Advice Needed: Bike Case for Air Travel

[ltierstein]

My Bike Friday New World Tourist has so many air miles on it that it wore out its original Samsonite suitcase and I had to get a new one. If you want a bike you can tour and do long distance riding on, you’re going to pay more $$ than for, say, the least expensive Brompton, but it more than pays for itself if you want to take it with you on a lot of planes. (Or trains; I can take the Bike Friday, folded up, on Amtrak without having to find one of the rare trains with roll-on bike access and paying the extra $20.) I’ve never had problems with the airlines taking the suitcase as standard checked luggage. Only problem was when I tried to shove my Kryptonite lock in there and the suitcase weighed more than 50 pounds — ended up carrying the lock in my carry-on. Given your size, you should have not trouble fitting it into the suitcase. My bike might fit you, so if you’d like, you can come over and try it out.

[Kitty]

Thanks guys! This has been some great advice. The more I’ve been thinking about it, a folder is really the N+1 that I need. I’m frequently traveling and agonizing over whether there will be a bike for me on the other end. This would help solve both problems.

The challenge I need to sort out is whether I’m in a position to “invest” (ie: spend more than $500) or just need something that will fit my specs (small enough to sneak into Brazil in a suitcase) and call it a day. With this particular move we’re hitting a number of unusual expenses (like spare Rx glasses) that are eating into my bike budget. Knowing that there are places in town I can get something used is a relief!

@n18 182920 wrote:

Typing “bike shop” in Google Maps shows more than 15 bike shops. Trek has a dealer there.

Also, Sao Paulo seems to have gotten their own docked and dockless bike sharing service earlier this year. I am not sure if it’s fully implemented, but you can download the app(Apple/Google) to find out:

Your point is well taken. I actually noted when I received my housing assignment that there are a bunch of shops near our new place. However, much like the shipping issues, we run directly into the challenges of the most closed non-communist country in the world: the costs on anything imported are exorbitant.
We’re talking like 70%+ of the cost of the bike:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]18596[/ATTACH]

I just did a one-to-one comparison of the new 2019 Trek FX2 (not a beater, but what I had data for) at Trek Clarendon and the Trek Store in São Paulo. In Clarendon: $600, in SP: $932, pre-sales tax.(Today’s exchange rate) As a result, even cheap used-Huffies are going for the equivalent of about $300. That’s largely what’s spurring my desire to resolve this before I take off.

That said, I’m super glad to hear that there are more sharing options as a last-last resort. When I got the assignment the dockless hadn’t launched yet and neither of the non-integrated docked systems actually bridged the gap between where I’ll live and where I’ll work. It’s a relief to know there’s light at the end of the tunnel regardless.

[VA2DC]

@Kitty 182948 wrote:

However, much like the shipping issues, we run directly into the challenges of the most closed non-communist country in the world: the costs on anything imported are exorbitant.

While I’m not sure that I would agree with the first part of your statement, Brazil is plenty protectionist, so your conclusion about imports definitely holds. Have you looked into the domestic bikes, Caloi? You should be able to find a used one at quite a bit less than anything imported.

Regardless of what you do, as I noted in your other thread on SP, theft is rampant there. Maybe the folding bike is a good solution, so you don’t have to leave it locked up on the street.

[ImaCynic]

Bike thieves in Brazil? Check out this video:

https://youtu.be/FuQBtVoSBCU

[phog]

When my son went to college in Chicago, a folding Dahon (poor man’s Brompton) traveled free on Southwest; with the seat and pedals removed/ enclosed in package, it squeaked in under the size for a checked bag. I simply wrapped it with a bit of mover’s wrap.
There isn’t a place on this planet that doesn’t have bicycles. I’d just buy a cheap used bike at your destination, and give it away to someone deserving when you depart. If it isn’t up to the standards of the bike at home, that’s part of the travel experience. Enjoy the the Harrison Bergeron effect of riding a crap bike; just don’t let on to the Handicapper General what you’re up to (Kurt Vonnegut fans know what I’m talking about). If I had an exotic, god-status bike It would surely get damaged in transit or stolen upon arrival.

[Boomer Cycles]

“The challenge I need to sort out is whether I’m in a position to “invest” (ie: spend more than $500) or just need something that will fit my specs (small enough to sneak into Brazil in a suitcase) and call it a day.”

I found my Bike Friday Pocket Companion for $300 on Craigslist in Arlington VA, within walking distance of the East Falls Church metro station

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