Flying w/ a bike: Thule Roundtrip review + tips & tricks

[@chrisjustincase]

Nice. I’d add: - if you’re running Di2, disconnect the wires from your derailleur(s) and battery in the seatpost, if necessary. Be sure to tape the wires coming out of the seat tube to your frame so they don’t fall into the abyss. - I actually have an extra tool set (5Nm pre-set torque wrench, 8mm Allen, etc. that I keep packed in the bike bag so I never forget it. I travel a lot…) - throw an extra rag or two in the box because you can’t have enough rags. - I’m curious why you remove the chain? I remove my derailleur and wrap it and the chain with some rags and padding and secure it to the chain stay. - once you have your packing/unpacking dialed, make a step by step list of the order in which you do things (unless you can remember it). Consistent build and rebuild yields efficiency and lessens the chances of forgetting steps. - hardshell case for the win. But I do agree that a soft shell is slightly more convenient if space is limited at the destination

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

I have often done the derailleur + chain in padding and zip tied to the chainstay. But taking them both off is just cleaner and gives you more options and less chance of scuffs. Hard shells are safer, 100%.

[@theantichrome9842]

I worked for an airline in my youth. I loaded lots of baggage. I can not imagine putting my bike in a case that isn't hardshelled and rigid.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

😁

[@Joe_Sa_3rd]

Great video... I use this same bag and love it. One other tip I always do is cut a peace of PVC pipe to the exact width of your my rear hub. I then use this pipe in place and thru axle of the rear wheel to add support to the stays just incase something at the airport unexpectedly heavy get placed on the rear side of the bike bag.

[@nickcarolan2805]

Nice one Ben. Great detail on how to utilise space when packing a bike 👍🇮🇪

[@daniels.2720]

Yeah Ben > Thanks

[@ljhoule3394]

Have the same Thule round trip case, love it!! Over a dozen round trips between Alaska and the Lower 48, never any damage. A great case but also I think Alaska Air, at least out of Anchorage, takes special care with bike bags. I have watched them carefully load from the terminal windows. Years ago I did go to the AK Air in Anchorage, and the Thule was the bag they recommended. Yep, enjoy the ride!!

[@elitebicycleracers]

I love that you took the time to make a detailed and thorough review. The unfortunate side effect for me is this "travel with my bike" idea is looking extremely complicated when seeing all this padding, having to remove major parts like derailleurs and rotors and cages, in addition to what I expected (the wheels and bars), packing heavy metal wrenches, etc.

[@JEstr357]

Great video, will be using these tips when I travel again. One thing that I learned with drop bars, to avoid faffing around and finding your position, I put painter's tape on the edge of the stem clamp on both sides then on the stem face plate itself and draw a big letter "H". Once you take it off and re-assemble it, you just have to line up the "H", then you'll be at in your perfect position or maybe a mm or 2 off.

[@paddlestandingup]

The dots on the bar and stem is a great idea.

[@casparwhittey]

nice tip on the bottles in cages. always did the same but left them on the frame - think I'll follow your lead on that one

[@mikedee6316]

taking off rotors is the pro tip I came here for!

[@cmtongier1]

Good one Mr Delaney. I think TSA emptied your Skratch. “Suspicious powder” 😂

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

😂

[@jonathanzappala]

I own the same case, I bought it on Craigslist, never used. It’s served me well.

[@englundt]

The slats on the sides of the case are for the tripod legs? Now you tell me! Ha!! Great video.

[@rafaeltorres1586]

Great video!! I am looking in getting the mtb version in order to fit any of my bikes.

[@pandatactical4530]

Looking forward to your opinion of the Lauf Seigla. Road the wireless race model at the Unbound 100 and it was great. That is except for the scratches on the inside of the chain stays and front forks. :)

[@njm3211]

Pack a couple pair of latex gloves too.

[@compassionsix]

Was debating weather to fly or take an Amtrak. Clearly, the train is the choice vs. preparing my bike for battle.

[@JimmyDozer]

If the main reason to avoid a hard case is the convenience of putting the empty soft-case bag under a hotel bed... You can't convince me that a near total disassembly, tediously wrap each part and then re-assemble our bikes is worth that. That looked awful. Love this video because you've now convinced me to go hard, bruh.

[@andrewmcalister3462]

If there are a bunch of you sharing a rental car, or if cycling is only part of your trip, and you are going to be doing a bunch of transiting, then that is another reason to prefer smaller cases. But your point that this degree of disassembly is a total faff is well made. 👍

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

I am not trying to convince you to use a Thule or a soft case at all! That was just my review of the case I have been using.

[@mikenight171]

i wish you released this before i flew with the rotors on a couple weeks ago :D

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Doh!

[@tariqkamil7853]

Thanks for this

[@LogicalQ]

Your speech patterns remind me of Mitch Hedberg… makes the videos unintentionally funny :-)

[@Speedy.V]

A budget padding material can be pool noodles that you cut in half.

[@kodiakrider7612]

Yes, the Skratch zip closure is not that good. Mine open all the time.

[@davidflaherty8592]

What is the typical cost to ship? Is one airline cheaper or bike friendly? Great video. Thanks.

[@richardwilliams4730]

How about tubeless setup? Have you had any issues with sealant explosions? How much air do you leave in them?

[@JosephDowski]

Yikes! Seeing that hole in the Atheos frame was traumatizing!! Turning 60 next week and looking to pick up a bike case so I can begin traveling to events outside the northeast. Is there a hardshell version of the Thule Roundtrip case, or other bike cases you can recommend? Love the stand that the Thule has. Love your content Ben!! :)

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

There is a hardhell Thule Roundtrip: alnk.to/c05TaLj Thing is, that bad boy is 39 pounds. So if your airline has a 50lb limit, you may be looking at paying an extra charge. Some folks like this SciCon hardshell, which is 25 pounds: alnk.to/eOK0RRv

[@JosephDowski]

@TheRidewithBenDelaney Thanks Ben!! Will be ordering the Thule Roundtrip for all the reasons you detailed here. Details on that small torque wrench??

[@JosephDowski]

Whoops! Nevermind... Just found the link in the description. :)

[@ChrisCorless]

Amazing Ben, I was just hoping you would do something like this as I prep for gravel world's. Have traveled with a MTB domestically but never with the gravel bike internationally. Curious, have seen some people turn the fork 180 degrees, presumably to make it easier to have a handle bar packed on the side. Have you travelled with a Checkpoint? Any nuances if you have?

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Cool, have fun and good luck. I've only traveled with a Checkpoint in the back of my car. Much easier. :-) But since it has a normal stem and bar, you have options for disassembly and packing. Just make sure your bag has room for the seatmast!

[@ChrisCorless]

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney Awesome thank you Ben for sharing your experience. Thought it might be a little complicated with the semi integrated cables. Keep up the great work. You have a fantastic channel and enjoy your hosting on Fastcat.

[@SangTTran10111213]

What is brand name of the external/internal rotor tool you are using? Great video and tips. Thank you.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

feedbacksports.com/collections/bike-tools-and-tool-kits/products/bottom-bracket-lockring-tool?variant=44723966935338

[@pinoybikernorcal4406]

How did you weigh your bike with the case? When I travel, I can only fit my shoes/helmet with the bike, and it's already close to 50 lbs using a soft EVOC traveler case. Gotta remind the folks that CO2 cartridges are a no-no on airline luggage, hence the bike tire pump.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

I put it on a bathroom scale. I've snuck cartridges through the last few flights. Shhhhhhh......

[@changrenyong7616]

Hi Ben, figure you're the best person to ask about flying with a gravel bike. Have you ever flown with a gravel bike in the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 (road)? As you might have known, the Aerocomfort is designed without the need to remove the handlebar. But that kinda presents a problem for me as the Zipp Service course SL-70 bar on my 2024 Stigmata measures 55-cm wide (from drop to drop) and it's 5cm wider than the width of the bag. That means the bar will be sticking out the side of the bag. Should I just remove the bar and hang it over the top tube? Thanks!

[@changrenyong7616]

I contacted Scion and was told the 55-cm bar is too wide for the Scicon Aerocomfort. The Scion tech support thought my suggestion on removing the bar and hanging it on the top tube is doable, and he suggested putting a dummy bar on the bike to allow the bag to keep its shape.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

I have an Aerocomfort that I've used for my Enve road bike. It makes me a little nervous since there is no real protection for the bars. On one trip the levers got banged hard enough that the clamp dug into the carbon bar a little bit. Per your question, yes, remove the handlebar and secure it to the top tube. It takes a little trial and error to figure out the best fit. Sometimes you can hook one drop through the fork, and the other around the top tube. Good luck!

[@changrenyong7616]

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney Thanks for the reply! I agree with you that Aerocomfort using the bar/shifters to provide some structural support for the bag is not a good design. That's why my teammate came with up a design using PVC pipes and fittings to provide lateral support for the shifters to prevent the shifters from being pushed inward when the baggage handlers put something heavy on the Aerocomfort. KZbin won't let me put a link in the comment so I'll just have to describe the design: Two elbow PVC fitting connected to form an inverted U shape. One end of the inverted U is attached to a Tee fitting. The main length of the support is a PVC pipe. The same two elbows and T is repeated on the other end of the PVC pipe so they form this shape (just imagine it's inverted): U----------U

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

@@changrenyong7616 Ah ha! Super cool! Weird that you can't put a link in. Do the U shapes wrap around the outside of the drops? Like you slide that PVC structure on from the front of the bike?

[@changrenyong7616]

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney KZbin automatically deletes comments with any external URL (I haven't tried a KZbin URL yet). The U shape wraps around the hood. I'll see if I can tag you in my instagram with images of the original and updated design.

[@leealexand3r]

Any chance youve tried to fit two wheelsets in this bag for a trip?

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

I have not tried but I can't imagine they would fit. Or if they fit, hubs would be bulging out of the sides and into the frame.

[@socalrider909]

Do you believe this case would be able to handle a 60cm road bike??

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Yeah, I believe so.

[@joneskai1]

Will these fit integrated handlebars? I know you mentioned its difficult but I’m looking at this bag for my canyon endurace and not sure if the bars will cause me an issue! Thanks!

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

It depends on how much slack you can get when you remove the bars. Most of the time there isn't enough, unless you also disconnect the calipers from the fork and the rear stay. SciCon makes a case where you can keep the bars on.

[@Omnis2]

Is that AXS? Probably harder to travel with mechanical.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

It is, and it is definitely the easiest group to travel with. Mechanical bikes I leave the cable connected and secure the RD between the stays.

[@saskhiker3935]

I am fairly new to gravel cycling. I bought my bike 2 years ago. The nearest bike shop is a 2 hr drive away. I have used KZbin to learn the most basic bike repair. However I am terrified to take my bike apart like thr derailer. My fear is I won't be able to put it all back together again. Would love to take a bike maintenance course. If anyone has one that they can recommend that is online, I'd appreciate it.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Hmmm, I don't know offhand but I will respond here if I find one!

[@Speedy.V]

Why not use the bike box that the bike came in? Or go to your local bike shop to get a bike box.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

That is certainly a viable option! When I travel, I am usually taking public transportation on at least one end of the trip, so having a box that rolls is clutch.

[@Speedy.V]

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney I believe another KZbinr (Zach Gallardo {he's a fixed gear rider}) that uses a bike box within a bigger ebike box to travel to Taiwan has had a lot of success using that method.

[@ABETITS]

Because a cardboard bike box doesn't transport easily! And it's way bigger than this Thule case. Putting this Thule case (which I have one as well) in out of a car, pulling through a parking lot, loading in a shuttle, pulling through an airport is WAY easier and more convenient than trying to do all that with a cardboard bike box. And it won't fit in a standard car like the Thule case.

[@neilashton9459]

Also a cardboard bike box will exceed many airlines size limits (H,W,L) and they will charge extra fees or even refuse to accept.

[@alexmurdock9101]

Have you ever been charged the oversized fee?

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Nope

[@pantster9855]

Get a decent bike box and you don’t need to take the rotors off (speaking as someone who takes 100 flights/year with my bike)

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

100 flights a year?!!! Are you a pilot or a pro rider? Or both? 😁

[@pantster9855]

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney got it the first time. Definitely the former not the latter

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

@@pantster9855 Which bike box do you use? And can you get it under 50lbs? The rest of us have to pay for our flights and luggage, you know.... 😄 Cheers.

[@pantster9855]

@@TheRidewithBenDelaney I have gone through most boxes available over the years, and worked out which work and which dont (Scicon Evolution TSA hard case for example - LOVELY design, terrible implementation, the most fragile box I've ever used!) I use a box called a Shokbox,m which is a bit bigger, and not (yet) designed to work with integrated bars but it's indestructible - 4 years and 400+ flights and still going strong

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

That is a heck of an endorsement. I haven’t heard of that; will check it out.

[@rayekhoury]

TSA 😖🤬

[@linesided]

Remove rotors? wah hah hah hah. That's funny. Just wrap a little cloth round them so they don't rub on anything. Bonus you have a rag on the other end to clean your hands (or bike) with.

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Not that funny when you have to replace an Ice Tech rotor when it gets bent. 😁

[@Speedy.V]

​@@TheRidewithBenDelaneyYou bend it back ?

[@TheRidewithBenDelaney]

Steel rotors, yes. Ice Tech, no; those have an aluminum core. And even with steel, I’d rather spend three or four minutes removing and reinstalling when traveling, then trying a rotor in a hotel room the night before a race Know what I mean?

[@cmtongier1]

Also arrived in big Italy bike trip with bent rotors. Wish I had watched this first.

[@davidvonslingshot]

fun fact - if paying to attend an event, put your helmet and shoes in your carry on. Find a way. With airline baggage losses these days - you can rent a bike…. scrambling for a helmet and especially shoes….. not fun.

[@galenkehler]

Also include your pedals and saddle in your carry-on

[@oldanslo]

@@galenkehler Pros will wear their helmet, shoes, and chamois on the flight to make sure they arrive.