Conference noted::bicycle

Yes, I do.  I used it to send my bike from Pittsburg, PA to Tokyo, Japan and
had no problem except that it arrived 2 month after I myself arrived.  I know
you can't get toughness and compactness at the same time when you talk about 
bike bags, but I'd say it's a very good bag if it is smaller and lighter.  
It is HUGE.

						Tak

I have a Chamberlain Design bike bag (remove wheels, attach bike frame to rigid
base case is padded on the sides, rather than rigid).

I've flown with the bike a number of times, and ther airline monkeys have yet to
damage the bike, although from the marks on the outside of the case, they've
certainly tried.

    FWIW, Gamache's in Fitchburg rents the soft sided cases.  I
    don't remember the exact amount, but it was $40-$50/week.

    Has anyone seen hard cases in local stores?  I'd like to
    ship my bike UPS ahead of me, rather than try to haul it
    with me on a plane.  I've seen the hard cases only in
    magazines.

    Thanks.

    	- Lee

    If you're going to a big enough city, check into shipping by bus.
    The price could be a lot better than by UPS, or it could be a lot
    worse.  I've seen both ways.
    
    ed

>< Note 975.4 by NOVA::FISHER "BMB Finisher" >
>                            -< Try bus shipping. >-

    I shipped a bike by bus across the U.S. UPS cannot guarantee that it won't
be the top of the pile. I would hate to have fifteen 40 lbs boxes stacked on
top of my bike. Plus I know how UPS handles packages, will it survive a 4' drop
off the conveyor or a handler that gets paid by how fast he can fill a truck.

The bus gave me the day that it would be there as well as the aprox time or they
would call a number of someone listed on the receipt when it arrived. I shipped
it in a box and it made it fine. There are a lot of shipping companies out
there, some offer more services than others = more money.

TD

    I have seen hard cases for rent in local stores.
    My brother rented a hard case for ~ $40. from Frank's Spoke 'N Wheel
    (stores in Framingham, Westboro, Sudbury, Waltham - if that is 'local'
    for you...)
    
    The hard case looked tough enough so that it wouldn't matter if
    it were on the bottom of the pile or not...
    
    Mark
    

    Update: a couple weeks ago I used the Rhode Gear bike suitcase
    on the Charlotte-to-Gatwick flight and back.  The suitcase performed
    quite well, thank you.  *I* was a bit bent out of shape because
    Piedmont wanted to charge me $50 each way for carrying the bike
    (a bit out of line with normal transatlantic tarifs)... but the
    bike did fine.  
    
    One handy thing about it is not so much in the air but on the
    ground - you can "throw" the bike into a rental car van or into
    your rental car, without being attacked by a greasy chain, etc.
    And you get a different class of stares from passersby - hey,
    you can always pretend your the team caddy for the US National
    Golf Team.
    
    Seriously, it worked out well, but be sure that *everything* is
    tied securely inside.  Nashbar's own brand offers optional casters
    - the Rhode Gear just has glides on the bottom.  Casters would be
    real nice.
    
    -john

    I have a hard case, which I bought through a mag ad.  I have used
    it around the US and to and from Europe on several occasions.  Ive
    had no damage at all because its soooo large, that the airlines
    treat it special..  the big problem is A) what to do with it when
    you are touring(Ive kept it in the basement of a paris hotel for
    two weeks once) and how to get from the airport to a hotel or
    whereever.Airport luggage rooms wont let you leave the box there,
    so getting the box/bike into the city (if thats where you are going)
    is tough (it wont fit into a London or Paris Taxi).  However, an
    Estate car (in the UK), or a Stationwagon like taxi, in Paris will
    work (with a bit of mutual humor).
    
    The important tine to remember about shipping the bike is the fork.
     Minoura makes a pair of wheelless "axles" which you put on the
    fork and the rear  stays when you take off the wheels.  a block
    of wood, taped into place will do.

    Can any type of a bike case be rented in the Colorado Springs area?  If
    not, is the Rhode Gear case still the way to go for the money?  What
    about the Performance or Nashbar cases?  I will be in Marlboro for
    vacation the last week of May and have decided that I can't live without
    my bike and some good ole' Mass. rain riding.
    
    Thanks,
    Mark

    
    From the catalogue, the Nashbar bike-case (and for the matter,
    the Performance) looks very much as good as the Rhode Gear -
    except check whether you have to remove the rear wheel - on at
    least one Nashbar model you did, whereas you didn't have to with
    the Rhode Gear (which I have).  
    
    Also, casters can be ordered to fit the Nashbar bike-case. 
    I wish I had these.  But then again, I need all the upper-body
    workout I can get.  :-)  I'm not clear whether those casters could
    be adapted for the Rhode Gear.
    
    Bravo for you - bring your bike!  
    
    -john

    
       I'm going down to atlanta for the month of april and I'm bringing
    my bike with me.  I went down to the local shop and asked for one
    of the boxes that they receive new bikes in.  I'm going to pack
    the bike in one of those and ship it down UPS.
    
    I'll let you know how much it cost and how well it worked.
    
    JOhn C.
    

>    of the boxes that they receive new bikes in.  I'm going to pack
>    the bike in one of those and ship it down UPS.
    
Hmmm, I don't know if you'll ship it UPS - they have maximum pkg. weight 
and total size/max. dimension limits. You'll get by the weight OK, but I 
don't think you'll be able to get by the dimension problem.....

                              ken

    It is possible to ship a bike so that it meets the UPS
    requirements.  I've done it with a 25 incher.

    It required sending the wheels as a separate package.
    I also had to take the fork off to get the frame to fit.

    -Jeff Bell

    Fed Ex ships bigger boxes than UPS.
    
    ed

    	Why not bring the box along as luggage?  Might be the best
    of both worlds since you can really fill the box up with
    cushioning material.  Could save a lot of money and you know
    the baggage handlers are as gentle as the UPS package handlers.
    
    						_Jerry

    
    When I have taken my bike I pack it in a new bike shipping box.
    I first remove the steem from the forks and tape the handlebars
    to the frame.  Then remove the cranks and wrap in bubble wrap.
    I also remove the derailers and wrap them in bubble wrap and
    tape them to the frame.  I use blocks of wood between the dropouts
    for added strength.  Pack the bike and wheels in the box with
    bike clothes, tools etc.
    
    I have paid as little as ten dollars and as much as thirty to have
    the bike shipped as excess luggage.
    
    Good luck
    Dave
    

Bicycles will fit relatively easily in a box that came to a dealer if you
take the front wheel, pedals and handlebars off.  Using a spacer to hold the
front fork and keep it from spreading protects against crush.  Wrap pedals
in bubble-wrap or equivalent and and tape or tie them in the box so they won't
bounce around and chew up the paint job.  Pad the handlebars and tie them to
the top tube.  Put the front wheel in the box padded from the frame and outside
of the box with bubble-wrap or equivalent.  Make sure things won't come loose
and fly around inside the box or get lost through a hole that might be created
by careless handling of the box.  If you get really paranoid about it you can
use a heavy box or put additional framing into the box.

And remember to insure it if it is over the minimum.

I flew my bike out to Chicago 2 years ago on United.  Cost was high --
$40 each way plus $10 for a shipping box.

Be sure you bring tools to loosen your headset and remove your seat
and pedals.  Removing pedals was no fun; be sure you know how to do it
before you get to the airport!

Ken

    RE: .-1
    
>I flew my bike out to Chicago 2 years ago on United.  Cost was high --
>$40 each way plus $10 for a shipping box.

    That *is* steep.  USAir has gone up to $30 each way, bike box free.
    ($50 or equivalent UK� for CLT-LGW.)
    
>Be sure you bring tools to loosen your headset and remove your seat
>and pedals.  Removing pedals was no fun; be sure you know how to do it
>before you get to the airport!

    Good point.  Just practice turning the stem and taking off the pedals
    at home, to make sure they're not frozen, rusted, etc.  (Don't loosen
    the headset; I think you mean "stem.")
    
    -john