Bike Case Recommendations?
Does anyone have a recommendation for a bike travel case? Or, perhaps an EN discount? I will be travelling cross country from NC to CA and to France.
Thanks.
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Does anyone have a recommendation for a bike travel case? Or, perhaps an EN discount? I will be travelling cross country from NC to CA and to France.
Thanks.
Comments
Don't do cardboard...
Don't do the big ass tri-all 3 cases, you'll get hammered if you have to ship.
Trico Ironcase is good. Requires a bit more disassembly (seatpost, handlebars, wheels pedals) but cheaper to ship.
However, recommend you rent/borrow a case vs buy, but that's just me.
Werd! I have a Trico and I live just on the other side of the Sound. When are you traveling? You are welcome to borrow it so long as I'm not already gonna need it.
Nemo,
Thanks for the offer. I'm travelling to France June 19 - Jul 4 for IM France and Jul 25 - Aug 1 for Vineman. I know it's a long time so I'll also check my LBS for a rental. I had a case but since may last trip overseas it came back from the airline missing some important parts to the latch. Am also considering shipping the bike Fed-Ex and UPS. Any thoughts?
By the way, are you participating in any local races, i.e. Shamrock 1/2 marathon, Washington 1/2 iron, White Lake 1/2 iron, Patriot 1/2 iron, or OBX 1/2?
George
I have a Tricon which costs less to ship and isn't overized luggage. The pedals, handlebars, seat + seat post, wheels come off.
We've shipped both bikes via UPS to a LBS at the race---no problems at all.
I just picked up the aerus biospeed bag after spending zillions in fees to ship a triall3 case over the years. If you travel more than once a year with your bike, this might be a good purchase.
you definitely don't want to ups / purolator your bike to IM France. Way to many things to go off the rails. Mind you, the same could be said of flying with your bike, but the option of having it nearby just makes it seem more controllable.
And strong agreement w the post on the pipe insulation. Don't ask me how i know.
George- I've used FedEx before traveling within the US and that works well. I have no idea how that would work going overseas. But you still need a box even if you go that route.
IMFrance might be too tight as I'll need the box to ship my bike for Cowgirl Camp (and I'll use FedEx so it's going out early). But you could use it for the July 25-Aug1 trip.
RE Local races. I've signed up for OBX 1/2 Marathon. But I'm playing that by ear until I'm sure my calf is healed up. All the other races you mention are at times which conflict with other priorities in my race calendar. I am very much hoping to do some of the PLT Time Trial races this year.
I'm one of the ones who purchased a Trico Ironcase. Love it, it works great. I've only used it once, and will probably never use it again, now that tribike transport is around.
Trying to sell it, actually. The foam pipe insulation is a great suggestion...it worked beautifully. It's amazing how much stuff you can actually pack into that case, along with the bike!
One word of caution on packing a lot in the case. Check with the carrier and/or FedEx if your shipping that way. There will be added costs for added weight to the box.
Yea...I went with the cardboard and it wasn't one of my better ideas. don't recommend that route at all even if you insure it.
I did have to pay the oversize luggage fee traveling with that case, which was no big deal. It was very easy to get around pre/post flight with the case's wheels and hand strap working very well, I thought. If I were going to buy a case it would be that one. For whatever that's worth...
When you do pack your bike be sure to also pack your necessary tools - pedal wrench, allen wrenches, torque wrench (for the carbon bits)...basically whatever tool you use to disassemble besure you pack it!
Related, but this came to me via Twitter this morning: http://ow.ly/WNDx
Interesting technique to decrease the likelihood that the airlines lose your bike?
Good reminder! And a silver sharpee marker is helpful for marking the alignment of handlebars and seat before removing them).
Forgot to mention that when I took it on the flight (Northwest), they actually charged me $175 EACH WAY for the oversize baggage. Although the weight restriction wasn't an issue at all (the bike box was way under the weight limit, even with all that stuff packed in it), that still ended up being more expensive than the flight itself. But a friend used the box for IM AZ, and it was FREE to check it in as baggage with US Air.
Interestingly enough, I checked on UPS shipping pricing for an Iron Case, not my BA tri case, with the road bike in it to Rich's house for the TOC camp this year and the quote was $145 each way from the extreme right coast (Nantucket, MA) to the extreme left coast, Monrovia, CA.....point is that shipping costs are all over the map.
I think the Iron case is the way to go for international travel and I would not be to worried about the space availability due to the size of the aircraft on those routes. Also, don't forget that the European's are way into cycling and treat the boxes with care.
Have fun sounds like a very cool race schedule.
Mike
On important caveat to this point. If you have connecting flights within the US (especially on a puddle jumper) before your main international flight- double check that your going to be able to get that luggage through!! I had a connection from DC to NY before my flight to Hungary for DU Worlds and that little connector flight was one of the daily business flights- very limited space. They were not going to take the bike box at all until I ended up paying extra fees to get it to NY.
Michele,
How much are you asking for the case?
All,
Thanks for all the great advice. I see several options to persue.
You might want to check with some of the travel race companies, like endurance sports travel, to see if they offer bike-only services.
Thanks again everyone for your input. I inquired to our LBS and they told me about 2 ironcases that they loan out free to members of the local bike club. So, I joined the local club for $20.00/yr and should be able to use the ironcase this summer for both races.
A beautiful solution! If you need help packing your bike just let me know!
This is the answer:
http://www.pikapackworks.com/
I used this to travel to Australia and didn't have to pay a cent......protected my tri bike completly. Weighs a tenth of my old plastic case. If you pack you bike right it's just as snug and secure as anything out there.
I think it was about $350.
Toni
I use the pikapackworks case as well. Have travelled to 2 races domestically (and will travel to 4 more this year) with no issues but have had to pay a special luggage fee ($175 each way) on United Airlines. It is very light but has no wheels so you have to carry with the shoulder strap or use luggage cart. But one great thing about it is that it will fit in almost any rental car trunk which is appartently a big problem with some of the hard cases. It also seems to be very protective as have never had any issues with damage. It comes with packing instructions and protective padded wraps, etc.
There are forums out there that talk about this case and people getting away without having to pay excessive baggage fees because it always comes in under weight and some people have told airline people that the case contains "sporting goods" or "bike parts" to try and avoid the fees. That never worked for me on United but I suppose might work on other airlines. I figure that it would cost me almost as much to ship and I would have to give up my bike for at least a week before and after every race so I still think it's cost effective, even at $175 each way. I also know that by paying that fee, the chance that my bike won't be there at baggage claim is essentially zero. No worries about whether my bike is going to show up, or show up on time.
Make sure you stay a couple of days after in Nice, the dining is spectacular and nothing starts until 10:00 p.m.! (Nice is nice, Italy is unbelievable and not THAT far
tom
Nemo,
What are the PLT Time Trials?
Wish you a speedy recovey.