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I love my Akona Bike Case
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devashish_paul
Nov 10, 09 4:32
Post #1 of 22 (1562 views)
I love my Akona Bike Case
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Just checked the Akona bike case at Ottawa airport. No questions, no fees no nothing. I did come dressed with a suit jacket over jeans (as I am going to a business trip directly from my race), and made sure I asked the ticket agent about her life and the traffic at the airport and so on, and generally tried to not look like an athlete with a bike.
I am sure I will get dinged leaving Tampa airport with 2000 other cases, but when I fly solo with no triathletes with their Sherman tank cases around me, my bike always has travelled for free. Now I need to figure out a way to put wheels on the bag and it will be perfect.
Dev
www.kestrelbicycles.com |www.infinitnutrition.ca | www.nineteenwetsuits.com
Free camps: Whiteface Hill Climb + Epicman Lake Placid 3k/180k/21k June 10/11 2010
Fleck
Nov 10, 09 5:52
Post #2 of 22 (1494 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul]
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Now I need to figure out a way to put wheels on the bag and it will be perfect.
Dev,
My Aerus Biospeed bike bag, packed weighed about 27 pounds. I just used the shoulder strap and carried the thing over my shoulder - no problems. My other checked back is usually a modest sized roller bag.
Using it to/from IMH recently I paid a grand total of $35 to travel with it!
Steve Fleck
http://www.nineteenwetsuits.com
http://stevefleck.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/stevefleck
devashish_paul
Nov 15, 09 11:40
Post #3 of 22 (1353 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [Fleck]
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Success with Akona again. Pulled up to the United curb side check in at Tampa airport after racing Clearwater yesterday....dressed in business suit (jeans on the bottom though), but trying my best not to look like a trigeek.
Sir, is this oversized?
I replied, "No sir"
"OK, let me see your ID....here's your boarding pass. Have a great day"
...and once again the Akona bike case saves me $175 on United. There is no better way to travel with a bike. Next challenge is my San Francisco to Ottawa leg of this trip on Thu nite, but that leg is Air Canada, so $50 at most!!!!
Dev
www.kestrelbicycles.com |www.infinitnutrition.ca | www.nineteenwetsuits.com
Free camps: Whiteface Hill Climb + Epicman Lake Placid 3k/180k/21k June 10/11 2010
JMan
Nov 15, 09 11:56
Post #4 of 22 (1328 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul]
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Dev,
This is awesome! My wife and I bought a couple of Akona cases and will be using them for IM Cozumel. So, are these cases really not over sized? Should we use curb side check in? Also, how do you respond when asked "what's in the case?" Sorry for all the questions but since everything for us is X2 I need all the help I can get in efforts to save a few dollars. Thanks--
J.J.
bmanners
Nov 15, 09 12:04
Post #5 of 22 (1300 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [JMan]
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When i pull up with luggage i always get the people at curbside to help. I did not one time and it cost me alot more.
Tricky Dick
Nov 15, 09 12:10
Post #6 of 22 (1290 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul]
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Akona gets their bags made by Pika Packworks. Hands down the best travel cases out there.
jovic_bisdak
Nov 15, 09 12:18
Post #7 of 22 (1281 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul]
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So did you check it in or carry on? I just don't see it as a safe case for checking it in considering that it is soft. Bike will be in pieces by the time I reach my destination.
It doesn't matter, nobody cares, just let it go.
MOP_Mike
Nov 15, 09 12:41
Post #8 of 22 (1255 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul]
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Titanflex makes a hard-sided one with wheels and it's even smaller -- 36" x 27" x 10.5". The trick is that you have to take the fork off:
"...Sometimes it's about getting the most speed out of the motor you have." -- Tom A.
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IRONwolf
Nov 15, 09 12:46
Post #9 of 22 (1233 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [jovic_bisdak]
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I am thinkingthe same thing, im really interested in getting one as I am going to travel to 5 or 6 races this year, if there were no airline fees then I could maybe afford to fly which would be cool.
Dev, can you comment on how sturdy it is? how safe a carbon bike is inside of it?
I would be a bit nervous to throw 8k into a soft case and let the gorillas have their way with it.
As it turns out, what you have is less important than what you do with it...
-Bernd Heinrich, why we run
TriBodyboarder
Nov 15, 09 13:02
Post #10 of 22 (1199 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [IRONwolf]
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Guy, do a search for "Akona" and posts made by Dev. He's posted SEVERAL times with specifics on this case and his travel experiences with it. The company should be sponsoring him!
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My MOP'er Training Log
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My business-eBodyboarding.com
Rahzel
Nov 15, 09 13:33
Post #11 of 22 (1179 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [TriBodyboarder]
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I can also personally vouch for the durability of the Akona Biospeed soft case. Several trips so far. Carbon fiber bike/wheels. No damage or fees each time. If you search for "Akona" you'll see some posts by me detailing my positive experiences with the bag.
-----------------------------------------------
Pointy Helmet Coaching - currently accepting new athletes
lidsterl
Nov 15, 09 13:47
Post #12 of 22 (1168 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [jovic_bisdak]
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Another vote for Akona Biospeed bag. Put some extra protection on the bike if you feel it needs it, but its more durable than you think. To and from Hawaii and not a mark on the bike or wheels. Rarely got asked about it, great bike bag.
devashish_paul
Nov 15, 09 17:29
Post #13 of 22 (1063 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [lidsterl]
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Guys, over 80 flight legs between my own travel and to guys I have leant my bag, never a single item damaged. The baggage handlers take care of soft shell cause they are not bomb proof. I have travelled every year since 1989 with soft shell and no damage.
www.kestrelbicycles.com |www.infinitnutrition.ca | www.nineteenwetsuits.com
Free camps: Whiteface Hill Climb + Epicman Lake Placid 3k/180k/21k June 10/11 2010
NovaScotiaTri
Nov 15, 09 18:02
Post #14 of 22 (1029 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul]
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Does anyone know if there is a Canadian retailer for these bags??
Cheers
Shane
Fleck
Nov 15, 09 18:55
Post #15 of 22 (990 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [IRONwolf]
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can you comment on how sturdy it is? how safe a carbon bike is inside of it?
I would be a bit nervous to throw 8k into a soft case and let the gorillas have their way with it.
My review of the Aerus( note the name change from Akona) bag is at the link to my blog below:
http://stevefleck.blogspot.com/...bike-bag-review.html
Grand total of expenses taking it to IMH - $35. I talked to people in Hawaii this year who had paid $600 to get their bikes there!
I used copper pipe insulation( foam padding on all tubes) and some bubble wrap on the wheels and all was good.
Steve Fleck
http://www.nineteenwetsuits.com
http://stevefleck.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/stevefleck
Fleck
Nov 15, 09 18:58
Post #16 of 22 (980 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [NovaScotiaTri]
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Does anyone know if there is a Canadian retailer for these bags??
Not sure. They did have a distributor at one time, but I believe that he is out of business now.
Contact information for the company is at the link below. I would suggest asking them directly what you should do if you are in Canada:
http://aeruscomp.com/...204a894d9fe31980462f
Steve Fleck
http://www.nineteenwetsuits.com
http://stevefleck.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/stevefleck
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triLook
Nov 15, 09 19:19
Post #17 of 22 (955 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [Fleck]
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I am another that will vouch for this bag, traveled with AA no fee's & no damage! Unfortunately they just raised the price on them!
devashish_paul
Nov 15, 09 22:25
Post #18 of 22 (881 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [TriBodyboarder]
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"...The company should be sponsoring him!..."
For all the talking I do about this bag, which is totally awesome, the one thing this company could do for me is retrofit mine with some wheels. That would make the bag perfect. Lugging it around between arrival to rental car check in off the bus to the actual car and from car to hotel room in San Jose was a pain in the ass.
www.kestrelbicycles.com |www.infinitnutrition.ca | www.nineteenwetsuits.com
Free camps: Whiteface Hill Climb + Epicman Lake Placid 3k/180k/21k June 10/11 2010
devashish_paul
Nov 20, 09 15:13
Post #19 of 22 (653 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul]
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The company should have paid my $50 that I go charged for my Akona case from San Francisco to Ottawa last night.....I can't believe it....I got CHARGED. Actually it was almost 10 pm and the "supervisor" was getting off her shift and there was no way on earth I could sweet talk her and she was convinced I had a bike in there...in fact she said, "I don't really care if you have a bike in there or not, that thing is oversized so you're paying your $50 or leaving it here...."
Dev
www.kestrelbicycles.com |www.infinitnutrition.ca | www.nineteenwetsuits.com
Free camps: Whiteface Hill Climb + Epicman Lake Placid 3k/180k/21k June 10/11 2010
bmanners
Nov 20, 09 15:21
Post #20 of 22 (638 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul]
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Did you have wheels in with bike ?
I found a link with a easy google search if anyone wants it.
http://www.akonabiospeed.com/travel_case.html
Seems like a good deal. Think I saw same bag cheaper somewhere eldse today I will check.
JMan
Nov 26, 09 17:58
Post #21 of 22 (508 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul]
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My wife and I flew Continental to Cozumel yesterday using our new Akona cases. Never thought it would be so easy. No questions, no hassles. My wife's bag weighed in at 30 lbs while mine was 39 packed with tools and all my gear. We did have to pay $50 (together) for our second bags. No oversize or bike fees. I also used pipe insulation/cover and bubble wrap for padding. These bags are the real deal.
devashish_paul
Nov 26, 09 18:33
Post #22 of 22 (491 views)
Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [JMan]
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Welcome to the world of enlighted bike travel! Good luck in Coz...let her rip!
www.kestrelbicycles.com |www.infinitnutrition.ca | www.nineteenwetsuits.com
Free camps: Whiteface Hill Climb + Epicman Lake Placid 3k/180k/21k June 10/11 2010
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