http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/fa...ssandnutrition

The Fourth Leg of the Triathlon: Bike Transport
By YISHANE LEE

THESE days, triathlons take place all over the country, and getting your bicycle to them can be an endurance event in itself.

Although the majority of athletes drive to races, USA Triathlon said the growing national interest in its big events means more racers are flying. Sales of bike travel cases have grown correspondingly.

Bill Langford, the president of Tri All 3 Sports, a manufacturer in San Clemente, Calif., said sales grew 20 percent in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period last year. Hard cases like Tri All 3’s are meant to withstand airline baggage handlers as well as shipment by ground, but the tradeoff is weight. Soft cases can help skirt airline weight limits but generally can’t be shipped. Both types have interiors that either cushion or lock in the bike frame once the wheels are removed.

Tony Claudino, 37, a triathlete from Brooklyn who will compete in the Ford Ironman World Championship in Hawaii on Oct. 11, tested five bike cases. He frequently travels with his bike, and owns the Trico Sports Iron Case, which is hard plastic and weighs 31 pounds. Besides protecting the bike, he said, a case for use on a plane needs to be easy to pack, move and access, particularly after inspection by the Transportation Security Administration.


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