Um, traveling with the bike

Beth_S

Hello everyone,

I get to travel with my tri bike for the first time! And it is nerve-wrecking.

1. Chicago peep specific -- are there places I can rent a bike box? My closets, they are generous, but I'd rather put other things in them.

2. Would I be fine following the rule that if the Competitive Cyclist peeps like it, the case should be fantastic for travel? 

3. Should I just buck up and buy a case?

4. How terribly would it be to just box and ship from the local bike shop?

Any great traveling with bike tips/knowlege before I send my baby away?

 

Al Truscott

Beth - a few ideas and thoughts on flying with the bike. This is mostly based on my years lugging a moutain bike to Xterra races, as my TT bike travels in a regulation sized suitcase. I hope others will reply with their own advice. The wiki has an entry which may help; some of the info may be out of date.

Where is the race? Tri bike transport goes to all US Ironman and a growing number of US 70.3s.

I feel that a bike box with four wheels is the way to go, as you don't have to lift one end and drag. Imagine the difference between pushing a cart thru an airport, with ability to pile stuff (other suitcases, etc) on top of it, compared to drag a clunky oversize suitcase on two wheels. Trico boxes have great reviews on Amazon. I've had the Tri All 3 two bike box case for 15 years now and it's still going strong (it just went to Hawaii and back in June with two friends's bikes), but it is $200 + more than TriCo. They do make a special one for "integrated seat post" bikes, if you have that problem.

Be aware that Frontier Arilines now ships bikes for free, no matter the size of the case, as long as it is under 50 #. Frontier flys out of Milwaukee as a hub, so you might save money by going there; they also fly Midway to Denver, and then to most every where else. (Southwest advertises free bike shipping, but the case must be 62 inches (H+W+D), which is smaller than almost all bike boxes, except possibly this one designed by a professional triathlete.)

I once had my LBS break down and ship my bike to an IM in a standard cardboard box, with no problems whatsover. They used UPS or FedEx, check prices.

Keep in mind that you must either be mechanical enough yourself to take off/put on wheels, pedals, handlebars, and seat posts, as well as adjust cables, or else have access to someone who can.

I think a case is worth it, if you see traveling with your bike in your future at least once a year for 5-10 years. But it must be a case you can live with, so like most things, you get what you pay for; like I said, 4 wheels good, two wheels bad when it comes to moving the thing about. If it's only IMs you'll be traveling to, though, TBT may be the most cost effective, least hassle.

kjanracing

@Beth, I think being able to pack your own bike would be a great skill set to have.

@Al, What kind of bike do you have? S&S coupled sounds like.

Beth_S

Good thoughts, Al. I'm thinking I won't be traveling once/year for race, since most of my favorites seem to be in easy driving distance. I'm going to Timberman, so no Tribike Transport. I'm wondering if box and ship from the LBS might be the best option, in terms of cost, ease, and peace of mind. (Somebody else packs it, somebody else gets to fight with the shipper about bike damage, if that happens.) And I have been reading that the good, old cardboard bike box seems to be a fine shipping container -- except that it wears out after a few uses.

Scott Alexander

Posted By Al Truscott on 07 Jul 2011 01:06 PM

Be aware that Frontier Arilines now ships bikes for free, no matter the size of the case, as long as it is under 50 #. Frontier flys out of Milwaukee as a hub, so you might save money by going there; they also fly Midway to Denver, and then to most every where else. (Southwest advertises free bike shipping, but the case must be 62 inches (H+W+D), which is smaller than almost all bike boxes, except possibly this one designed by a professional triathlete.)

I thought Frontier used the bike box as one of the checked bags allowances - not necessarily FREE. I don't know what their bag fees/allowances all encompasses though. There can be a difference.

If you have an address to ship to, you can box up the bike and ship (FedEx, shipbikes.com, etc) ahead of time - so you don't have to deal with checking it and HOPING it gets on the flight(s). That cost for me (to/from Dallas to EN ToCA last year) about $190 roundtrip.

Be careful if you're going international though, that US Customs will probably mess up your anticipated timeline.

I, too, have the Tri All 3 box that Al mentioned. Used it a few times and love it, especially because it has the 4 wheels, with the leash to pull on, and carry other things on it too. Heck, when I went to Spain with my bike in April, I even put in an additional helmet, extra bottles, etc., with the extra room.

Al Truscott

@ Kurt - Yes, S&S, tintanium frame, built by Merlin on Specs from Qunitana Roo, in 2000

@ Scott - Yes, I travel Frontier on their "Classic" ticket, which allows two free bags and advance seating for less than the cost of the bags. One of the bags could be a bike box, not that I need it. The Cheaper ticket makes you pay for each bag; the bike box would be just that cost alone.

jburbatt

I recall reading somewhere that someone called a local bike shop - near the race - to see if they could ship their bike there and have them put it together for a flat fee to be picked up when they arrived. Pretty sure they then had them break it down and ship it back in the same manner. If you aren't comfortable putting together your own bike this might be a good way to go (box went FedEx/UPS normal shipping if I remember correctly like Al said).

Keith Wick

FYI- If someone else puts your bike together, please go through and ensure that the screws are all tightened. Thank God someone (don't remember who) fell in the parking lot at LP camp this year on their way out to the first loop, otherwise, she never would have known they didn't tighten all of the bolts of her bars. That would have been a bad thing if it happened on the descent from town or into Keene.

Paul Hough

I bought my softside after reading the bike case review at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/fashion/12physical.html. I don't use it much but it paid for itself on a trip to Holland (no charge on the way over) and I used it traveling to the Boise 70.3 ($50 each way). TriBike Transport is more convenient if available, but I'll be using my case again for only the 3rd time heading to Germany next month. I think PikaPackWorks sold the design to a larger company but I will vouch for this case. To use it, I remove pedals, wheels, seat/mast, and the handlebars which I lay to the side. It will take me about 15 minutes to put it together. You have to do some analysis on how often you would use a case to see if it's worthwhile. I think I'll be flying out of country next year too, so I'm glad I bought one.

GMAN 19030

I have a TriAll3 Velo Safe case. It's big, it's expensive but it's about as bullet proof a case you can get. It also requires very minimal disassembly of your bike. Take out the seat post, remove the wheels and remove/turn your bars to angle them down and to the side and you're done.

No way I'd trust a soft case with my $11,000 steed.  It's just a matter of time before there would be an issue.  If you're dropping ungodly amounts of money on a bike, you might as well spend a couple of bucks protecting it if you're going to travel.

jburbatt

As an add-on to what I said before, I can honestly say that putting your bike together from a bike box is not super difficult, and knowing you Beth, I'm sure you could handle it. If you wanted extra insurance, I'm sure you could practice before Timberman. When I bought my bike I put it together myself without problem and I think you could do the same! (Side note that my rear derailleur was broken when I bought it and it wasn't a product of my putting together my own bike !)

Sue Chapman

Last year, I traveled with my bike - had my LBS take it apart and pack it up in a cardboard bike box - they let me watch and take notes. I flew Frontier with it - total cost was $50 plus about $40 for the two local bike shops. I put it back together myself - but not fully trusting my skills had arranged for an LBS in the area to give it a once over. Then, I recycled the box - leaving more room in my closet!

Paul Hough

@ Bob - there's soft side and there's soft side. Mine is not merely canvas and eliminates a ton of hassle. I've talked with guys who have had the bullet proof cases and dumped them in favor of what I'm using...so much easier in so many ways. I could take my case and toss it 10 feet out in the street and my bike is going to be fine. But if it gets run over by a tug on the tarmac then it is toast...as will any bike in a hard case. I've seen photos of what was left of a bike after it was run over on the tarmac in its hard case...your heart would sink. No doubt I would worry less if it were a hard case, but not much. My principal concern is just that it gets loaded on the same plane I'm on. Depending on where you are going, size can be an issue whether your bike will make it with you. In the NYT review, the same guy traveled on a plane with each case...guess which one was his favorite. It was designed by a former pro mountain bike rider who got tired of the hard case hassles.