Hey looking to do some travelling this summer and want to leave the cardboard bike box behind. What is everyone's favorite carrier? Ideally want something below $300. Especially if I can use it as a "checked" bag rather than paying the $100 bike fee on most airlines...
Favorite DH Bike Carrier
- Thread starter acair422
- Start date
unless you have a bmx bike (that can fit into a golf bag) or are an IMBA member, there's no easy way around the bike fee.
I have a serfas hard case. hasn't gotten a ton of use over it's life time, but i have no real complaints. i've heard some of the new style soft bags are awesome tho.
I have a serfas hard case. hasn't gotten a ton of use over it's life time, but i have no real complaints. i've heard some of the new style soft bags are awesome tho.
I have a buddy who bought a goalie bag with wheels. I wasn't on that trip, but he used it on the last trip out west. Take both wheels off and it fit his trail bike just fine apparently. In Canada at least, hockey gear is like golf gear... you don't pay extra.
OP was asking about a DH bike.
The Evoc bike bag: http://www.evocsports.com/bike/bike-travel-bags/bike-travel-bag
Sweet, but spendy. Expect to pay at least 400 bones.
The new Biknd bag also looks like a contender: http://biknd.com/en/products/bike-travel-case/jetpack
Again, expect to part with 400-500.
CRC has a similar looking bag, but at a cheaper price: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/en/chain-reaction-cycles-pro-bike-bag/rp-prod114204
Sweet, but spendy. Expect to pay at least 400 bones.
The new Biknd bag also looks like a contender: http://biknd.com/en/products/bike-travel-case/jetpack
Again, expect to part with 400-500.
CRC has a similar looking bag, but at a cheaper price: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/en/chain-reaction-cycles-pro-bike-bag/rp-prod114204
I realize that, but I find DH bikes pack smaller than trail bikes regardless because you pretty much have to take the forks off no matter what you do. It worked for my buddy, so I thought I'd throw it out there.
I have the Evoc bag. Used it only once so far, but it was solid and easy to pack/unpack. Some other buddies have the cheapo-CRC bags and they were toast after 3 trips. A reinforced cardboard box once lasted me 4 trips... so take that for what it's worth.
fork, not forks. 
I just flew to Vermont and back with my carbon trail bike packed in a used Easton hockey gear bag (w/ wheels) I picked up at Play it Again sports for $40. I was careful with the contents and weight to keep it around or under 50# and it only cost me $25 each way on USAirways. The bike made through all of my flights with no damage.
The trail bike was a tight fit since it was just a regular hockey bag and not a goalie bag. I'm not sure I could fit my DH bike it in. Also, with the DH bike, the weight would definitely be over 50#.
The trail bike was a tight fit since it was just a regular hockey bag and not a goalie bag. I'm not sure I could fit my DH bike it in. Also, with the DH bike, the weight would definitely be over 50#.
I was referring to people in general, and to the various forks on various bikes. Unless people can ride the same fork on several bikes, at the same time.fork, not forks.
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clarification noted.
at least with my serfas, i can get any bike i have in it with the fork on, with the exception of my DH bike.
at least with my serfas, i can get any bike i have in it with the fork on, with the exception of my DH bike.
To make the fork smaller, take it out of the crowns and let the air out of it/remove the spring. it's much easier to pack. Leave the crowns on the bike, so you don't have to make any headset adjustments. Remove the direct mount stem from the crown, not the bar from the stem. You won't have to adjust your bar angle then either.
-KT
-KT
cool story bro.
My buddy fit a DH bike into a suitcase once. I believe he removed the rear triangle.
Oh, that might not apply, I think it was actually more of a free ride bike.
Not looking to take apart the fork (yes I know it is easy) the idea is convenience.What Easton hockey bags would fit and how did you manage to not pay the bike fee? Did you just say it was hockey gear or what? $400 is definitely not worth it for me, that's a plane ticket to whistler for me!
I think the bag I bought was the Easton RS, but it was just the biggest used bag they had with wheels. I took a small tape measure with me to the store. I think the dimensions are 18x16x40, most goalie bags are around 20x20x40 or more. I set to order this if I couldn't find anything cheaper:
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=33221716&lmdn=Brand&cp=4406646.4413993.4415818.12137921
I registered for my flights the day before online and paid the $25 for the checked bag fee online. When I checked the bag at the counter they didn't try to charge me any extra. They did ask what it was, I always just told them it was "sports equipment" which is kind of true.
If you use a bike bag or box, you could always fly AirTran or SouthWest. They have a flat rate of $75 for a bike. I think USAirways charges $175 for a bike.
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=33221716&lmdn=Brand&cp=4406646.4413993.4415818.12137921
I registered for my flights the day before online and paid the $25 for the checked bag fee online. When I checked the bag at the counter they didn't try to charge me any extra. They did ask what it was, I always just told them it was "sports equipment" which is kind of true.
If you use a bike bag or box, you could always fly AirTran or SouthWest. They have a flat rate of $75 for a bike. I think USAirways charges $175 for a bike.
I have been doing this for about 5 years...my best advice is the following, I have never paid a bike fee...
I use a large duffle for the frame/fork/clothes/tools whatever, just keep it under 50 lbs. Use a layer of fabric store foam on the bottom, put the frame and clothes in, another layer of foam, lay the fork down, then throw some clothes in.
For the wheels I use a childs hockey bag on wheels, its perfect fit for 26" wheels and some clothes as well. The specific one I found is a roller bag which allows me to lay the other bag on the handle area and drag through an airport without going crazy...
My method my make some cringe in terms of protection but these are dh bikes we are talking about, they get slammed around. The only protection measures I take are removing the rotors, and have a piece of pvc cut to 150mm to keep the rear axle spacing from flexing inward. Hope that helps...
I use a large duffle for the frame/fork/clothes/tools whatever, just keep it under 50 lbs. Use a layer of fabric store foam on the bottom, put the frame and clothes in, another layer of foam, lay the fork down, then throw some clothes in.
For the wheels I use a childs hockey bag on wheels, its perfect fit for 26" wheels and some clothes as well. The specific one I found is a roller bag which allows me to lay the other bag on the handle area and drag through an airport without going crazy...
My method my make some cringe in terms of protection but these are dh bikes we are talking about, they get slammed around. The only protection measures I take are removing the rotors, and have a piece of pvc cut to 150mm to keep the rear axle spacing from flexing inward. Hope that helps...
yeah great but you still also spend the extra weight fee because those things are never under 50 lbs with a bike in them...some airlines even make you pay the bike fee on top of the weight fee...they are nuts unless someone is paying the bill.
its sad to say i never needed a bike carrier :/
i would take the fork off and lay it parallel on top of said bike? wrapped with soft material
i would take the fork off and lay it parallel on top of said bike? wrapped with soft material
Fees are different per airline, so it's best to do some research into which airlines you plan to fly. You could pay $50 or $200 depending on who you fly with.
The companies differ wildly in over weight, extra checked baggage and sporting goods-specific fees. In my experience the old school US companies (united, delta) are the worst for fees (and general incompetence and ****ty service from start to finish), while the new school companies like Jetblue and high-end non-US companies (Cathay, etc) are the cheapest for luggage and bikes and general positive vibes.
I fly with a Trico sports clamshell that I've had for 12 years. The DH bike barely fits with both wheels off and my Boxxer removed. I usually fly Jetblue and get hit with a bicycle fee, but NOT with a bicycle plus extra baggage fee or a bicycle + overweight fee... IIRC i'm right under the 70 (or is it 75lb?) limit.
The companies differ wildly in over weight, extra checked baggage and sporting goods-specific fees. In my experience the old school US companies (united, delta) are the worst for fees (and general incompetence and ****ty service from start to finish), while the new school companies like Jetblue and high-end non-US companies (Cathay, etc) are the cheapest for luggage and bikes and general positive vibes.
I fly with a Trico sports clamshell that I've had for 12 years. The DH bike barely fits with both wheels off and my Boxxer removed. I usually fly Jetblue and get hit with a bicycle fee, but NOT with a bicycle plus extra baggage fee or a bicycle + overweight fee... IIRC i'm right under the 70 (or is it 75lb?) limit.
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It seems like the duffle/hockey bag is the best intersection of having a carrier as well as possibly avoiding the extra fees. My main thing against bike carriers is aside from the hardshell ones they don't seem to offer much else in terms of protection/ease compared to a giant duffle or hockey bag. I am just hesitant to pay $400 for something that a $100 easton bag can accomplish.
I use this
http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/R7BCCNNBC/title/route7-bike-carry-bag
It's light and takes my large Glory and has also taken a large 29er in the past as well. I wrap the sharp bits with cardboard to avoid damage to the bag and, and put a cardboard sheet down either side. So far it's been great. Doesn't like being dragged though.
http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/products/R7BCCNNBC/title/route7-bike-carry-bag
It's light and takes my large Glory and has also taken a large 29er in the past as well. I wrap the sharp bits with cardboard to avoid damage to the bag and, and put a cardboard sheet down either side. So far it's been great. Doesn't like being dragged though.
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exactly, i would buy one of those EVOC bags if it actually got me anything aside from a massive fee for the bag and continued fee's from airlines. you cannot hide the fact you have a bike with one of those things. The hockey bag with fork, shock, bars, and wheels removed is the best and continues to be...just realize you need 2 bags to keep the weight down, assuming you are traveling with clothes and gear...which i hope you are or that is weird.
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I mean the Rout7 bag looks okay but i'm reading reviews that it can't really handle a DH bike in terms of weight. Manhattan, do you think I can fit the DH bike + some clothes in the easton bag? I get a free checked bag so no worries about fees there, i just want a good bag that isn't $400 cause that is crazy talk
What dh bike are you running? mine is a transition tr250 size medium...It's really impossible to say until you try it but with the shock removed mine crunches up nicely. Buy the bag save the receipt and give it a go... The airline prices are only going to get worse, the only way to keep things reasonable is to split your bike into 2 bags and pay the regular bag fee's like any normal traveler.
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just one thing to add, it's basically impossible to get a dh bike and clothes/gear into one bag and keep it under 50 lbs, any bag sizeable enough to get a dh bike into will weigh in around 5-7lbs...gotta go 2 bags
Agree'd I usually pull my tires, that gives you some room to work with...Just take a wheel into DICKS or somewhere and try it, you will find it fits. I use a big duffle for the frame fork and clothes, wheels clothes and pads go in something similar to this...nice because its a roller bag so you can sit the other bag on top and roll it through the airport.
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=22834276&ppp=128