Bike Bag for Carbon Bike to be used on a Plane

Gav2000

I want to be able to take my bike to Europe by plane next year and am looking at bike cases. This case looks to be a good price;

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Avenir-Avenir-by-Raleigh-Bike-Suitcase-21137.htm

Does anyone have any experience of it?

Alternatives include these 2 at Wiggle;

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/dhb_Elsted_Bike_Box/5360026102/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/dhb_EVA_Bike_Box/5360041096/

Again, can anyone recommend (or not) either of these cases?

My bike is a 58cm carbon framed bike with quite a tall seat post as I'm 6'3" tall, I guess being able to get this sized bike into a case may be an issue.

Finally, if there are any other good value cases out there please let me know?

Cheers,

Gavin.

BigG67

I've got the 2nd Wiggle one - the EVA - and it was perfect with my large LOOK 586 last year on a flight to Geneva. It's plenty big enough as well; I've got an ISP so was worried but once the saddle was off it was fine.

My mates had the "harder" style like the Elsted and it offered no more protection, I think you'd need to go to one of the proper hard cases like this http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Scico ... 360027178/ before you got significantly more protection.

Brian B

I have the first DHB one(although branded under another name). Many companies sell this model and I and my mate have had our bikes abroad many times with this box without mishap. Mines evan came flying of the shelf on a bus on route to the airport at speed and no damage done. A good buy and would recommend.

Thanks
Brian.

Gav2000

Thanks for the responses, I'm leaning towards the EVA box at the moment.

Can anyone else add any comments before I make a purchase to make the most of the £20 off code from Wiggle?

Gav.

Poulsy

Get a box. If you travel a fair bit, it is worth the few extra £

You will be paranoid about your bike in a bag. Have you seen the way they handle the bike bags on the plane (throwing them off!?)

I've got one of these (Pro XLC) and it has survived many trips. Cost me about £120.

http://www.zoogz.co.uk/crateworksspec.htm#box

sampras38

Gav2000 wrote:

I want to be able to take my bike to Europe by plane next year and am looking at bike cases. This case looks to be a good price;

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Avenir-Avenir-by-Raleigh-Bike-Suitcase-21137.htm

Does anyone have any experience of it?

Alternatives include these 2 at Wiggle;

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/dhb_Elsted_Bike_Box/5360026102/
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/dhb_EVA_Bike_Box/5360041096/

Again, can anyone recommend (or not) either of these cases?

My bike is a 58cm carbon framed bike with quite a tall seat post as I'm 6'3" tall, I guess being able to get this sized bike into a case may be an issue.

Finally, if there are any other good value cases out there please let me know?

Cheers,

Gavin.

I've got the 1st dHb box from Wiggle and used it this year to take my 58 Scott CR1 Pro to France. It's a bit of a tight squeeze but all went well and I would certainly recommend it.

bigmat

I'd go box with a carbon frame, I have a soft bag atthe moment and my shifter got smashed the last time I flew with it, bike was alu though so pretty robust. Would be worried about a carbon frame, especially as you might not know about any issue until you get a catastrophic failure!

sampras38

MatHammond wrote:

I'd go box with a carbon frame, I have a soft bag atthe moment and my shifter got smashed the last time I flew with it, bike was alu though so pretty robust. Would be worried about a carbon frame, especially as you might not know about any issue until you get a catastrophic failure!

Agree with this 100%.

I've got friends who work for airlines and I would never take the risk, especially with a carbon.

Pretre

I've got a Polaris Bike Pod (hard shell EVA case), travelled with it 3 times this year & not a scratch on the bike.

andyrr

Boxes are a pain for travelling to / from airport and squeezing into car but far better protection (although the carriers have now knackered the wheels on my Monoc one.)
If you sent for a bag then what I have done in the past is to reinforce the protection given by adding some form of sheeting : plywood or similar (heavy) or polystyreen sheeting (light but only lasts 1 or 2 trips, ie probably to destination and back.)
The plywood idea works pretty well but it does make the bag quite heavy and obviously less flexible in terms of squashing into a car etc.

jamespiggot

I had a box from Monoq which worked fine although it was a pain to transport due to size. On a training week in Lanzarote there was a guy who had his bike in a hard box and the rear deraillier was broken off regardless so always make sure you take that off. It is worth getting the plastic bits that new bikes travel with from your LBS, that is the plastic axles that slot in to the front and rear dropouts to keep the correct spacein the absence of the wheels, and get a bung to keep the headset spacers and other bits and bobs in place. I think whatever option you go for you will have to remove the handlebars and seatpost, and maybe the pedals? It is worth making sure you know how to do remove them and more importantly how to re-assemble them before you travel.