Your help requested

[SilvaTungFox]

I am looking for pictures of damage done to bicycles in shipping to assist me in the final design drawings of a revolutionary new bike bag for shipping. Please let me know if you have such photos and would be willing to send them to me.

I am also interested in your horror stories of what was damaged on your bike, or what you had to go through to story the hard case you finally broke down and bought to protect your bike when shipping.

[MightyMitre]

Hi SilvaTungFox. Sounds like an interesting project.

My fiance and I fly with out bikes at least 2-3 times a year and admittedly we now have hard cases, but do have some experience with soft bags.

Obviously the rear mech and front forks are at greatest risk in a soft bag, both from being thrown around by baggage handlers and from having other bags thrown on top of them , so something to brace and protect these areas would be good. A friend of mine flew all the way to New Zealand for a triathlon and got there only to find damage to her rear mech which nearly put her out of the competition as she had problems finding spares.

A comfortable carrying system would be handy - trolley's aren't always available when you need them at the airport, and even though you might have a super lite frame, once you have to carry it on one shoulder for any length of time it can get quite heavey. A nice wide, padded strap would be good or perhaps some wheels so the bag could be dragged.

Finally how about something on the outside to catch the eye on the baggage handlers - some kind of message or logo that might make them think twice before hurling our precious bikes into the back of a plane.

Hope this helps and keep us updated with your progress.

[bounceswoosh]

A comfortable carrying system would be handy - trolley's aren't always available when you need them at the airport, and even though you might have a super lite frame, once you have to carry it on one shoulder for any length of time it can get quite heavey. A nice wide, padded strap would be good or perhaps some wheels so the bag could be dragged.

I don't have any experience with bike bags, but I really regret buying an ice hockey bag with wheels, as does our goalie. They add a lot of extra weight to the bag (not just the wheels but the frame to keep the bottom of the bag stiff; maybe bike bags already have this?) and in many cases, you can't really use them anyway, so you end up carrying even more weight than you would have with a regular bag. It might not be such a problem at airports, though, where there are flat surfaces and escalators.

One major failing with hockey bags on rollers (that I've seen) is that they don't have an extendable handle for pulling the bag, so you end up walking along with the stupid thing behind you, nipping at your heels and hitting you in the knees the whole time. No fun.

[SilvaTungFox]

The bag I am designing will solve many of the problems inherent in bike damage, and have the added perk that it will be collapsable to fit into a panner or rack pack. As soon as the final working drawings are done and I have my patent in place I will be happy to give you all more information on this. I suspect my design will be modifiable for the hockey bag situation, protection of the derailer/rear mechanism is going to be incorporated and I thank you for that one. I had thought about the front fork and was thinking about the spokes.... but spokes are far easier to find replacement on so see I have need to concentrate on the rear mech. (actually the rear mech should be a fairly easy problem to incorporate into my current design.) As to a large logo, while I see the benefit of that, there are some planes that charge more for a bike than any other luggage, but I think the proto type will not have any indication as to contents as I want them to beat the heck out of the bag just so I can prove my design is going to work no matter what the handlers do to it.

[SadieKate]

This is exciting news, but I have one little tidbit to add. Spokes aren't always that easy to find. With today's pre-built wheelsets, direct pull spokes, kevlar spokes, etc., you can't count on the LBS to have something in stock or the knowledge to fix it.

Best of luck with your project!

[AutumnBreez]

Finally how about something on the outside to catch the eye on the baggage handlers - some kind of message or logo that might make them think twice before hurling our precious bikes into the back of a plane.

That's a good one to add!
Any kind of stiff foam insert?
Look into soft cases for telescopes, being they have glass/fragile components too. They may give you ideas.

[SilvaTungFox]

I will keep in mind that spokes are not as easy to find in some places. I believe my design will be the first of its kind, and the after the patent is in place and the proto type is tested I will be more willing to post how I am accomplishing the protection of the bike. The whole system will compact to the point it will fit easily into panners or a rack pack, I have not found any foam inserts that compact easily. I appreciate the input and will consider all suggestions. Currently the working drawings are still being done.. then the model and the patent will be worked on. After that I will get the proto type done and the testing phase will commence. I do not currently have a time line for this project but will keep you informed via the postings.

[AutumnBreez]

I will keep in mind that spokes are not as easy to find in some places. I believe my design will be the first of its kind, and the after the patent is in place and the proto type is tested I will be more willing to post how I am accomplishing the protection of the bike. The whole system will compact to the point it will fit easily into panners or a rack pack, I have not found any foam inserts that compact easily. I appreciate the input and will consider all suggestions. Currently the working drawings are still being done.. then the model and the patent will be worked on. After that I will get the proto type done and the testing phase will commence. I do not currently have a time line for this project but will keep you informed via the postings.

Memory foam- It is expensive but conforms.

[SilvaTungFox]

I think I need to clarify something here. I am not looking for how to make this thing work, I know it will work. What I am looking for is to make sure I have not overlooked any area of the bike that sustains damage during shipping.
I am wanting pictures of damage so that I can determine which impacts do what to the contents of a container. When you know what happens you can then make sure your design has the stress capability requried. There has been nothing here thus far that could be incorporated into the system I currently have on the drawing board. It is not likely that any one could suggest any incorporable ideas as this design is that unique. It has been brought my attention however, that I should be wary of any suggestions as to the how to of it... so please.. just tell me your horror stories, and send me your what happened pictures. Thanks so much.