I know that most of us cyclists are sticking to home turf at the moment. Like many had planned to cycle abroad this year and as such, I’d purchased a bike bag. I opted for the Scicon AeroComfort 3.0 Bag as it ticked all of the boxes I thought I needed. It also meant less need to dismantle and rebuild.
Rather than a review of this particular bag, I’m hoping that this thread might become a useful resource for newbies such as myself who are taking their bike on holiday for the first time.
What advice would you offer? Have you found that adding your own, additional padding gave you piece of mind? Did you have to add additional padding or protection. Did you deflate your tires? How did you protect the drive chain?
I’m hoping that we can share little nuggets of information that might make peoples experience better.
Remove derailleur and tape/tie to inside of chainstay
Remove handlebars (leave stem on steerer)
Fit frame & fork protection spacers and use QR skewers to hold
Remove seatpost and saddle.
Takes 15-20mins at either end.
The rotors get put in a pack of hard closed cell foam. Depending on your bag you might need to remove the crankset to get maximum protection. Airport staff will ask if you’ve deflated the tyres - when I’ve travelled with a fat bike I’ve had to deflate them otherwise they won’t fit in the bag! You don’t need to deflate them fully, just down to 20% or so.
Once the bike and all the bits are in the bag have a look around to see if there are any parts that might get a bump when the bag is being moved around, tape some pipe lagging to these areas.
Also I take proper tools rather than rely on a multi-tool to do the job. You’ll only need 4mm, 5mm, maybe 6mm or 8mm T-handled Allen Keys plus a T-20 for the rotor bolts if using disk brakes and a cassette removal tool with an adjustable spanner. A flat bladed and a Phillips screwdriver are also useful.
I dont have disk brakes so that is no needed for me but if I did I would do the same.
No need to deflate the tyres fully (some airlines have confirmed this), imo you want a bit if air in them to add protection to the rims
I dont remove the cassette, not need in my case but easy enough to do if needed and it would make is a touch easier to pack the case.
Drop out removal - this is the only thing that I’ve ever had damaged even though it was in a foam block and wrapped in bubble wrap, I remove the derailer and tape to the frame.
@bobw do you use calliper spacers? I’ve been told for a couple of £-$ they’re worthwhile.
Do you pack your tools with the bike or take them separately in your luggage? I’m guessing it’s best to limit the amount of objects that can move around and cause damage.
@pusherman - forgot about those! I just use masking tape to tape in a suitable coin between the pads.
I’ll weigh the whole bag and bike then pack soft stuff in and around the bike up to the weight limit so the tools will go in with the bike, just wrap them in a plastic carrier bag then in a jersey or something like that.
Edit: some carriers are strict about the limit, others not so. A smile goes a long way
Tools in with the bike as they then dont count to baggage weight allowance. Same for gels, blocks, powders water bottles. Some (most in Europe?) You pay for oversized baggage so there is no weight restriction on the bike bag… it is volume that matters. The limit is more what you want to drag around. Also if there is an oversized luggage weight limit on a particular airline Ive never got close… (no that I’ve tried, lol) Edit: just check with you airline and make the choice from that.
I did a writeup on Reddit when we packed two bikes in two different cases for airline travel last year (jeez, almost exactly a year ago). We stuffed everything we could fit in the cases–kit, tools, regular clothes.
If you haven’t broken a bike apart and put it back together, plan for a few hours on both ends. It’s all straightforward on paper or in the Youtube video but you never know what kind of random nonsense you’re going to run into once you get started.
Clean your bike first, otherwise you’ll get grease and dirt everywhere.
Yes. I have no idea if it actually increased the protection for the bike, but I totally felt better about it.
No, I was paranoid because I didn’t have the tools to take my disc rotors off. The manual for the case I used said that was fine and they’d be fine but I still wrapped them in quite a lot of bubble wrap just in case. I also wrapped up most of the exposed frame to avoid scratches from the random bits and bops I threw in there.
Not all the way, but mostly. I didn’t want to mess around with air pressure at 30,000ft.
Unscrewed the derailleur hanger, wrapped the rear derailleur and most of the chain in a plastic bag and bubble wrap and taped it inside the rear triangle with masking tape, so the frame itself offered some structural protection. Also wrapped the chain rings in bubble wrap and taped that up.
Hi
Agree with the stuff below.
I also wrap the tubes, forks etc, with Plumbing insulation foam. Just Cut various bits to the correct length, it is already able to fit over pipes as it sliced down its whole length. I Tape in place for added security. The foam is very light and gives real piece of mind to protecting the bike. Once back from the holiday, just keep the foam for your next trip. I have used the same foam for the last 20 years and never had any frame damage.
Remember and buy the correct diameter insulation foam
I’d emphasis this. Not exactly travel, but I bought a bike on eBay one time, it got shipped to me in a standard cardboard bike box and the hanger had broken off en route. A dedicated bike bag is certainly better but those things stick out and are prime to get broken with a well placed blow. Getting the proper hanger quickly is going to be tough when traveling.
+1 for the foam. Costs next to nothing.
Cut to size once, label it with a marker pen and you are good to go, a little more protection, reduces chaffing! I used to use tape to secure, too messy. I bought some Velcro cable ties off eBay, perfect, use as many times as you want, weigh nothing. I use a Bike Box Alan, expensive but worth every single penny. 100% unbolt the rear mech.
I never removed the derailleur or the derailleur hanger when packing the bicycle. Maybe I’ve been lucky but never had any problem in 3 overseas trips. I just do the basic, deflate tires, remove wheels, pedals, through axles, disassemble the handlebar and put something between the brake calipers. Usually other bike related items go in the bike bag - helmet, pack, shoes, tools, spare tires, etc.
I have an Evoc bike bag, it’s made for mountain bikes but I’ve packed road bikes on it as well.
I have what was really common 15 years ago, a Neil Pryde bike bag. These were sold with different shop brands on them in the UK (and probably other places). Inside the bag, you can put a cardboard bike box which has been shortened if you don’t have weight issues and want to add protection). They came with wheel sleeves too, but I never got those.
I take off wheels (both), pedals, bars, saddle/seat post, and generally rear derailleur by removing the hanger.
Touching wood, I’ve never had an issue (I’ve taken my bike around the world many times).
I’ve also used a GroundEffect Tardis (around the world twice and some trips within Europe). Way less protection, but you avoid fees, can carry onto trains like EuroStar (even fits through the x-ray machine at the station like a regular suitcase). You can also fold the bag up to the size of a ring binder, if you’re then keeping your bike bag/box with you (i.e. fly into Stockholm and fly back out of Oslo, so you need to bring the bike bag with you, but can’t really cycle with a box).
I would not put a carbon bike in it if I was checking it, but carrying over your shoulder, it’s great.
Small tip: take pedals, shoes and helmet in your carry on.
The one trip I made was to L’etape du Tour and loads of bikes (including mine) were delivered late by the airlines as they didn’t all fit on the plane I was on.
Thankfully I went out early enough that it arrived in time but if the worst happens, you have the ability to ride a hire more comfortably.
