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To ship or not to ship...

Ashton MossyAshton Mossy
in General Training Discussions

Assuming that if you travel to 2+ races, then the purchase of a hard cover bike case is the way to go, rather than paying a bike shop to disassemble, ship, reassemble, repeat.  After your initial bike case investment, the only additional cost is the ~$150 airport one-way-bike-oversize-fee right?  Your own case is the way to go?

Any recommendations on a case?

 

 

Comments

  • Mark MaurerMark Maurer
    Even with a hard case there is some disassembly required and the shipping costs at $150 one way is $300 round trip. Tri bike transport is less than that domestically if you're going to bigger races. There are other cases that require some disassembly but often don't trigger the oversized charge. Pika bags don't require you to take off the fork but they are oversized so you might be charged for that but it's still cheaper than the bike charge. Orucase Airport Ninja and Ruster Armored Henhouse require fork removal but the bags don't trigger the oversized charge, however, the Henhouse has two bags, one for the frame and the other for the wheels. But you can pack a lot of stuff in the bags besides the bike and wheels.
  • Robert SaboRobert Sabo
    If your trips are international the fee may be just a second bag fee. Mine was a free second bag on most of my trips but now airlines are charging international for a second bag. All airlines are different. I love my Scicon tsa tri bag. Easy pack and assemble
  • rlh2000rlh2000
    I also have a scicon case and love it- packs in <5 min with taking off the wheels being the only disassembly if you can even count it as that. If you fly southwest, $75 each way. <br /> <br /> And may not be what you are looking for here, but I always like to get out the word about using Amtrak to ship bikes. Minimal dissassembly in the big box they give you (turn the handle bars, lower the seat, technically take off pedals but I've had stubborn ones that they let just bulge out a bit). Can't remember cost now but I think it was around $40 and takes as long as it does a train to get wherever you are going. In PT school we had to do rotations all over the country, so this was my go to method of getting my bike there.
  • Ashton MossyAshton Mossy

    Yes, made the mistake of buying the Airport Ninja without knowing the front fork had to come off...which meant the front brake line had to come off.  And the rear derailleur had to be removed to fit.  Took me 1.5hrs.  Not doing that each time.  

    Needless to say, I have a brand new Airport Ninja for sale if anyone wants a good deal... 

    Will look into Tri bike transport, thanks.   

     

     

  • Ashton MossyAshton Mossy

    The Scion case looks good - will definitely look at that one.  I am all about minimal disassembly.  Thanks Rachel.

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