Good quality bike bag...

carbonbasedlifeform

Hi

I'm looking for advice from someone who's got a bit of experience of bike bags. I'd like a decent quality one and I'm not *that* bothered about the price...

I am assuming the features to look for are: lots of padding, wheels, and (ideally) some sort of semi-rigid frame or skeleton in places that will provide a bit of support for when the airport baggage monkey goes bananas.

Any recommendations?

Thanks!
CBLF

Bronzie

If you can afford it, get a hard case instead.

I couldn't so what I did instead was buy a reasonably cheap bag (£100 four years ago) and build a frame out of timber and ply that just fits in the bag and holds the front and rear dropouts on pieces of threaded rod. This means that the rear mech in particular is protected and the whole bag will stand upright.

Of course it's a bit heavier, but no weight restriction on bike bags on most airlines as far as I'm aware. It's also a bit of a faff fitting the bike in the bag (have to take the bars off) but I think it's worth protecting the frame and rear hanger this way.

mrushton

carbonbasedlifeform wrote:

Hi

I'm looking for advice from someone who's got a bit of experience of bike bags. I'd like a decent quality one and I'm not *that* bothered about the price...

I am assuming the features to look for are: lots of padding, wheels, and (ideally) some sort of semi-rigid frame or skeleton in places that will provide a bit of support for when the airport baggage monkey goes bananas.

Any recommendations?

Thanks!
CBLF

You could go halfway and get the Polaris Bikepod. It's not as rigid as a hard case but it's not soft like a bag. Quite a decent bit of kit but it is @£199. I have a Planet X bike bag (£50) that is excellent but you MUST pad the bike well,pipe lag/bubble wrap work well/weigh v.little and poss. take off the rear mech from the hanger. Leave the cable in situ so the indexing stays the same. I also have the SciCon case (@£400) and if you are transporting a v.expensive or cherished bike that is the way to go. A £5000 in a bag? No way. But I have seen those cases damaged. I think the baggage handlers may take better care of bags than cases, assuming that cases will protect the bike better therefore can be treaed harsher. I've done a lot of flights in/out of Europe and not had a problem

cougie

I use the chainreactioncycles version of the Neil Pryde. Its pretty good, but you need pipe lagging on all the tubes. Its soft though so quite light. 6 flights with it and no harm yet.

carbonbasedlifeform

Thanks....yes I guess I should have said that I already own a good hard case! I just need another container (for moving round a second bike), and don't really have any more room at home. Hoping for something that I can cram into a cupboard somewhere.

The SciCon kit is good...anyone got experience of their bags?

Monty Dog

The Neil Pryde one always gets good reviews - Planet-X often have their version on offer too. The problem with cases is that their loaded weight is 'overweight' by baggage handling standards, and too heavy for a person to lift - so they drop them instead! I've seen bike boxes being 'dropped' out of the back of aircraft onto the runway! My hard case didn't last one trip and my friend has replaced his Sci-Con at least of couple of times due to damage.

Philip Davis

I wouldn't bother with padded bike bags - it is easier to 'pad' the bike with cardboard, bubble wrap, pipe insulation, etc if necessary - and as appropriate for the amount of abuse you anticipate. An unpadded bag is much easier to store and handle.

The Groundeffect Tardis (www.groundeffect.co.nz) is very compact and well made and significantly cheaper than most of the alternatives. I've used it on lots of flights without any major problems - although more dismantling is needed than with larger bags.