, Michigan. You do have to have some basic assembly knowledge which everyone should regardless of whether they ship or not. That said, having travelled out of country a number of times, I can say 1) that TBT either doesn't go overseas or is cost-prohibitive; and 2) I've been amazed at the number of people I have encountered who pay someone on each end to dismantle and reassemble their bikes for them. If you have an integrated front end, it's a little more complicated to lay the handlebars over, but that too is easily learned.

novaavant

@Paul. I would say you've been pretty lucky never to be questioned. As light and smallish the Pika is it still violates the 62 inch linear rule for checked baggage so they can ding you whenever they want. As noted above only the hen house passes this test but then again it's two pieces now not one. I'm handy with a wrench and I like the control of having my gear with me so I'm happy with this solution for now and it is a welcome replacement for my ancient hard shell case.



@Bob. You are right anything can happen. On my last trip I was rushing and like a dummy forgot to detach my rear derailleur and even with hard case it arrived bent in addition to the hanger. The plastic shell compressed just enough and with no give it was game over. So time will tell with the pika but I'm happy for now and per Paul's suggestion will add the extra padding just for some insurance.

John Withrow

interesting article: http://cyclingtips.com.au/2014/06/flying-with-your-bike-tips-from-a-baggage-handler/

Paul Hough

@ Attila - yep, I measured it long ago. I think because the top is shorter across they don't bother...it just looks within spec. But someday, I'm sure I'll meet an attendant who is having a bad day and pulls out the tape measure.

@ John - that is my case going up the ramp. I once read on ST about a guy whose hard case had slipped off the luggage cart and was run over by a service truck on the tarmac. The hard case was crushed and his frame destroyed. Hard or soft, the key issue is that nothing bangs around inside. You can have a lot of damage in a hard case if the inside is not packed well and the case is dropped.

Leslie Knight

I have not flown my Tri bike yet, but plan to use Shipbikes.com for my fall IM. Problem with TBT is they mostly only go to IM brand races. For my road bike, I got my husband to make me two boxes out of bike boxes - one for wheels and one for frame. I have to break it down all the way and it takes an hour to break down and an hour to rebuild...but I've never paid an oversize fee. And on Southwest, I've never paid any fee. I'm going to check out those other cases you mentioned, though.

Robert Sabo

Just returned from my trip to Australia and used my new SCICON Aero tri TSA case. packed and unpacked three times and minimal disassembly. I rode in Cairns and in Melbourne and the morning after my return in the early evening. No damage no fees. Bike and a few extras were less then 50 pounds. I would estimate that 75% of bike cases in the Cairns airport for the IM and 70.3 were SCICON. I am very happy with my experience. The wheels were great and it was the easiest piece of luggage to move through the airports.

jaleslie

Thanks Robert.  

Leslie Sedlak

@Attila Did you use the Pika case for your tri bike air travel? If yes, did you get the EEP standard model? Was looking at the Scicon model but it's pretty pricey. Flying to Floriday in Jan and New Zealand in March - so looking for a soft bag as the extra fees will be crazy for hard case to NZ.

rlh2000

Doesn't work for all scenarios (especially international) but I have used Amtrak several times to ship my bike. You bring it to an amtrak station, they take you down to the baggage area and you can either use your own box/packing or buy their bike box for $10. All you have to do to get the bike in their bike box (it is big) is turn the handlebars and take off the pedals. I actually sent it once with pedals still attached because I could not for the life of me get them off. They allow you to put whatever else in the box as well. I just googled the price because I don't remember and it is apparently $67, and you can buy insurance as well. I've had great experiences every time I've used them. The box has arrived in great shape, they call you when it gets to the station and can hold on to it for a few days. It was the cheapest solution I have heard of. Obviously it is dependent on an Amtrak station being convenient and your timeline and all that, but it has worked great for me!