What's the best hard case?

MegaCycle
MegaCycle Posts: 236
edited March 2008 in Workshop
I want to get a case for my bike now I am doing more overseas events. What do you think is the very best (strongest and most protective) of the available cases?

I am not concerned about cost.

The Scion Aerotech and the Elite Vaison seem to be the front runners.

Advice please....

Comments

  • buspassman
    buspassman Posts: 35
    I have just received a new case from BikeBoxAlan (www.bikeboxalan.co.uk) - I'm impressed with it for £270. It's basically an improved version of the Scicon Aerotech, the guy who makes them used to do repairs on those and figured out how to improve them. He even puts your name on the box, and talking to him he's just an enthusiast who is making them as part of his main business.
  • MegaCycle
    MegaCycle Posts: 236
    top tip!

    Thanks!
  • andrewgturnbull
    andrewgturnbull Posts: 3,861
    Bernard Hinault or Sean Kelly
    http://www.andyturnbull.co.uk
    http://www.stirlingtri.co.uk
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    buspassman wrote:
    I have just received a new case from BikeBoxAlan (www.bikeboxalan.co.uk) - I'm impressed with it for £270. It's basically an improved version of the Scicon Aerotech, the guy who makes them used to do repairs on those and figured out how to improve them. He even puts your name on the box, and talking to him he's just an enthusiast who is making them as part of his main business.

    Use Scicon myself, but would change to one of these. The advantage over the Elite is no disassembling the bar/stem. Just loosen, turn and twist the bars undet the t-tube. The Elite is heavier. HOWEVER, if your bike has an intergratedpost, you will need to remove he fork to fit the bike in the case.
    M.Rushton
  • MegaCycle
    MegaCycle Posts: 236
    mrushton wrote:
    buspassman wrote:
    I have just received a new case from BikeBoxAlan (www.bikeboxalan.co.uk) - I'm impressed with it for £270. It's basically an improved version of the Scicon Aerotech, the guy who makes them used to do repairs on those and figured out how to improve them. He even puts your name on the box, and talking to him he's just an enthusiast who is making them as part of his main business.

    Use Scicon myself, but would change to one of these. The advantage over the Elite is no disassembling the bar/stem. Just loosen, turn and twist the bars undet the t-tube. The Elite is heavier. HOWEVER, if your bike has an intergratedpost, you will need to remove he fork to fit the bike in the case.

    an integrated post? Not sure about that. I have a Specialized Roubaix
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    MegaCycle wrote:
    mrushton wrote:
    buspassman wrote:
    I have just received a new case from BikeBoxAlan (www.bikeboxalan.co.uk) - I'm impressed with it for £270. It's basically an improved version of the Scicon Aerotech, the guy who makes them used to do repairs on those and figured out how to improve them. He even puts your name on the box, and talking to him he's just an enthusiast who is making them as part of his main business.

    Use Scicon myself, but would change to one of these. The advantage over the Elite is no disassembling the bar/stem. Just loosen, turn and twist the bars undet the t-tube. The Elite is heavier. HOWEVER, if your bike has an intergratedpost, you will need to remove he fork to fit the bike in the case.

    an integrated post? Not sure about that. I have a Specialized Roubaix

    Is your seat post removable or part of the bike eg Look 585 and Giant TCR advanced. If the former, you are OK
    M.Rushton
  • MegaCycle
    MegaCycle Posts: 236
    oh right, the seat post is removable.

    Thanks for you help
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    mrushton wrote:
    buspassman wrote:
    I have just received a new case from BikeBoxAlan (www.bikeboxalan.co.uk) - I'm impressed with it for £270. It's basically an improved version of the Scicon Aerotech, the guy who makes them used to do repairs on those and figured out how to improve them. He even puts your name on the box, and talking to him he's just an enthusiast who is making them as part of his main business.

    Use Scicon myself, but would change to one of these. The advantage over the Elite is no disassembling the bar/stem. Just loosen, turn and twist the bars undet the t-tube. The Elite is heavier. HOWEVER, if your bike has an intergratedpost, you will need to remove he fork to fit the bike in the case.

    Do you mean a bikeboxalan one or the elite?
    pm
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    buspassman wrote:
    I have just received a new case from BikeBoxAlan (www.bikeboxalan.co.uk) - I'm impressed with it for £270. It's basically an improved version of the Scicon Aerotech, the guy who makes them used to do repairs on those and figured out how to improve them. He even puts your name on the box, and talking to him he's just an enthusiast who is making them as part of his main business.

    Do you have to take the rear mech off to get your bike in one of these?
    pm
  • MegaCycle
    MegaCycle Posts: 236
    Buspassman - thanks SO much for this tip. I'd have never found these guys (bikeboxalan) and will now be purchasing one from them.
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    portuguese mike wrote:
    buspassman wrote:
    I have just received a new case from BikeBoxAlan (www.bikeboxalan.co.uk) - I'm impressed with it for £270. It's basically an improved version of the Scicon Aerotech, the guy who makes them used to do repairs on those and figured out how to improve them. He even puts your name on the box, and talking to him he's just an enthusiast who is making them as part of his main business.

    Do you have to take the rear mech off to get your bike in one of these?

    No. It might be visible on the SciCon site how it works. But basically take the wheels off, deflate the tyres and use the skewers to attach the wheels. If you have expensive skewers, buy cheaper ones to avoid worry about them getting damaged.. Wheels in the lid, bike in the base. Remove seat post or push into the seat tube. loosen bars and headset and turn bars 90 degrees and then roll under t/tube. Use Bubble wrap to pack stuff out. Make sure the bike is TIGHT using the case straps.
    M.Rushton
  • MegaCycle
    MegaCycle Posts: 236
    sexorama!

    can't wait to take delivery.

    new racing zeros, new garmin edge 705 and new bike box.

    I am out of control!
  • IanTrcp
    IanTrcp Posts: 761
    Hmmmm.......

    I've been looking at these. but then I started to wonder about what you do with the box at the other end if you're going to be using a hire car. Especially if two of you are travelling together. I suppose one answer is to make sure that you get a large hire car with a hatchback and folding seats but even that will probably be a squeeze with two bikes/boxes.

    Thoughts / comments / observations?

Categories