Advice - bike cases

FoldingJoe

OK - made a bit of a logistical error and seems like I'll have to transport my new bike back from London to Exeter on the train.

The normal option would be to book it into the bike carriage, but having put a couple of bikes in there before I wouldn't trust it with the new purchase.

Can anybody recommend a bike case (probably a soft one will do as I don't plan on taking it travelling on planes) so that I can take the bike on the train itself?

Don't mind standing in the buffet carriage if I have to, as long as I can keep my eye on it and it's not going to get thrown about.

Cheers,
FJ

UndercoverElephant

No nothing about any of them, but Wiggle have 25% off the Scion ones at the moment.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/scicon/

SimonAH

Does it not come with a big cardboard box? Solved.

Anonymous

Lock it to the bike carriage. Technically not allowed, but if you're on the inside and keep schtum, who's gonna know?

Lucky sh!t being in Ex. Haven't been down there in ages.

FoldingJoe

Hmmm, the bikes coming from Belgium in the back of a Merc - Will Voet styleee.

FoldingJoe

coriordan wrote:

Lock it to the bike carriage. Technically not allowed, but if you're on the inside and keep schtum, who's gonna know?

Lucky sh!t being in Ex. Haven't been down there in ages.

It's more the possible damage I'm worried about.

I could get up and stand at the door at every stop to make sure it's not taken, only three stops between Paddington and Exeter.

Only train it to Exeter, Coriordan, I drive from there to Bude.

Anonymous

You could possibly wrap it in copper pipe insulation - those foamy things?
Bude is meant to be rather nice - I've only been there a couple of times. Used to frequent Gwithians more often as a windsurfer more than a surfer. Anyway, you can probably stop rubbing it in now, I haven't been down in a while.

the_fuggler

What's the matter with you?!! Ride it home!!

+1 for the pipe insulation. Should be fine in the guard's carriage if you can cover it in that.

jonginge

If logistics allow you could probably hire a bike bag from your LBS.

Pipe insulation is cheap and works a treat. I used loads plus bubble-wrap when I transport my bike

meanredspider

The Volagi came in a great box made from that plastic corrugated board so that it was completely reuseable. They even supplied a 6-point harness thing for keeping the lid on. With the bike in, it came in at just on 15kg so great for planes but easy to carry too. Also fitted into the boot of the Merc. Dunno if more bike manufacturers do that but they should, it's fab.

Fireblade96

Pop along to any bike shop, who'll probably be glad to give you one of the cardboard boxes bikes were delivered to them in.

notsoblue

I wouldn't worry too much about the safety of your bike in the bike carriage. I've taken my bikes on FGW loads of times. I just make sure the train manager sees me carry it on, and then I lock it to itself. All the stations along that route require a ticket for you to be on the platform, and train stations are all covered in CCTV. Plus, if you're sat in the quiet carriage you can see anyone who gets near the bike storage area anyway. I think its pretty low risk.

Anonymous

ummmm. My bro was on the train with a guy heading to cornwall on a cycling trip. They were pulling out of a station when the guy looks out the window and his 6K bike is in the hands of some c0ck juggling thunder-cunt on the platform.

Lock it to something solid

FoldingJoe

Yeah, it's probably not so much the chance of theft, but the chance damage I'm worried about.

I've put my Ribble in there before and not really worried about it, but the new bike is a different kettle of fish, and after just picking it up (after waiting for about 6 months to get my hands on it) they might be picking me out from beneath the train itself if it got damaged!!

mroli

Hey FoldingJoe - my wife's family have got a place in Crackington - we're down there a fair bit so maybe see you riding down there one day. I've got one of these: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... 0000000000 there are options around the £50 mark for the same. Its ok - bit fragile on the carry handles etc - but as a wrap/cover for a decent bike its not bad. If you're trying to bring it into the carriage with you - its not the smallest, is manageable, but a bit awkward. You could always stick it in a bag and in the bike carriage I guess.

Train guards go mental if you lock it to the carriage. I've been on a train where they've said that if the person doesn't come and unlock it, they'll cut the lock and throw the bike off the train...

First.Aspect

For the price of a train ticket and a bike box, could you not do a 1-way car rental and drive down?

bobinski

I used this...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=20604

this summer to get to Bourg st maurice and back via Eorostar. Quite happy with it given the cost though may be overkill for this one journey unless you anticipate doing other train journes with the bike in future. Word of warning though, a little bigger than regualtion bag sise allowed on Eurostar etc but I had no trouble using it.

itboffin

£177 for a hard case from canyon http://www.canyon.com/_en/shop/?category=Z07&item=30375

FoldingJoe

First Aspect wrote:

For the price of a train ticket and a bike box, could you not do a 1-way car rental and drive down?

Already paid for the train ticket.

FoldingJoe

mroli wrote:

Hey FoldingJoe - my wife's family have got a place in Crackington - we're down there a fair bit so maybe see you riding down there one day.

Let me know if you are ever down this way and you fancy a ride. I'll meet you at the top of the climb out of Crackington!!

FoldingJoe

OK, so went with the bike bag that bobinski recommended.

All set for Thursday now - it's like an early Christmas present!!

meanredspider

Let us know what it's like - I'm in the market for one. Cheers!

FoldingJoe

It came this morning and first impressions are that it seems pretty well built.

A decent amount of padding in the main bag itself and the wheel bags come separately, so handy for transporting just the wheels if needs be, but would be a nice touch if they had zips on them allowing you to attach them to main bag on the sides. As it is I can only imagine, outside of carrying the wheels separately, you would have to put the wheels inside the main compartment with the frame (not sure how that'll work out).

Plenty of pockets inside the bag for clothes, shoes and whatever you need to fit in there, really.

My only reservation is that there isn't anywhere inside to afix the bike to, so if you were transporting it and leaving it to porters or airport baggage carriers etc then there would be a worry that the bike might get thrown about a bit inside the bag, although I haven't tried a bike in there yet, so the fit may be quite snug, and if so it wouldn't be such an issue.

Carrying the bag itself is only via the shoulder handle\strap, which fixes in such as way to seem to make it awkward to get the strap in a decent position, but will report on that when I've carried a bike in there as all I've tested it with thus far is my four year old daughter!!

There are a couple of wheels on the back and a strap at the front so you can wheel the bag along.

Will report back after picking up the bike next week.

Cheers,
FJ