Welcome guest, is this your first visit? Click the "Create Account" button now to join.

To disable ads, please log-in.

Shop at TeamEstrogen.com for women's cycling apparel.

Results 1 to 7 of 7
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Sf Bay Area
    Posts
    455

    Bike Travel Cases

    To disable ads, please log-in.

    Am wondering if anyone can recommend a hard-shell bike travel case. Perhaps you may already have one that you like or that you've heard about. I've read a bit about the Trico Iron Case and also a case made by Thule, but there may be others out there, too. Thanks . . .

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Vancouver, BC
    Posts
    3,932
    Can't recommend a hard-shell case, but I've been recommended a soft-shell one and I've just ordered one, it was shipped to me Friday.

    The motives for recommendation by two different people were:
    1) Hardshell = extremely difficult to carry by yourself in many situations, like European airports with sometimes hard to find elevators, train stations, etc. Very heavy.
    2) In airplanes cargo, hardshell boxes go at the bottom, bags at the top or in special compartments;
    3) Once you actually arrive to your destination, you need to figure out what to do with the box, whereas the bag takes less room;
    4) A good quality bag will totally protect your bike anyway.

    I'm getting this:
    http://www.cdisports.com/carrying_cases.htm (the black one at 219 CDN$).

    The friend who recommended this to me, a sponsored Ironman triathlete who travelled quite a bit with a very similar bag, told me he loved it. He bought pool noodles from the dollar store and split them apart for added padding. All he does is take off the wheel, unscrew the rear derailleur, and probably take off the pedals, plus turning the handlebars of course.

    Sorry I can't help more about the hard cases. (Although they have some on that page above.)

    Good luck!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    North Andover, Massachusetts USA
    Posts
    1,643
    I can't help with the hard case question either, but in case it's useful...

    I've used a soft case in the past. (OK, usually I travel with my Bike Friday now, which travels in a hard case - but when I travel with my "big wheel" bike with 700c wheels, it travels in a soft case.)

    I chose the soft case (not a bag but a case with foam sides) because I could squash it down into a smaller space and ship it to myself at the end of the tour. The case I bought was made by Bike Pro USA (http://www,bikeprousa.com). The case has a steel frame on the bottom that the bike clips into. And my bike traveled quite happily in this case, no damage, and no problems at all.

    Are you planning on more than one trip? The reason I ask is if that sometimes you can rent cases from your LBS. Or sometimes bike clubs have one or two cases that they will rent. Of course if traveling with your bike is going to be a part of your cycling life, buying a case makes much more sense.

    --- Denise
    Last edited by DeniseGoldberg; 06-04-2006 at 02:09 AM.
    www.denisegoldberg.com

    • Click here for links to journals and photo galleries from my travels on two wheels and two feet.
    • Random thoughts and experiences in my blog at denisegoldberg.blogspot.com


    "To truly find yourself you should play hide and seek alone."
    (quote courtesy of an unknown fortune cookie writer)

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Arizona
    Posts
    172
    kjay:

    I just bought a hardcase, the one you mentioned - the Trico Ironcase. It is a bit bulky, but it has wheels and a handle, so it is actually fairly easy to maneuver around. I was able to get everything packed up in it. I did have to take off the wheels, my pedals and loosen the handlebars so they tilted forward, but that was it. I chose to ship my bike to my destination - we're on our way to Iowa for vacation (no stoplights or stop signs for MILES!) - so I sent it fedex which cost me (from AZ) about $50 and took 4 days. You can also take it on the plane with you - I believe the cost is about the same, but we were not going to have a car big enough to transport it, all our luggage and my dh and 2 kids, so that's why I chose to ship it.

    I did my research here: http://www.adv-cycling.org/features/...gbikecases.cfm

    This sight provides lots of good insight on the case Denise recommends, too, the one from bikeprousa.com. I thought about that one as well.

    If you like the Ironcase, you can find it here: www.coloradocyclist.com for under what the retail value is ($249 vs. $310).

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Sf Bay Area
    Posts
    455
    Grog, Denise, and mommelisa, I can't thank you enough for your informative responses to my post. I have read and re-read your comments, and they are helping me toward making a decision. I do like the Trico hard case and would end up sending it via UPS or the like. Am also glad that it has rollers. That's a very reasonable price you found at ColoradoCyclists, mommelisa.

    You all have made very good points that I must consider before going full steam ahead with any decision. Thanks very much !

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Posts
    2,609
    I just borrowed a Serfas hard case. It was actually a bit tougher to pack up than I thought it should be. Had problems getting the handlebars positioned where I thought the shifters would be safe, and I'm still unsure about where to position the rear derailleur. It seems a bit vulnerable, so I packed a towel under it to provide support. I took off both wheels, saddle and seatpost clamp (it fit with the seatpost in, but just barely) and I took my handlebars off, leaving the stem/headset in place. I'll let you know in a few weeks if the bike got to Colorado successfully!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Sf Bay Area
    Posts
    455
    Good for you that you were able to borrow one, Pedal Wench. I am so hoping my LBS will have one for rent when I travel, but it sounded iffy when I last talked with them. Good luck with your Serfa to Colorado; it sounds as though it'll do just fine. Thanks!

 

 

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •