Curious to what the best rotor protectors are that would allow for not taking the rotors off the wheel and that can stop them from bending? Any recommendations?
Thanks.
Rotors are pretty easy to remove. I’m not sure a rotor protector is going to protect against something that would get through your box.
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Take ‘em off, same as the RD.
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I take off the rotors, chain, front and rear derailleurs. I pack the rotors in bubble wrap and put in suitcase with soft clothing. I remove all these because of separate past issues that turned into a big PITA before race day.
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I will also use this as another argument for a hardshell case….
Easier, safest and cheapest method. I laughed hard when I saw the scicon rotor protecting bag behind sold at 100 bucks.
Orucase Disc Rotor Protector Set; they sell for around $45 a set. My husband and I fly a lot with our bikes. We both have a set. Many online sellers have them. In addition we have Bike Box Allen cases. We’ve been racing for 30 years, so have various cases but Bike Box Allen plus Orucase Disc Rotor Protector have worked well, so far.
Yeah I might just wind up doing this. Also, I always take the rear derailleur off. Juts new to the disc brake world as of a few days ago…
Thanks. This could be an option. May try em. Essentially, looking for a ‘hard shell’ if I’m keeping them on that also has some separation so that if the hard shell is bending, then what is behind it (the discs) are also not bending.
In my experience removing and replacing disc brakes is much easier than doing the same to rear derailleur
I’m curious why the rotor protectors in the BBA?
Wouldn’t the entire box have to be smashed for the rotor to even be touched?
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Quality of the box isn’t as much of a risk as TSA messing something up when re-closing.
I guess there’s the side benefit of keeping the rotors clean if anything in your bike box could foul them.
I have had a few rotors get slightly bent in a BBA. I have used both the Orucase Rotor protectors as well as remove them. Really only use it on my disc wheel as it has an external lockring whereas my other wheels have an internal lockring. One less tool to bring is always good.
How did they get bent?
My only guess is from pressure on them from other items in the box - I have them facing towards the bike as suggested, but never seems to work out in my favor. I am not talking bent in an extreme manner, but rather just slightly out of true. I am on 11speed Shimano DA so can’t adjust the brakes like you can on the 12 speed (at least that is my understanding).
So, did they get bent with the Orucase protectors around them?
No - they do not.
I got a set of Orucase Disc Rotor Protectors. No issue with the front wheel in the Bike Alan Box but the rear wheel with the cassette facing away from the frame did not fit into the hole where you place the cassette. The cap on screw portion was bigger than the whole. The issue might be that the front wheel has four Velcro straps to secure the wheel and the rear wheel only has three Velcro straps of the wheel was off kilter. Didn’t have a lot of time to figure it all out before I left so only put the disc protector on the front wheel. Curious how you dealt with it but maybe your Bike Alan box has 4 Velcro straps for the rear wheel?
My husband and I both have Bike Box Alan cases, the rear wheel only has three Velcro straps, However, we have not had any issues with the rear wheel and the Orucase Disc Rotor Protector fitting in the case. If you’ve had time to fiddle with it, but it’s still an issue post a picture.
I race with a disc so the the straps don’t work for me anyway. I put the wheel in a bag, and use the existing straps to lock it in with either gorilla tape or a bungee of some sort. I have tried both ways. I don’t use the anti-crush pole when I am carrying 1 rear and 2 front wheels, mainly because TSA will really struggle to get it to fit just right.