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Bike travel case for air travel?

Dave CampbellDave Campbell
in General Training Discussions

Can anyone recommend a good bike case for air travel?  Would like to hear from users and your experiences.  Thanks

Comments

  • baprincebaprince
    I bought the "team bike" case from Performance Bikes for the trip to CDA this year.. It is a trapezoid shape and light enough that with my bike in it, I was still under the 50lb limit. I still got charged a bike fee by Southwest, but it was only $50 each way since it wasn't overweight. No problems with packing or damage in travel.

    I know there is additional feedback in previous forum posts regarding bike cases.
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    Pika-Pakworks! I use TBT when available because I'm lazy. But my Pika case has been to Holland, Germany, Boise 70.3 and St Croix 70.3. Never any damage, and has avoided bike charges on the overseas outbound legs (but not when returning with hordes of other tri-geeks).
  • MattAaronsonMattAaronson
    I have a Velo Safe from TriAll3Sports. I borrowed the full size version from an EN-er and used it, but then when I bough my own I elected to go with the compact version since it fits really easily into a car. The difference is that you need to remove the bike pedals with the compact version. Otherwise it is minimal disassembly. Southwest charges $50 for it to fly as checked baggage.
  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Performance bike case, clamshell design similar to Ironcase, but with metal cam locks vs nylon straps. Need to remove pedals, bars, seat post and rear DR. Takes me ~10' to pack or unpack.

  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    That said, you may want to look into borrowing or renting from a friend Do the math on cost vs number of times you're going to actually use it.

  • [Deleted User][Deleted User]

     I borrowed an Ironcase for my latest trip, and it worked really well. And definitely borrow (as opposed to buying) a case if you can. No idea why a case that's essentially a plastic shell and a few sheets of foam costs ~$400. 

  • Gordon CherwoniakGordon Cherwoniak

    Dave,

    Not at home and can't even rememer my brand but picking up on the borrow idea.  I know that my tri club has a couple that they loan out for a charge.  Check with any local tri clubs and see if that's an options.  Now if you are going to use it lots then you might want to consider a purchase, kind of link renting race wheel for multiple races a year.

    I'll try to get back on tonight an add in my bike box info, but I'm completing my packing for Lake Placid.

    Gordon

  • TerryOTerryO

    x 2 on Pika Packworks.  And it's super light compared to other cases.  I pack tons of crap in there and am always still underweight.

  • Dave CampbellDave Campbell
    Thanks to all. I'm going to check out the Pika, sounds like a nice case.
  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    @ Dave - I chose it after reading an artile in the NYT which had one triathlete taking 6 different cases on trips. When all was said and done, he chose the Pika as the best overall, and it was the only softside in the test set.
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    Slightly off topic, but related...

    United Airlines must have recently changed its policy. If you fit a bike within its normal luggage constraints (62 "inches" and 50 lbs if I recall), there is no extra fee for a piece of luggage that contains a bike....just whatever normal baggage fee they already have for your ticket class. Most well packed soft cases meet that test.
  • coop6coop6
    William, have you tested that policy at the airport? I'm not sure if this is a recent change to United's policy, but I believe it was Continental's policy previously. My bike case is always well under 50lbs and within their measurement restrictions to fly as a checked bag. From my experience, bike=bike fee, and there is little interest or patience on the part of the check in staff as to the measurements of the bag and discussing their own policy. I've flown United/continental through Vegas a couple times now and only escaped a bike fee once out of Des Moines. I'm not terribly assertive at the airport, so just curious if you've had a different experience.
  • salzmadhsalzmadh

     I have a hen house from rustersports.com which I really like. It is a soft sided case similar to the pika case.

    This bag requires a bit more assembly/disassembly with bike - have to remove pedals, fork, and cockpit assembly. The bike packs into two bags - wheels in 1 and frame plus anything else you want in the other. Both bags are under 50 lbs and under 62 linear inches. 

    Easy to fit into cabs, compact suv without difficulty. Prob takes about 30-45 min for assembly/disassembly. 

    I have flown 4 total legs with the bags (2round trips) and have not paid anything in bike fees on united. All you would have to pay would be the normal extra bag fees if applicable. 

    Search the race reports for my Eagleman report from this year to see some pictures of the cases and how it is packed. I added some egg crate mattress cut outs for more padding. 

    http://members.endurancenation.us/Training/TrainingForums/tabid/101/aft/9052/Default.aspx

     

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