Travel bike bags - cheaper ones, EV, Merlin, others?
Discussion
Hi,
In anticipation of travel opening up soon I'm looking to get a bike bag to take my road bike with me so I can cycle lots in foreign unknown places - what could possibly go wrong?! ... actually I've been renting but cost has been creeping up such that it's worth just taking my own bike (last time I paid £80 for one days rent). At least I can then use it every day.
However I dont have some crazy uber expensive bike, just a ~6 year old Boardman carbon frame that was only ~£1100 when new. So it not worth spending lots and I'm looking at the cheaper softer cases. I'm prepared to take a modest amount of risk given the age and value. Note that I (used to) travel every 6 weeks for approx 2 week trips, business class long haul often with a stop over.
A collegue uses an EVOC bag and finds it good, however they are fairly large and the prices are holding high - "Travel Bag Pro" at £400 is the best I've seen. I also see cheaper ones like the Merlin Elite @ £200 and even cheaper like Wiggle and Chain reaction branded bags.
Does anyone have specific experience of any of these? Aside from the usual "you get what you pay for", are any brand over-priced? Any thoughts on the level of protection and useability worth paying for with a relatively low value bike?
cheers,
Iain
In anticipation of travel opening up soon I'm looking to get a bike bag to take my road bike with me so I can cycle lots in foreign unknown places - what could possibly go wrong?! ... actually I've been renting but cost has been creeping up such that it's worth just taking my own bike (last time I paid £80 for one days rent). At least I can then use it every day.
However I dont have some crazy uber expensive bike, just a ~6 year old Boardman carbon frame that was only ~£1100 when new. So it not worth spending lots and I'm looking at the cheaper softer cases. I'm prepared to take a modest amount of risk given the age and value. Note that I (used to) travel every 6 weeks for approx 2 week trips, business class long haul often with a stop over.
A collegue uses an EVOC bag and finds it good, however they are fairly large and the prices are holding high - "Travel Bag Pro" at £400 is the best I've seen. I also see cheaper ones like the Merlin Elite @ £200 and even cheaper like Wiggle and Chain reaction branded bags.
Does anyone have specific experience of any of these? Aside from the usual "you get what you pay for", are any brand over-priced? Any thoughts on the level of protection and useability worth paying for with a relatively low value bike?
cheers,
Iain
I and two others were very happy with Lomo bags for an 8-day trip in W Scotland. Staying in hostels, not wild camping, though. At the time were quite a bit cheaper than Apidura, Alpkit etc. Made in Scotland apparently https://www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/Cycling-Dry-Bags-1...
I bought one of these last year - it is OK but I had to bodge/modify it to take wheels with thru-axels.
https://www.probikekit.co.uk/cycling-accessories/p...
https://www.probikekit.co.uk/cycling-accessories/p...
Oooops! Just realised the OP is talking about bike transport bags, not bike packing! For a few trips I've used a simple soft padded bag from Merlin - think it was £60 reduced to £30. It's very light at c. 4.5 kg - so just sling the handles over your shoulder when walking. I bought a set of luggage wheels thinking I could bolt them through the fairly rigid base and tow the thing along, but eventually didn't bother as it wouldn't have stayed upright. With a soft bag like this the key is to use plenty of padding - pipewrap and bubblewrap and securely tape everything to the frame. People with rigid bike boxes can leave their packing much later than me!
I have a cheap CRC bike bag and it’s a bit s
t to be honest. Fine for transporting the bike in a car or van but i wouldn’t go anywhere near an airport with it, the bottom is solid but the sides are just thick fabric with minimal padding and the contents will get crushed by your typical baggage handlers. Even the soft cases with braces look vulnerable to me.
Personally I’d rent a hard shell one or even buy one and then rent it out locally as there are always people looking for reputable branded ones (bikeboxalan etc) for the same reason as you, I know a triathlete who has got his initial outlay back in under a year by renting out his Canyon bike box through Facebook.
You could get this one for £120 and use some bubble wrap blankets etc for protection, They retain their value so you wouldn’t lose much money on it should you sell it on.
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/lifeline-eva-b...
t to be honest. Fine for transporting the bike in a car or van but i wouldn’t go anywhere near an airport with it, the bottom is solid but the sides are just thick fabric with minimal padding and the contents will get crushed by your typical baggage handlers. Even the soft cases with braces look vulnerable to me.Personally I’d rent a hard shell one or even buy one and then rent it out locally as there are always people looking for reputable branded ones (bikeboxalan etc) for the same reason as you, I know a triathlete who has got his initial outlay back in under a year by renting out his Canyon bike box through Facebook.
You could get this one for £120 and use some bubble wrap blankets etc for protection, They retain their value so you wouldn’t lose much money on it should you sell it on.
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/lifeline-eva-b...
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 11th August 09:49
i have the PBK hard shell and have taken it on maybe 6 trips, works well with a little bit of cable tying.
I rented a BBA new time trial one to put my integrated road bike stem thing in as all you need to do is take off the wheels, bliss - but its massive and expensive.
you should buy the BBA one, and then buy a £10k bike.
https://www.bikeboxalan.com/product-category/easyf...
I rented a BBA new time trial one to put my integrated road bike stem thing in as all you need to do is take off the wheels, bliss - but its massive and expensive.
you should buy the BBA one, and then buy a £10k bike.
https://www.bikeboxalan.com/product-category/easyf...
These are awesome.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/scicon-aerocomfort-30-tsa...
Far easier and quicker to pack than a “normal” bike box/bag as you leave the bars etc in place. Less risk of crushing across forks and rear stays as axle spacers are integral. Easy to manoeuvre around airports. Light so doesn’t swallow up your weight allowance. Folds up so it fits in your hire car. I could go on....
I’ve used one for years (many trips) and have found it by far the best solution.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/scicon-aerocomfort-30-tsa...
Far easier and quicker to pack than a “normal” bike box/bag as you leave the bars etc in place. Less risk of crushing across forks and rear stays as axle spacers are integral. Easy to manoeuvre around airports. Light so doesn’t swallow up your weight allowance. Folds up so it fits in your hire car. I could go on....
I’ve used one for years (many trips) and have found it by far the best solution.
Edited by WindyCommon on Tuesday 11th August 21:54
That’s the one that I have and can confirm they are excellent. I even put my lad ( he’s 4 ) on it when going through the airport - he thinks he’s getting an easy ride around the airport, and I’m able to keep an eye on him whilst pulling another case along. Win win. ( not an advertisement as such ) but if anyone does need one for a holiday, drop me a pm. 👍🏽
I’ve used an Evoq to ride extensively in the US and Europe, one bike suffered minor damage once, but given the 30 or so trips I’m ok with that given the convenience of the bag - you can literally roll it up and shove it under your bed until the end of the holiday.
Get the frame, it makes life much much easier, and the latest one can handle all sorts of different axle standards.
Hard cases are ok, but they’re a pain to get into a taxi, and they’re a pain to store - both in your hotel room and when you get back.
Get the frame, it makes life much much easier, and the latest one can handle all sorts of different axle standards.
Hard cases are ok, but they’re a pain to get into a taxi, and they’re a pain to store - both in your hotel room and when you get back.
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