046 : WORKBENCH : G ments. There’s generally no need to remove or adjust the stem, handlebars, pedals, seat post or saddle. The case houses it all the same way it’s ridden, save for aero extensions. Zip the case shut, then shoulder or wheel it to the check-in. Picking it up at the oversized baggage claim is just as easy. It’s not bombproof, but it’s virtually dummy-proof. EVOC and Aerus also offer compelling designs at attractive prices. Then there’s world-class cardboard, used by road warriors like Chris Lieto. I’m constantly impressed with how nonchalantly prolific competitors like Lieto box and transport their super bikes. “A cardboard box is easier to pack than most bike cases,” offers Lieto. “Trek ships all their bikes in custom cardboard boxes; I use those. Straps and foam are included, so everything’s good to go.”
Ritchey: bReaking away Tom Ritchey, bicycle industry icon and avid cyclist since his teenage years, is simply not at home anywhere without a performance ride he’s made himself. Ritchey’s addiction to two wheels led him to create a new standard in travel bikes, his BreakAway line. It diverges somewhat from our bike case discussion, as the Break-Away solution represents an actual bike that can be disassembled and that fits into its own custom case. The Break-Away line doesn’t include a TT bike, but if much of what you’re looking for in a travel case solution is simply having a bike wherever you travel, then one of Ritchey’s models could be the answer. The uniqueness of Ritchey’s Break-Away bike design is that its parts can be easily assembled and disassembled, yet make up a full-on performance bike. The main and rear frame triangles are joined almost seamlessly at two places. First, at the seat clamp by an additional bolt assembly that connects the rear triangle not to the main triangle but to the seat post that acts as a common anchor. Then the two triangles are joined by a collar along the down tube that is deceptively minimalist and elegant, as opposed to being designed as a folding bike or even a standard bike that is cut and then equipped with couplers. Ritchey’s Break-Away is certainly revolutionary; however, virtually the same limitations apply as with a traditional bike and lavamagazine.com
case scenario. John McMillan, Break-Away product manager, explains: “Technically the bike case is slightly oversized, but most customers experience no issues at check-in. A smaller Break-Away case is in the works that should eliminate all chance of check-in issues.” McMillan recommends users fill the extra space in their case with clothes both to protect the bike and make it appear more like regular luggage. “Often this enables a cyclist to travel with just one checked bag,” says McMillan.
RusteR: bReaking it down T.J. Tollakson, one of triathlon’s most popular athletes as well as one of its tireless innovators, was not one to sit idly by. Necessity was once again the mother of invention, since Tollakson sought to reduce costs and simplify his own life as much to fill a void in the marketplace. The most salient part of the Ruster Sports offering was the reasoning behind it: “The problem with traditional bike cases is that they are 30 pounds empty, then you add a 20-pound bike,” explains Tollakson. “Baggage handlers end up manhandling them a bit more because they’re heavy and bulky. Also, TSA will often want to unpack a bike to inspect it. I’ve had two disc wheels punctured following an inspection because things were put back incorrectly.” Tollakson’s objective was this: Design a system that would meet size requirements set by airlines so that the broken-down parts of his complete bike would qualify as luggage, avoiding the issue and related fees altogether. “Fees were inconsistent but steadily increasing, from $50 to $80 and even $100,” he continues. “Most of the time it was $80 each way which already seemed like a lot back then. Now it’s as much as $200 each way internationally, when it used to be free.” Tollakson’s two-piece Hen House Bicycle Travel Case meets airline standards for checked baggage: bike and wheel cases are each less than 62 linear inches. The wheel case provides comprehensive and reinforced storage for your wheels as well as room for sundry items that can serve as additional padding. “I’m flying roughly 65,000 miles a year. I would be paying $10,000 or more each year if I were paying fees each time,” emphasizes Tollakson. “With my system, you don’t walk
up to the counter with all of that anxiety, worrying about coming up with some kind of story. Check-in personnel usually don’t even ask about it.” Wheels often represent the biggest challenge, which is another reason why the Hen House may move the industry in a new and better direction. “The wheels themselves are 28 by 28 inches,” points out Tollakson, “so if you’re trying to get the wheels into the same case as the bike, it’s going to be a problem. I’ve actually never had a problem carrying wheels with me onto the plane— the case takes up 56 linear inches. If it’s a full-size jet, I can put the wheels in an overhead bin. If it’s a smaller, regional jet, I may need to do gate-check, but I’ve never been denied. Once you’re through the gate or on the plane, attendants are generally really helpful. If they realize you’re carrying an expensive disc wheel, they tend to be accommodating, finding a suitable and safe place.”
tHERE is NO sHamE iN usiNg a stRONg CaRdBOaRd sHippiNg BOx—just BE suRE yOu HavE a qualifiEd mECHaNiC CONfiRm its stRuCtuRal iNtEgRity.
Fortunately, there is currently no shortage of travel bag choices. And there is no shame in using a strong cardboard shipping box—just be sure you have a qualified mechanic confirm its structural integrity and pack it competently, or learn to do so yourself. Lieto’s most helpful insight may be in how he avoids the cost and hassle of dealing with airlines altogether: “Most of the time I ship UPS both ways, or at least coming back from a trip or race. It takes the bike an extra day or so to get back, but it’s way cheaper than the airlines.” Tollakson offers a final perspective in the cost-benefit analysis that may help you take the plunge: “If you can find a system that avoids airlines’ oversize baggage fees,” he asserts, “it will quickly pay for itself—often several times over.” LAVA