Bike case

[divingbiker]

I also have the performance case. I've only used it once, but it worked great.

[spazzdog]

I have this one from Tri-Zone:

http://www.tri-zone.com/Details.html?cat=61&item=T3CSC

It's gone on the plane with me, surviving baggage handlers, and shipped via UPS showing up unscathed.

spazz

[Grog]

Since you work for an airline, can you do us all a favour and go have a chat with the guys in the baggage handling department to see what they recommend?

I've had more than one airport employee (including one cyclist with an amazing bike) recommend to me a "big clear plastic bag" as the best strategy. For many reasons, it makes sense to me, but I still haven't convinced my sweetie, so we have big soft nylon bags with some padding. I'm totally against cardboard boxes and hard cases are not suitable for the type of travel I'm going to do with my bike.

But I'd be curious to know what you gather from your guys!! (and gals, who knows)

[teigyr]

One of our supervisors is an avid cyclist so I will ask him. And d'oh, I suppose I could've asked him the original question also!!!

Re what's best....the ramp handling the bag (or bike) is only half of it. Obviously it wouldn't go down the traditional bag belt but realize if it does, there are things called "kickers" that basically kick the bag onto the correct belt. The force of these things is pretty strong. When the item is on the aircraft, there is shifting. While, granted, a plastic bag might make someone think twice before heaving it onto the plane or back onto the baggage cart, you will sometimes have people who simply don't care. It always makes me laugh when I see boxes marked as "fragile" because the people can take all the care in the world but once it gets on a plane with things piled on it, things are all different.

So I guess in a perfect world a plastic bag wouldn't be bad but if there were any errors at all, the bike could be damaged. Not to mention that if it is a Nice Bike, the possibility of theft always comes up. If you have anything too valuable, it isn't such a good idea to advertise the fact.

Keep in mind this is worst case scenario and not the norm. They would be things I'd think about though!!!

I'll keep my eye out in the bagwell as I walk through and see how the airlines are stacking up things like that in the baggage carts. I have to say I've never seen a bike in a plastic bag but I've seen a lot of cardboard boxes and hardsided cases.

[teigyr]

Well...after all my asking, the view was "no way in &*^% would I ever put my bike in anything less than hardsided". This came from an ex-ramper who turned supervisor.

Hardsided it is, and now it's time to go shopping!!!

[Grog]

Well...after all my asking, the view was "no way in &*^% would I ever put my bike in anything less than hardsided". This came from an ex-ramper who turned supervisor.

Hardsided it is, and now it's time to go shopping!!!

Good to know thanks

[teigyr]

Grog,

What kind of traveling do you do with your bike? The argument FOR softsided would be maybe you could ride from the airport? Maybe...though the only softsided case I ever had wouldn't work so well in that regard. See...that is the huge flaw we're finding with going hardsided. While that's what we'll do, it also means we need to get a cab (or rental car) from the airport to the hotel despite the fact that some of the destinations have wonderful bike trails or decent roads into town!!

Our plan isn't perfect but it'll have to do for now.