spectastic

I want to visit a friend of mine in Seattle for july 4th. I'd like to bring my racing bike and do a couple of races that weekend, because why the heck not? so if I fly there, it'll be cheaper to pack it in a suitcase and pay for a carry on right? anyone have recommendations on a good case?

prathmann

Airline charges vary considerably so you should check with the specific carriers you have in mind (note that one might be cheaper for the basic ticket but end up more expensive when you add the baggage charges). If you have a regular (non-separating or folding) bike, then it won't fit in the normal size suitcase for checked baggage and would be subject to the rules on oversize luggage.

For a short trip you might also consider either renting a road bike or checking if your friend might have a spare that would fit you.

carpediemracing 

+1

Read the rules on oversize luggage. Even my frame (40 cm seat tube) won't stay under the minimum dimensions of Southwest's definition of "oversize luggage", due to the length of the frame (not including the fork even!).

I once "saved" about $100 on the airline ticket but paid $150 each way, $100 more than SW at the time, for my bike. At least they bumped me to first class for taking a flight something like 30 minutes earlier on the way back. With SW it's $75 each way now and with two free checked pieces of luggage I check my bike gear bag (heavy, maybe 35-40 lbs, with tools that make it illegal to carry on) and my normal bag (25 lbs?). I carry on as little as possible, usually electronics. Last time I flew it was with a baby and the wife so we had a lot of bags, maxed out the free checked bag count (and the baby even gets an extra free checked piece for stroller, baby seat, etc).

For cases I use a soft case. I've been using the same case since sometime in the mid 90s when my taped up cardboard bike box finally wore through/failed. I've flown carbon, aluminum, and a carbon/alum frame, and I've flown with carbon, aluminum, and carbon/aluminum wheels. For the last 5 or 6 trips I've flown with a pair of aluminum and a pair of faired carbon wheels (Ardennes and Jets) in the one bag. Unless you're traveling a lot a fancy case doesn't make a lot of sense. I got mine from an ex-pro who had something like 4 or 5 and he had to get rid of the worst ones to make room.

For cardboard boxes you should be able to beg one off of a bike shop. If you want them to give you one of the nicer ones then offer to pay for it (cash, pizza, beer, whatever) so that they take a bit more care in opening the box and don't rip everything. Nicer boxes have thicker cardboard, more room, although honestly I haven't really paid attention to the state of bike boxes nowadays (in the old days I preferred Cannondale bike boxes, but that was back when their boxes were huge, not sure what they are now). Once you have it then what I did was I reinforced the handles with packing or duct tape (so they don't get ripped open) as well as the bottom by covering it with heavy duty packing tape. The latter allows you to slide the box along the floors in the airport and even for a limited time on pavement. My bike box lasted maybe 8? trips? I even lent it out. On one of the trips I packed it until it weighed 102 lbs (full roof rack with two bike mounts, two boxes power bars, extra spokes, extra rims, extra frame, etc.. for a 3 week trip racing in Belgium). It made it through fine.

I actually considered buying an older full suspension mountain bike (for a few hundred $) because I would know how to disassemble the frame and that would bring the bike down into folding bike territory. However the compromises in fit etc would negate some of the usefulness of bringing the bike along, although for general riding it wouldn't be bad. I've also considered a custom break-apart full size bike but I don't travel enough to warrant a new, much more expensive frame. I thought of the S&S couplings, which are so nice that one of the races I know uses his (Merlin Extralight, custom geometry) S&S bike as his primary bike, he has a matching custom non-S&S Merlin non-Extralight Ti frame. The end up about the same weight but the Extralight is actually stiffer due to the shorter effective tube lengths. I'd consider a custom geometry Ritchey breakaway frame.

Hope this helps.

rpenmanparker 

If you can spare the "racing" bike for a few days on each end of the trip, the cheapest plan is to send it separately from you by UPS or FedEx in an OEM cardboard carton given to you by a bike shop. It won't be cheap, per se, but less than accompanying you on a plane. The good suitcases are $300-600 which just doesn't make sense from a one-time perspective. I also like the rental idea.

kleng

the best softcase bar none is the Biknd helium, I've done over 20 flights with no damage at all the bike and wheels.
the shape allows it to fit into the back seat of most cars, as it's a bit shorter in height than other bags.

The distinguishing feature is the airbags and the ability to carry 2 sets of wheels, some people take out the airbags and stuff clothes into the empty compartments. The bag weight is 8kg, without bike, so thats give plenty of allowance for other things like tools, shoes and helmet.

biknd - HELIUM - bike travel case

Gluteus

It might be cheaper (and a lot more convenient), to ship it to your friend's address a few days (3-5) before your trip.
https://www.shipbikes.com/home2.html

I have traveled with a hard case that protected the bike well, but was a PITA to carry, and with the current fees, can be quite expensive.

Looigi

Southwest, Virgin, and Jetblue all charge $50 for a bike each way (check their websites to verify). We use Aerus soft cases for out CF road bikes, total weight with gear is under 35 lb and it's way easier to maneuver and carry on shuttles, through the airport, on taxis, etc than hard cases.

spectastic

how much is it to rent a bike from a bike shop? It'd be nice to get a cf bike with 105 or ultegra... I think these races are crits, so I'm not too worried about fit. I could go for an aluminum bike too, with a pair of ksyrium elites or something

mpath

Currently most airlines limit "non-oversize" baggage to a total of 62 linear inches. Most bike cases exceed that by a wide margin, hence the oversize baggage fees. If you want to bypass this fee, try the Hen House soft case by Ruster Sports that splits the bike between frame and wheels and simply become part of normal baggage: Hen House - Bicycle Travel Case

mpath

If you're particular with your bike set up, I don't recommending renting unless it's for casual rides. The first (and last time) I rented was in Kona. After riding the Ironman route (just the route, not the race), my butt was so sore that I didn't ride again for the rest of the week. Just something to think about.

t595

I took my bike from Charlotte to Denver last year on US Air. I have some sort of elite frequent flier status so i figured that I would get the bike on for a low rate. So went on Craigslist and bought a used Thule hard case for $150 (great case and highly recommend it). Went to the airport and they charged $200 for the oversized luggage. Then $200 to get back. Oh and the case is BIG and won't fit in just any rental car (which wasn't that big of deal this time since we needed to get a mid size SUV). I got back and sold the case for $175 - coming out $25 ahead on that transaction. As noted above it is probably a lot cheaper and easier to ship it UPS or fedex in a box from a bike store.

spectastic

so buy a bike suitcase and ship it via carrier that way, or just use a cardboard box? I guess the cardboard box is cheaper, but I'm just wondering how many times you can reuse it.

Looigi

There are different fees depending on what the item is. Most airlines have bike specific fees which are usually less and sometimes much less than general oversize and overweight fees. Skis or sets of golf clubs are oversize and often go as standard baggage despite being oversize.

If you rent a bike for any significant riding, figure out the fit of your current bike (height and setback of the saddle with respect to the bottom bracket and distance and height of the bars with respect to the saddle), bring your saddle and pedals, have them installed and the rental bike appropriately set up.

arcticbiker

As others have said beware of individual airline shipping costs regarding "bikes", over weight, over size. I have been using a Bike Pro Double case for over 2 decades with great success. No bike damage ever. However, for the first time I was doubled charged for first a bike, then for over weight. I usually fly Alaska Airlines which has over the years charged up to $150 (for two bikes) but as little as $75 (for two bikes). I just returned on a flight with Delta which charged $300!

The case I use is located here: https://shop.bikeprousa.com/images/12...235469155.jpeg

dstrong 

Not sure how many shops will rent their bikes to someone wanting to race a crit.

softreset

We rent road bikes and ZIPP wheel sets at our shop and I've never asked "Doing a crit on it this weekend?" I know for a fact people have used rentals for local races because often times they'll come back to the shop and tell us how they did (on the bike).

Now... whether you want to race a crit on a Domane 4.3 with all the standard equipment, well that's up to you!

rpenmanparker 

At least two. But who cares , it is usually free.

goenrdoug

Thanks for this! I have been wrestling with a similar situation -- traveling to visit family for three or four weeks -- and we will be flying there and driving back. I was wondering how I would do any cycling there without my bike. Now it look like I'll just borrow a hard case and ship it! Then I can drive it back and bike myself all over the place on the way home.

Thanks!

rpenmanparker 

Just keep in mind the size of full size bike cases. You may have trouble getting one into or on top of your car.

goenrdoug

well, the car is going to be and SUV of indeterminate model and I have yet to lay eyes on this available case.. so.. yeah. baby steps.

Looigi

We used hard cases for quite awhile before getting the Aerus cases. We still have them but don't use them as they're big, heavy and a PITA to deal with compared to the Aerus cases. Also, about half the time I don't get charged the bike fee. What happens is the agent sees ~32 lb, prints out the tag, and goes to put it on before seeing the size. They ask, I say it's a bike, and they just but the tag on it rather than bother going back to re-input it, charge me and print out another tag. Also, about half the time it comes out on the conveyer rather than the oversize counter. I wouldn't count on freebees or it coming out with regular baggage but it does happen to me with some regularity.

On the flip side, I've also had to argue with ticket agents who wanted to charge full oversize fees instead of the lesser bike fee. I'd say no, it's $50 for a bike, and she says the fees change frequently. I say I checked the website 2 hrs ago, can I speak to a supervisor. She clicks away at the computer for awhile and says, OK, you're right...

Scooper

Southwest has charged $75 each way for checked bicycles since February 13, 2013. Prior to that date, the fee was $50 each way.

I often fly SWA with my bike checked as baggage using a Thule hard case, and have yet to experience any problems with either Southwest or TSA. I'm not suggesting there can't be problems, but I've never personally experienced any. For me, $75 each way is a small price to pay to carry my bike with me.

valygrl

Don't forget to look on craigslist for used bike cases - that's how i got mine.
bikeflights.com is another shipping service - worked great for me.

06SpiceRed

^^^ Ditto on that.