I will only travel with my bike 3-4 times a year and can’t make my mind up if I want to spend the money for a bike case or not. I assume bike bags arent much good if your planning on flying so that means should I get a case or just get a box from one of the local bike stores, pack the bike up and have it shipped to where I am traveling. I have a good bit investment in my bike so I want to protect it, I just can’t justify spending 300 on a hardcase.
What do the rest of you do?
I think you should ask yourself the question if your bike is worth $240. If it is, then spend it on a trico bike box (or buy another bike box). Renting is always an option, but that adds up after a while. You definitely have to protect your bike while traveling because nobody else will.
Figure out how often you plan on traveling and whether you have the space to store a hard case. If the answer is yes then purchasing a hard case is a very good choice. If the answer is no then look into joining a tri/bike club in your area that has hard cases for rent.
As hard cases go Trico is the best selling brand. Personally I know a lot of people who have larger hard cases and have had to brace them to prevent them from popping open due to baggage handlers. Serfas also makes nice cases. With a bike bag you place a lot of trust in baggage handlers. Remeber that you sign a release waiver when you check in a bike on the plane.
I’ve used a Trico case for the past 4 years and haven’t had a problem. That includes international travel about twice a year and regular racing on the NRC circuit. Our shop sells a lot of Trico cases during the year.
get a trico ironcase and forgetaboutit. the local bike shops here rent them for $50 a trip, so any genius can do the arithmetic and figure out the payback.
I have to fly to most races with my bike. Have used a soft bag with no drama. Search the forum for tips - something was posted along this lines a couple of weeks back.
If you will excuse the pun, we seem to be in transition with this issue. Years ago, traveling with your bike while flying was not that big a deal. I used to use cast-off cardboard boxs from my local bike shop. I would find two where one would fit inside the other, so that I had a double walled cardboard box. Travlled to many races this way and never had a problem. The airlines at the time had nominal fees for bikes and this was loosely enforced.
Now, the “bike” fee is getting expensive and is being more strenously enforced. Security check-in procedures as many know, since 9/11 have become extraordinarily rigourous and time consuming. If I was going to a race these days, I would look into the operations that are offering ship-to services for that race. For about the same amount of money as flying with the bike, you can have your bike taken apart, packed, sent to the race, put back together, tuned up and waiting for you when you arrive. Sort of like a pro cyclist! To me this would be money well spent.
Fleck
I just wanted to write a followup message…
Fleck, I tend to agree with you. After reading your message I went and decided to just use cardboard boxes myself. My bike was fine and I am not out the 300 bucks for a case and I don’t have to worry about finding a place to store it.
Also, it was only 25$ to take the bike on the plane with Independence Air so that ended up being less then shipping.