Padded bike bag for plane travel...what about this one?

[BigonaBianchi]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PADDED-BI...ing_Bags_Panniers_SR&var=&hash=item43b233a9dd

Anyone got one...looks fine...cant afford a solid box...have to have something like yesterday...flying easyjet....Bianchi inside...

 

[BigonaBianchi]

..ok..erm..scrub that..I just bought it anyway...I'll let you know

 

[elduderino]

Looks good if you can store it somewhere at the other end or are especially good at origami. At least you can be sure your bike won't be refused. I bought a groundeffect bag the other day, admittedly it's twice the price, but it folds down and fits nicely in my pannier.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

That's what.I.thought...we'll see I'd it gets here in time though...they state next day delivery which is why.I bit the.bullet.

 

[EltonFrog]

I look forward to hearing your review, I'm currently in the market for two bike bags for a trip to New York in May.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

I like the look of this. I'll be interested to see how you find it. After twice having my bike wheels trashed by air-handlers, I'm looking for a portable, light-weight solution.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Well it arrived today.

It seems ok...first impressions are that I had expected more padding, more like my guitar gig bags,
But I think thatbwould add to the bulk too.much.

It has two inner wheel 'compartments' and a place to put bits etc. It has a bike motif and a please handle.with.care
Motif on the outside of the bag.

I haven't put the bike in it yet but it looks like it will fit and this is a 61cm frame.

The shoulder straps seem ok...just hope the fixings survive.

Anyway...I'm flying at the weekend so I guess I'll find out.

 

[screenman]

If going soft bag, can I suggest lots of pipe lagging on the tubes and a spacer between the fork and rear ends.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

I agree with the above. Pipe-lagging works miracles.

 

[elduderino]

On the off chance anyone is considering a groundeffect bag, I've just received mine in the post today.

It's made of a reasonably strong canvas (think guitar bag style). A pocket for pedals inside, a spacer for your front fork included, shoulder strap and two more carry handles. Weighs just over a kilo too. Padding is minimal so I'll line it with some cardboard/bubble wrap and cover my rear dérailleur with my helmet strapped around it.

The idea is you only take the front wheel off, remove pedals and turn handlebars to fit it inside the bag.

I paid 74 pound for it and it was delivered in a week from New Zealand and I had no customs charges to pay either.

 

[Jimmy Doug]

Looks interesting.

 

[MarkF]

It looks good, I would have bought one of those instead of the heavy wheeled Leisure Lakes thing I used to own. However I gave up on bike bags a while ago and now just use cardboard boxes from local bike shops, only one, in Barcelona , has ever tried to charge me for one.

 

[jay clock]

No 1 tip is REMOVE THE REAR MECH. Just unscrew and cable tie to frame. Leave the chain on though. This saves bent hangers. I would also go to a bike shop and along with axle spacers get some of the little plastic plugs that push into the axles once the skewers are off. Look like this https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10404889/HTP_FrontWheel2.png

Having said that I prefer the clear plastic bag approach (from here http://www.bikeadventures.co.uk/shop.html) OR the full hard case Bike Box Alan if I have the road bike. The clear bag has worked fine for approx 8 return trips. Logic is that if they can see it is fragile they are kinder....