I’m packing for a trip and thought I’d share photos of my BikeBoxAlan Premium Plus. Approx size 56 bike with ~43 mm tires.
I worked as a guide for cycling tours a while back and all the clients who arrived with damaged bikes had soft cases, some damages were fixable on the spot, some had us chasing new parts in remote France, some bikes were ruined, most common damages were rear mechs and handlebars.
The worst problem we saw amongst clients with hard cases was one Di2 bike that went into crash mode during travel…
That doesn’t mean all bikes transported with soft cases will get damaged, many were fine, but the risk is much higher IMO, I wouldn’t use a soft case personally. I have a Scicon Aerotech hard case, used it many times and lent it to friends too and never had any problem, the little wheels still roll as well and the whole thing still looks in surprisingly good shape, just a few scuff marks.
No matter the case type though, one tip to help limit some damage risk: don’t load your case with all your kit/shoes/street clothes and what not, keep it as light as possible. The heavier the case ends up, the more it’s going to piss off the employees who load them on and off planes and conveyer belts, and the less carefull they’ll be.
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Dan is correct in that loading a case because there is empty space available is not a great strategy. The weight limit of 50lbs/22kg is not a goal, there is no prize for 49.9. The ramp agent (Baggius yeetus rampensis) is no fan of heavy bags, but they will only touch that case once in their life. You will have the pleasure of schlepping it everywhere, like in narrow twisting staircases and tiny elevators, taxis, trains, rental cars, etc.
Also, before you close it up, make sure everything inside is anchored and nothing can break free and cause damage. Just because it’s not moving when the case is flat on the floor doesn’t mean it can’t wreak havoc once the case is closed and in motion.
Handy tip for hardshell cases: add grip tape (like stair tread tape) to both sides of the case. ABS and similar plastic can slide if the belt loader is covered in snow or rain, and that reflecty-vested person outside your airplane will probably not dive heroically to save it, especially with a heavy tag.
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It’s so easy to remove a di2 rear derailleur for travel I would highly recommend it. One fixing and one cable to disconnect. No fear of having to reindex.
I typically unplug mine and tape the wire to the seat stay with masking tape. Then I remove the derailleur, wrap it up and tuck it in a bottle cage or somewhere else central in the bag. No crash mode, no bending. Super simple.
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I don’t leave the rear mech in place even when packing my hard S&S case, doing that with a soft case (yes I have one of those as well, been fine for the limited use it has been getting) just seems like asking for trouble.
Removing the Di2 RD is what I’ve been doing (I have the EVOC road bike bag pro). I also do exactly the same thing you did with the Di2 cable: attach it to the seat/chain stay with a masking tape. Since I started using Connex Links with my waxed chain, I also remove the chain from the drivetrain. I would have never entertained the idea of removing the chain if I was still using oil-based lube.
I remove the hanger with the derailleur on it. If it’s not on the frame, it can’t get bent.
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Hump, these videos are awesome, thanks so much for putting them together. I haven’t gotten through all of them yet, but already some great ideas and tips. Thanks!
You, sir, are far too kind. But thank you! I hope they are helpful in some way to everyone who takes their bike on a trip. I also hope everyone takes a trip, not only to explore somewhere new, but also to come home to a new appreciation of their hometown routes.
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I saw in the Daily News that Post Carry Co came out with a new nice looking bag that looks really nice. But who gave the green light on the name? First thing I think of when I hear Loomer a far-right wing US activist. And when trying to find out where else the name could have come from the google search is just filled with articles of said individual. I guess their are worse names, but it feels like kind of a poor choice