im thinking about buying the crateworks xl-c bike box and was wondering if anyone has had experience using one … im flying to vegas from ny and cant imagine paying $450 for a tri all 3 case … if anyone has a better idea than the cratework box let me know …thanks!
i recently bought a case from performancebike.com for I think $200. it is pretty darn stirdy and fit’s the bike in very easily. not sure about the one you mentioned but this does the trick for me at a significantly lower price.
Supergo has hard shell bike cases on sale for $189 according to my email newsletter that I got from them.
Actually $184.97 on their website.
if you want to go on the cheap, and still have decent protection for your bike, just go to your local bike shop and ask them for one of their cardboard bike boxes. The ones that bikes are shipped to them in from the manufacturer. Normally you just need to remove the seatpost, pedals and front wheel and it all fits into the heavy cardboard box like that. Very simple and very safe. One thing I have noticed in all of my years of flying with a bike, the heavier the case, the more likelyhood of it (bike and/or case) getting damaged. Keep it light and easy for a baggage handler to handle and you’re all set.
Don’t take the cardboard ones, my last experience was not to good. The airline company ruined the big chainring by dragging it over the ground while it was for some unclear reason punched through the cardboard (probably since they handle it with “care”).
I would highly recommend one of those hardtops… have a nice trip
two years ago I borrowed both a crateworks box and a Trico Ironcase from a buddy for an extended work-trip to Nellis AFB - just outside of Vegas. When I layed both of them out to decide which one to pack my bike in I ended up goping with the Trico case
My opinion of Crateworks - alot of plastic cardbord and a huge wad of straps. It is significantly bigger and bulkier that the Trico, but not nessaraily more secure or safer for bike or any other additional contents you want to add, clothes, helmet, bike pump,tools , you name it .
Trico was big enough to carry bike and ALL workout/maintenance related gear. Bike was padded on both external walls with foam and thick internal piece separted frame from wheels.
Also consider if your going to fly with bike, TSA secuirty bozos will want you to open bike box to inspect contents, you will have to completely unstrap crateworks, trico et al use fastex buckles.
I bought to trico off my buddy for a $150, he was looking for something bigger for adventure racign that would minimized amount of disaseembly.
So my advice would be to crack open the wallet a bit wider and get a hardshell case like Trico or performce’s model. Depending on where you are you might also be able to rent one. I know Insideout in NC, rents cases for IMs and other events, but it can get $$$ if you’re gone a few weeks though.
Hope that helps.
Jim