I have had a double bike box from TRIALL3Sports. It has served me well for the last 7 years, but the baggage gorillas finally put the final nail in its coffin. I am thinking of replacing it with the same model. Are there any better bike travel cases out there?
i m flying to manila from usa tomorow. With all the charge of over weight because limit is 50lbs and oversize, limit is 62 inches, it would cost 300$ to fly with a normal single trico iron case bike box… one way…
i m going with a cardboard box…you can put tons of stuff in, still be under 50lbs and hopefully, the bike will make it happy…
or if you like real long projects, you could always try the homemade cardboard version (4-layer cardboard laminate, water “proofed” with laquer):
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My Serfas box has been stellar. Fits race wheels and large frame bike without having to dismantle too much. Also fits random other light things (waterbottles, etc. )
They run ~$450 CDN.
Screw a TriCo, I want one of these! Any chance there are directions out there?
**i m going with a cardboard box…you can put tons of stuff in, still be under 50lbs and hopefully, the bike will make it happy… **
You know this is starting to be not a bad option. Considering the new limits that the airlines are putting on extra baggage. Most of the hardshell cases weigh 25+ pounds with nothing in them!! With the bike in there, you could potentially be pushing up against the 50 pound limit or over.
Years ago when I was racing seriously and before hardshell cases became that popular I used a cardboard box all the time - never had a problem.
The other option is some of the soft-shell cases. I have heard good things about the Akona model.
until the rear dropouts get crushed. I’ve tried the nice cardboard set ups and had a disaster. I stick with trico or serfas now ( I usually borrow or rent).
Have you talked to TriAll3Sports? They have great customer service. I had borrowed a friend’s VeloSafe II and the baggage gorillas must have dropped it on it’s wheels because they were pushed up into the case. I sent it back to TriAll3Sports and they replaced the plastic shell for free. They just took the hardware off the old one and put it on the new one.
until the rear dropouts get crushed.
That’s unfortnate. The trick is to put an old hub( just the hub - obviously not attached to to a wheel with spokes) with a quick release in there - for both front and back drop-outs. Saves you from that sort of grief - we actually do this for bikes being shipped in hardshell cases as well!
Or just use the plastic spacers they use when they ship bikes from the factory to shops…it’s usually pretty easy to get a set from any shop for free.
Good idea. I’ll see if the folks at TriAll3SPorts can do anything.
Thanks!
the rear drop out can get crush on a hard case also. Very important to remove the rear derailler, put the plastic thingy between the dropouts and you are set for a carboard…with tons of packing and double wall tick… you really need someone to jump over it to break something…
just wish airline would give a bit more slack on people with bikes… the current condition are impossible…
yeah it was actually UPS that broke it not an airline. This was also quite a few years ago and I’ve since started doing all the tricks you mentioned but UPS had put an extreme amount of weight on my bike.
I have one from THULE that is really nice. Last time I shipped by bike via UPS I used the THULE box and there were no problems. There is even a size 12 bootprint from some fool who couldn’t read the “Do Not Step” sticker to prove its durability
my opinion: cardboard box from the bike shop. I have the case you mentioned (and will gladly sell it–for cheap), but you can’t really fly with it on domestic flights anymore (for a reasonable fee).
The pluses: It tends to get treated a little better than a hardshell case (a friend is fond of telling the story of a baggage gorilla standing on his Serfas case to load other stuff into the plane…), it’s light (bike and some gear and you’re still under the 50lb weight limit), and you can toss your bike and the box in any rental car (just fold the box in half when you get to your destination).
If you use a smallish (less than 81" total) you can currently fly on Alaska Airlines with your bike for free, as long as it’s under 50lbs.
until the rear dropouts get crushed. I’ve tried the nice cardboard set ups and had a disaster. I stick with trico or serfas now ( I usually borrow or rent).
That’s not a worry with a bike shop cardboard box; the rear wheel stays in the bike. As long as you toss the rear d. in the biggest cog, there’s no problem.
Remember, UPS ships single bikes to shops like this all the time, and I’m convinced they ship by catapult. Still, the bikes (normally) get there on in piece.
just wish airline would give a bit more slack on people with bikes… the current condition are impossible…
I’m headed to Spain next week and it will be the first time flying with my bike. I’m opting for the Trico case and according to Continental’s website as long as my case is under 70lbs it’s $100 each way. Over 70lbs and they won’t take it.
I’ve read all the horror stories about people getting to check in and being charged or told something completely different so I have printed off the rates/instruction/limits right from their website so I can have it with me when I check in just in case they try to tell me or charge me something different. Hopefully it goes off without a hitch…
well, the way i read the continental rule, you could be charge for a bike and also for overweight as travel to europe is under 50lbs per lugggage. This is where the tricky part is… they can charge you twice on international flight as the weight limit is lower. So, it s a good idea to be safe to make sure you are at 50lbs or less for the bike.
i call AA and they have the same policy so i have my bike box at 50lbs exactly… so i only get charge once.
i will off course put on my best argument out there to get the fee down… i m good at that!
We have a thule clamshell and a tri-all-3 compact velo (bought this one in the ST classifieds) and like them both. Takes a bit more time to pack the thule. The cases get a lot of use and we have not had any issues with either. With the clamshell we always pull of the rear derailleur and stick into the triangle.
PIKA Packworks
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