Bike box or bag?

Had this yet?

http://nsmb.com/air-canada-destroys-bike/

We took fifteen or so bikes to the Alps a few weeks ago. Half of them in Evocs. All fine. This one looks like it was dragged a distance then run over, which is probably beyond what most bike bags / boxes can tolerate before their contents gets mashed.

Classic airline response.

Right, so, I'm going to stump up for a bike box Alan. I remember a while back at a bike show, I was given a discount voucher code for 5% off but that seems to have long since disappeared. Anyone got one or seen them at a stand at a bike show recently?

What's the value of the bike?

I know the ground effect tardis is popular here, how small is it when it's rolled up?

It's a chunky a4 size, maybe slightly bigger

I'm traveling around japan in April, planning to bring my bike just to get around the city, but mostly take trains to go any distance. Should I get the tardis and shove it in my backpack when I'm out and about or should I just use a cardboard bike box and toss it at the airport?

I'd go Tardis, reusable is better in my mind. you'll probably have to strap to backpack, rather than have it inside, it is chunky (thick) when folded down.
Only thing is you'll need someplace to store/strap the pipe lagging that you'll need to protect the frame when in the bag.

Baggage handlers have killed my Scicon hard case. Dropped hard onto the wheels at one end, cracking the plastic and smashing them into the case. Have submitted a claim for luggage repair/replacement. Two things - 1. fuck baggage handlers. 2. The Scicon is fucking weak, and it's a very obvious stress point on the bag where the wheels are bolted on.
Other thing I found out - running 28mm tubeless, it's really quite hard to get the front wheel into its slot in the lid. On the way back hope, the bead unseated slightly, causing a bit of sealant spillage.

@Stedlocks has got a box for sale, amongst other things: https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/285202/#comment12921624

Any thoughts / experience on just using an ex-shop cardboard bike box plus loads of foam etc? Moving abroad for a year, and pondering whether to take the Salsa or buy something local.

Yeah, done quite often with many different airlines. Works well and is first choice for me. Just be sure to get quite a big one, to have additional space for foam. If you want to 100% protect the paintwork, use gas isolation pipes.

Weakness is that often the axles of the front wheel will come through the cardboard, so be sure to put some extra protection on it.

Coming back from Japan I used bags of bonito flakes instead of bubble wrap ;-)...

Not sure if this is entirely the right place as more aimed at touring, but conversation seems along the right line....

I'm heading off with the bike on Saturday, and have been trying to find one of the in-bag stands for the Evoc bag - sold out everywhere.

I don't suppose there's anyone who would be willing to lend me one for 2 weeks 23rd until 8th?

Otherwise - please can I have more success stories of how the Evoc bags are truly excellent and will do a great job of getting all my carbon to Basel and back in one piece.... Please....

Can't help with the stand, but I did three trips to and from Oz with a carbon frame in an evoc with no issues. Packed well and tubes wrapped in foam pipe cladding with fork and rear dropouts braced, all was good.

Thanks for the reassurance @TTM - I have a load of pipe lagging and went on the hunt for bubble wrap last night.

Came home with two bags of pillows for £8 which I'm hoping will do the trick of keeping things 'cushioned' 😏

I am looking for a suitcase in which I could put my future tandem (divisible in 3 parts thanks to the couplers), I spotted the legendary iron case, there is also the thule. I'm looking for models easy to find in europe, do you have any other ideas? Thank you.

up

Bumping this as looking at a box / bag - considering the b&w (there appears to be a new model out) or the scicon aerocomfort. Anyone have experience of either, or strong recommendations for anything else?

I am considering a velovault or bikeboxalan right now.

Interesting - did you consider and then rule out the cheaper options?

I can see that if I was thinking about the B&W, it might be worth upgrading to a better box (although the new B&W looks better), but I wonder whether the scicon would be treated with more care by the baggage handlers, plus it requires less dismantling / reassembling of bike...

These two boxes seem solid as a brick, vault probably suits me better as the case has disc rotor dimples. I like the idea the bike will arrive safely. It's just transportation after the flight that could be problematic but they can both fit into the rear seat/footwell of most cars.

Also hope it's one of those one off costs so an extra £50 won't be remembered in a few years time.

Certain trains require bike packed in bag 135x85x30cm. In the unlike event that @amey will sew me below from ripstop. What do I buy?

https://vimeo.com/117367446

Fairmean

Compass rinko