I love my Akona Bike Case

Nov 10, 09 4:32

Post #1 of 22 (10771 views)

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

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul] [ In reply to ]

Nov 10, 09 5:52

Post #2 of 22 (10703 views)

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 @stevefleck | Blog

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [Fleck] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 11:40

Post #3 of 22 (10562 views)

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

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 11:56

Post #4 of 22 (10537 views)

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.

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [JMan] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 12:04

Post #5 of 22 (10509 views)

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.

__________________________________________________
Official Polar Ambassador
http://www.google.com/...P7RiWyEVwpunlsc2JtQQ

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 12:10

Post #6 of 22 (10499 views)

Akona gets their bags made by Pika Packworks. Hands down the best travel cases out there.

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 12:18

Post #7 of 22 (10490 views)

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.

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 12:41

Post #8 of 22 (10464 views)

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:

"100% of the people who confuse correlation and causation end up dying."

Last edited by: MOP_Mike: Nov 15, 09 12:43

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [jovic_bisdak] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 12:46

Post #9 of 22 (10442 views)

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.

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [IRONwolf] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 13:02

Post #10 of 22 (10408 views)

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!

------------------
My business-eBodyboarding.com

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [TriBodyboarder] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 13:33

Post #11 of 22 (10388 views)

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.

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [jovic_bisdak] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 13:47

Post #12 of 22 (10377 views)

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.

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [lidsterl] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 17:29

Post #13 of 22 (10272 views)

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.

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 18:02

Post #14 of 22 (10238 views)

Does anyone know if there is a Canadian retailer for these bags??

Cheers
Shane

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [IRONwolf] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 18:55

Post #15 of 22 (10199 views)

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 @stevefleck | Blog

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [NovaScotiaTri] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 18:58

Post #16 of 22 (10189 views)

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 @stevefleck | Blog

Last edited by: Fleck: Nov 15, 09 19:36

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [Fleck] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 19:19

Post #17 of 22 (10164 views)

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!

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [TriBodyboarder] [ In reply to ]

Nov 15, 09 22:25

Post #18 of 22 (10090 views)

"...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.

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul] [ In reply to ]

Nov 20, 09 15:13

Post #19 of 22 (9862 views)

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

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul] [ In reply to ]

Nov 20, 09 15:21

Post #20 of 22 (9847 views)

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.

__________________________________________________
Official Polar Ambassador
http://www.google.com/...P7RiWyEVwpunlsc2JtQQ

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [devashish_paul] [ In reply to ]

Nov 26, 09 17:58

Post #21 of 22 (9717 views)

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.

Re: I love my Akona Bike Case [JMan] [ In reply to ]

Nov 26, 09 18:33

Post #22 of 22 (9700 views)

Welcome to the world of enlighted bike travel! Good luck in Coz...let her rip!

Our Partners

transition-DOT-area-AT-slowtwitch-DOT-com

Advertise with us

©1999-2024 Slowtwitch, Inc., and Slowtwitch.com
Reproduction of material from any Slowtwitch.com page
without written permission is strictly prohibited.