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Is it worth paying out for the EVOC bag or just go a bit more cheap and cheerful?
Need to store whatever I use at Nice airport for a week so guessing that an old box is going to be out of the question.
Thanks.
CRC bag was fine for me going from Glasgow to Geneva via Heathrow.
That's a fair bit cheaper 😯
What bike were you transporting?
Some of the reviews on CRC also suggest it might not survive all baggage handlers...
Giant Reign X
Got the bike in easily. Just had to remove the bars and tape them to the frame and put the wheels in the bags that came with it. Pipe laggine on the frame for a bit of added protection.
The bike alone weighs 37lbs so it would be a strong baggage handler that managed to launch it anywhere. There was a slight tear in the out fabric when it arrived at Geneva and it arrived back in Glasgow with no further damage.
I've had a CRC bag totally disintegrate on me.
I've got the cheapi crc bag and it's ok, but not great. The evoc looks the best option at the moment. Pricey mind.
Edit: the crc bag is unstable so tiPs over easily. The base isn't that strong and so it bends, meaning you end up dragging it rather than wheeling it. I believe they Ca'n be improved by putting a cardboard bike box inside, but it's a bit of a faff. Mine has survived a couple of easyjet flights without any bother though.
You can borrow mine if you want.
I have a CRC bag and have flown with it several times without any issue whatsoever (even long haul to San Francisco). No cardboard box inside either, but it was a well bubble wrapped bike (with pipe insulation on all tubes/stays etc.).
The balance thing is odd, I worked out that by having the forks nearest the carry handle sorted the balance thing out completely?
I will be using mine again in 3 weeks to head to the USA for the umpteenth time and not worried about the bike at all, based on previous experience of the bag!
I have one of these:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7273
It has flown every year for the last 8 years and only now has some minor tearing on the bottom from it being dragged around the airport (probably by myself) it's a great, bit of additional cardboard in for support along with some pipe lagging and it's fab. Never had any problems.
geoffj - that's a very kind offer... where abouts are you based?
M-C - that's discontinued 🙁
Does sound like the EVOC is a bit unnecessary all in all.
Just came back from Morzine with 4 bikes. I got a cardboard bikebox and made some wheels for it by making an mdf corner piece with two salvaged caster wheels i'd made a little axle for from 6mm rod, and taped it well to the corner of the box cutting relief sections out.
A bit 'Heath Robinson' but worked great.
Last year I had a cardboard bike box which I found it a complete PITA; it was difficult to lug around the airport and I had to practically rebuild the bike on the other side.
The Evoc was less stressful in the airport and I only had to remove the rear mech, pedals and bars.
Only problem with the Evoc is the weight; this year we flew Easyjet were you get 32kg but the last year was Jet2 and you only get 25kg!! My bike and bag weigh 30kg
Our group of 9 haven't had much luck with the cheaper bike bags and all use cardboard boxes (Been away the last 8 summers).
I found the Evoc a more pleasurable experience.
When I was going away earlier this year I too had a similar dilemma. The EVOC did seem a little pricey so I started to shop around. There wasn't too much come and go with the prices so I then started to look on eBay and Gumtree. Low and behold there was a guy selling a Polaris Bike Pod, which was the other case i was looking at and a hard case (like the DHB one but unbranded.) After a bit of haggling I ended up getting both for £150!
I'd imagine there'll be a few out there on these types of sites as more often than not they're bought for a single use then found to take up too much room in the house to be bothered keeping them.
Just thought I'd also mention that a couple of the other guests had the EVOC and I have to say it did look a very good bit of kit. Worth the premium? I'm not sure. If I find a second hand one I'd buy it but don't think I could justify the cost. I saw loads of bikes getting carried that holiday most of which were in the CRC bags, no one I spoke to suffered any damage.
I bought a Neil Pryde bag some years ago and it's survived baggage handlers without damage to it or bike on - at least 12 flying trips + 100s of times thrown in the back of a van or car
geoffj - that's a very kind offer... where abouts are you based?
Perth, but depending on when you are going, I could get it to Kendal if that was any use.