scicon road bike travel bag review

Scicon AeroComfort 3.0 TSA review: Travel made easy

No disassembly is required but will it keep your bike safe on a plane.

Cyclingnews Verdict

It seems prudent to take the rear derailleur off if you have thru-axles, but otherwise, you really don’t need to disassemble the bike and I’ve seen it survive countless trips with no issues. Just keep an eye on what your ground transportation options are and flared gravel bars aren’t ideal.

No disassembly required

Instructions are printed on the bag

Accessories bag stays attached to limit movement

Options for shouldering it if needed

Incredibly smooth wheels

Stores easily

Metal derailleur cage isn’t useable with a thru axle

Large overall size, so difficult to fit in cars or on trains

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I'm writing this review in the middle of winter. It's cold, it's wet, it's grey, and it's generally rather miserable. There's nothing I'd rather do than get outside on my bike in decent weather. Unfortunately, if I want to do that, the only option is going to involve an aeroplane. Flying with a bike isn't that big of a deal provided you've got a quality case, but as always, the question is which one? 

To help find the right protection for your bike on an aeroplane, we've got an expansive list of the best bike travel cases . In that list, there are hardshell options and softshell options and one thing you might notice is that many of the cases require disassembly. If that doesn't sound like your idea of a good time, there are a few that promise to keep your bike almost entirely assembled and fully intact. One of those is the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 road bike travel bag, which like its closest competitor, the Evoc Road Bike Bag Pro , only asks that you remove your wheels and pedals. 

The Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 road bike travel bag promises easy protection without disassembly and it’s popular. I gave it a try after getting a tip from someone who travels with bikes regularly but that wasn't the first or only time I saw it. If I find myself with a group of cyclists who flew somewhere, there's usually more than one person using it. Given the suggestion and popularity, it was time for me to give it a proper try. If you like the idea of travelling without taking your bike apart, keep reading to see what's good, and what's not about the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 road bike travel bag.

Design and aesthetics 

The backbone of the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 road bike travel bag is the base of the bag. From the outside, you'll notice there are rigid plastic pieces at the front and back. These plates sit under the four wheels that rotate 360 degrees. They also cap off the edges of a rectangular section that makes up the base. Like the rest of the Scicon bag, it's soft with dense padding and covered in an extra-durable vinyl outer. 

The real structure of the design is on the inside though. Taking care of your bike is a pair of square metal tubes that sit a little wider than the widest part of your cranks. This little frame is what protects your bike and provides stability for the rest of the bag. At the rear, the two bars connect into a thick and rigid bit of plastic that arches upward before ending in with a receiver. In the accessories provided, there are two pieces of metal in the shape of a T. One fits a quick release and the other a thru-axle. Both attach to the base with a screw and they both have a bit of rubber where the chain sits once you've removed the wheel. 

At the other end of the metal bars, you'll find more of the same plastic. This time it's at the base and there is a central spine where you can balance the centre of the frame under the bottom bracket white packing. The design of this piece makes it look like a good place to rest tools but, with no tools needed, that isn’t likely to see a lot of use. When the bike is fully attached to the frame of the bag, the bottom bracket shell doesn’t touch the base at all. 

At the front of the spine is another receiver hole for your front axle. This time there is another length of square metal bar. Once you slide the bar into the plastic, you can move it fore and aft to match the wheelbase of your bike before tightening it down. 

With your bike locked down into the frame at the bottom, that's the end of the hard part. From there you employ a series of straps and pads to hold the bike tightly against the bottom frame and keep it from moving around. The wheels go on either side to help provide structure to the upper part of the bag but the design uses a heavy nylon outer with dense padding around 13mm thick to also protect the bike from impacts. At the front, there's an extra strip of padding that you can move so that it sits over each of your drop bar controls. There's also a spot of hard plastic over where the derailleur sits as well as in the centre of each wheel. What's more, there is a metal cage that provides protection for the derailleur, howver it only attaches with a quick release so those with thru-axles won't be able to take advantage of this feature. 

Performance

Packing a bike into the Scicon AeroComfort 3.0 TSA is simple. The whole process takes maybe 15 minutes, perhaps as much as 30 minutes when you are first figuring it out. The hardest part is that the outer fabric shell doesn't open enough at the ends. This means it's tough to get the piece that holds the fork positioned in the receiver hole and to slide it around once you do manage to get it in. At the other end, it's really hard to get the bag around the derailleur. Once you manage those two minor struggles, all you have to do is position the straps and clip them in. 

Everything in the upper section of the bag is about holding the bike to the lower frame. At the front, you wrap a pad around each side of the bars on the flats and attach a strap with a buckle over the top. At the rear of the bike, there is a saddle cover with loops for the strap to go through. The last strap goes over the top tube and there is another pad to protect the frame. The only trick with the centre strap is that it also pulls the sides of the case closed, so remember to get the wheels in the wheel bags first. 

With all the straps in position you just need to zip the bag closed. It's not terribly hard but getting the front positioned around the drops and controls might take a bit of finesse. You might also find yourself repositioning the padding to protect the levers but none of it's tough. 

At this point, you are ready to head to the airport, however, I wouldn't head out the door until I removed the derailleur. 

If you recall above how I said it was tough to get the case over the derailleur, that's because there's not a lot of spare room in that area. On the outside, there is hard plastic, plus there is padding, so it's unlikely the actual derailleur is going to get damaged. It seems likely the hanger could get bent though, so it's not a risk I would ordinarily take, was I not testing it for a review.  

Except, somehow bikes seem to survive in this bag. I personally used it with gravel bars that I think are too wide at the drops and suffered no consequences. I've also loaned the bag out to others who also used it without removing the derailleur and suffered no consequences. What you really want to know is if your bike is going to remain safe despite staying assembled and the answer is yes. I've had positive personal experiences to draw from, but perhaps more tellingly, the last time I flew with a bike there were three other people there with Scicon AeroComfort 3.0 TSA bags and none of us had any issues. 

The negatives I listed seem to be more theoretical than real life. If I was going to leave the derailleur attached to the bike, I'd want to have the metal cage usable. It's not usable with thru-axles so I prefer to take it off. Others don't though and it seems to work fine. 

The story about difficulty with ground transportation is somewhat similar. I have managed to get the Topeak PakGo X into the back of a regular sedan and I doubt that would work with the Scicon. That said, I called for Lyft XL each time I used it and I managed just fine. The strap for your shoulder combined with the low (17.1 kg packed with a gravel bike) weight and excellent wheels actually makes it more flexible in an airport than the Topeak. 

There is another aspect to consider as well. The Scicon AeroComfort 3.0 TSA Bike Travel Bag has been out for a long time. During that time on market, the price has dropped quite a bit. These days it's looking like a really good bargain and it usually undercuts its main competitor, the Evoc Road Bike Bag Pro . That bag offers a similar no-tools experience but with a little more protection thanks to its hard upper shell. However it's a much larger bag to store when not in use, and is a little more difficult to manoeuvre than the Scicon. 

Tech Specs: Scicon AeroComfort 3.0 TSA Bike Travel Bag

• Price: £447 / $569.40 / €509,40 / AU$779.4
• Compatibility: QR skewer or 12 mm x 100 mm thru axle (Road bike disc)
• Rear: QR skewer or 12mm thru axles
• Size: 42.9 x 40.5 x 19.6in
• Material: SciCon D-Tex860 fabric
• Weight: 17.6 lb (8kg) claimed weight (measured at 17.1kg with packed bike)

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Josh hails from the Pacific Northwest of the United States but would prefer riding through the desert than the rain. He will happily talk for hours about the minutiae of cycling tech but also has an understanding that most people just want things to work. He is a road cyclist at heart and doesn't care much if those roads are paved, dirt, or digital. Although he rarely races, if you ask him to ride from sunrise to sunset the answer will be yes. Height: 5'9" Weight: 140 lb. Rides: Salsa Warbird, Cannondale CAAD9, Enve Melee, Look 795 Blade RS, Priority Continuum Onyx

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Most Popular

Best bike bags and boxes for cycling travel 2024

Protect your bike and reduce stress when you travel with one of these best bike bags and boxes

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The quick list

• 1. Best overall
• 2. Easy to use
• 3. Best value
• 4. Most portable
• 5. Most versatile
• 6. Most robust

How we test

Best bike bags and boxes 2024

The list in brief ↴ 1. Best overall 2. Easy to use 3 . Best value 4. Most portable 5. Most versatile 6. Most robust

Advice How we test

Riding new roads and exploring different places bathed in warm sunshine is one of the great joys of cycling, but getting you and your bike there safely can be the most stressful part of a cycling holiday . Some riders choose to hire a bike whilst on holiday, but for others, part of the attraction is the opportunity to ride their familiar bike up famous climbs or through beautiful landscapes - no one wants a week of cycling spoiled by an ill-fitting bike or uncomfortable saddle.

If you decide to fly with your own bike, then you have the choice of using a hard box or a soft bag, each with pros and cons which we will investigate below. If you choose to drive to your destination instead, however, you can read our guides to the best bike racks for cars  and the  best caravan and motorhome bike racks .

Best overall

The AeroComfort's soft exterior houses a metal structure to which you fasten your frame so it's held securely. There is very little disassembly required and as the bag is pretty light there is plenty of potential to pack extra kit inside and still be within your airline's limits.

Read more below

Best for ease of use

As the Evoc Bike Bag is soft, it's light and easy to store when not in use. There is plenty of padding provided to protect your bike when it's in the bag, and the large side opening makes it simple to put the bike in place.

Best value 

Very light and compact, LifeLine's EVA Bike Pod also offers excellent value for money. Its semi-rigid design offers more protection than a soft bag but they are still quite flexible and as it only has two wheels it can be a little awkward to manoeuvre around an airport.

Most portable

Another light option, the Orucase B2 even includes rucksack-style straps which are handy if you have packed very light. There is a fair bit of disassembly required though and it can feel a bit lopsided when wheeling it around.

Best with integrated stand

Thule's RoundTrip Pro XT bike bag uses an internal frame that can also double as a workstand whilst on holiday, which is very handy. It's more of a reinforced bag than a hard case though and as such is quite pricey.

Most robust

One of the heavier boxes available, the VeloVault2 provides very reassuring protection for your bike. Its quality construction and overall sturdiness will ensure that your lightweight carbon frame should emerge unscathed, but there might not be much weight allowance left once this gets on the scales.

Best bike bags and boxes for cycling travel: Our picks

Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 Bike Bag

1. Scicon AeroComfort 3.0 Road Bike Travel Bag

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The AeroComfort 3.0 from Scicon is a firm favorite among the Cycling Weekly tech team. We've flown test bikes all over the world, and we like to use this carry case because it makes travelling by bike easy, hassle-free and incredibly quick. It takes just 15 minutes to pack the bike away, and even less time to put it back together.

How so? The outside is a soft, fabric bag, but inside you'll find a metal structure. You simply remove the wheels, loop your chain over a specially designed T-bar and use your quick releases to stand the bike on the metal frame, so it's immovable inside and thus a lot more secure. It couldn't be easier.

There's no need to remove anything aside from the wheels, the handlebars stay straight and don't need twisting. This does make the front end quite bulky, but we found that the protection is good, with a thick soft fabric, designated pockets for wheels, helmets and shoes, and most importantly the rear derailleur is kept off the ground. 

Read more: Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 Road Bike Travel Bag full review

Evoc bike travel bag

2. Evoc Bike Travel Bike Bag

Whilst hard cases give the ultimate reassurance that your bike is well protected, they also take up a lot of room when out of use, and, they're heavy - limiting your ability to pack kit alongside your bike and stay within airline limits.

Enter soft cases, and this Evoc bike bag is an excellent option. Yes, it offers less protection - but the Cycling Weekly team has used it to transport press bikes on plenty of occasions (NB, we once even used a cardboard box for a personal bike, the theory is that baggage handlers will be more careful!).

This Evoc Bike bag excels in terms of ease of use, too. The side opening makes getting the bike in a cinch, and the handy Velcro makes getting the parts in the right place a piece of cake. The newer model reviewed here now has a reinforced front zip, meaning it should last longer.

Read more: Evoc bike travel bike bag full review

LifeLine EVA Bike Pod

3. LifeLine EVA Bike Pod

Although it's a reasonably compact bike box, the LifeLine Bike Pod will take a smaller-sized bike without too much disassembly. It rolls on two rear wheels, with two front feet to stand on. Quick-release wheels, although not wheels with thru-axles, can be secured to the outside of the case.

Our tester found that the LifeLine Bike Pod is relatively easy to move around, although since you have to lift the front end and the carrying handle doesn't let you wrap your hand through it, longer carries can be tiring. 

The sides of the bag are quite flexible, so it would be advisable to wrap wheels and frame well inside to prevent crushing. We were also concerned about how robust the feet would be and how well the zip would stand repeated use, but overall, the LifeLine Bike Pod is a relatively inexpensive option for the less frequent flyer.

Read more: LifeLine EVA Bike Pod full review

Orucase B2 Bike Travel Case

4. Orucase B2 Bike Travel Case

We've taken the B2 bike case on several domestic and international flights and were left impressed. It sports many welcomed features, including backpack straps and a rollable chassis. Combined with its compact, space-saving size it makes for a sleek, highly portable and trustworthy bag that we think is a great option if space is limited or you'll be traveling on serval modes of transport during your trip.

We did find that it's not the easiest to pack, and required some disassembling of your bike - so you'll need to be confident of putting your bike back together once you've arrived. It's also far from cheap, but in our opinion, it's likely a worthy investment given the ease of portability and the posibbility to save on extra fees due to its smaller size.

Read more: Orucase B2 Bike Travel Case full review

Most versatile

Thule Round Trip Pro XT bike bag

5. Thule RoundTrip Pro XT Bike Bag

The Thule RoundTrip Pro XT falls into the not-quite-a-bike-bag category. It's a softshell but has some structural implants that should keep your bike safe through the worst of it.

However, the bag does have some weak areas and for the price you pay this doesn't induce confidence. But, maybe we're being picky. This is a solid purchase, undoubtedly, and we always add extra bubble wrap around our frames, whatever we're packing them into.

The base, which holds the bike static in the case, can have three legs added, transforming it into a workstand for when you get to your destination - which is a rather 'nice to have' too.

Read more: Thule RoundTrip Pro XT review

Blue Velovault2 bike box

6. VeloVault2 bike box

We really liked the VeloVault2 bike box when we had it in for test. It's big and robust, which is what many cyclists need to achieve peace of mind when flying with a bike.

However, weighing in at 12.5kg means it should sneak under most airline weight controls. The company has sweated the small stuff, too: the clasps are quality, it's easy to close and it rolls well.

VeloVault2 bike box has a new carrying handle, longer wheelbase, improved strut design and it is roof box ready. Oh, and it's now bright blue... other colours are available if that's not to your liking.

Read more: VeloVault2 full review

How do I pack a bike into a bike bag or box?

Packing the bike into the bag or box sometimes takes quite a bit more effort than expected. The process may differ slightly depending on the specific box or bag, but the general process goes something like:

- Remove the pedals - Partially deflate tires and remove the wheels - Remove the seatpost and saddle - Remove the handlebar from the stem or remove the handlebar and stem together from the steerer - Undo rear derailleur (but leave it on the chain) - Secure the frame and components in the box via the manufacturer-approved method - Pack the tools required to rebuild the bike!

There are a few more mechanical adjustments you might make, and if you’re handy with a spanner they shouldn't cause too much grief. For example, you might have to remove the chainset. This will keep it protected en route but it’s worth bearing in mind that you’ll have to reassemble it when you arrive on your hols, so if you're no spanner wizard it might be best to avoid this. It may also mean packing extra tools, which means extra weight to carry around.

Best bike bags vs best bike boxes: which is better?

You might think this is an easy question: it's surely a box, right? However, that's probably before you’ve taken weight into consideration.

A lighter weight bike bag influences two things: how comfortable it is to carry and lug about but also how much of your baggage allowance it eats into - and how much the baggage supplement might be.

The trade off is in the level of protection: a hard flight case like box is going to take the knocks better than a soft bag. That said, soft bike bags will usually protect your bike from the worst of it and they also tend to be cheaper than bike boxes.

There is an in between option. The best bike bags tend to have some more structural inserts inside but retain more of a bag's lightweight nature. Other bike bags can have nifty, in-built storage techniques. For example, some have built-in dropouts that allow you to stand your frame upright and hold it tight.

Do I need to add extra padding to my bike bag?

Regardless of how tough your bag or box might be, you’ll definitely want to pad the important parts inside it. We’d recommend bubble wrap and foam piping. If you’re lucky, your local bike shop might have excess from all the bikes they get sent in. Don't forget to put it around the frame in places where other items in the box might rub against it.

Riding in the mountains

A good bike box or bag has to tread the line between providing the best protection for your bike and yet still being light, easy to carry and simple to pack. These boxes have been used to carry various bikes on multiple flights, being packed and unpacked several times each. They all protected the bikes from any transport damage and none were particularly difficult or awkward to pack but each has its advantages and disadvantages that may clinch the deal for you.

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Simon Smythe is a hugely experienced cycling tech writer, who has been writing for Cycling Weekly since 2003. Until recently he was our senior tech writer. In his cycling career Simon has mostly focused on time trialling with a national medal, a few open wins and his club's 30-mile record in his palmares. These days he spends most of his time testing road bikes, or on a tandem doing the school run with his younger son.

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Scicon Bike Bag Review: Comparing the Aerocomfort 3.0, Aerotech Evolution X TSA & Soft Bike Bag

Mathew Mitchell

• Published on January 2, 2024
• in Cycling Tips

Travelling with a bike can be a hassle, but the right Scicon bike bag can make all the difference. This article reviews three popular Scicon bike bags: the Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag. We’ll compare their features, durability, ease of use, and how well they protect your bike during transit. Whether you’re a professional cyclist travelling for races or a leisure rider taking your bike on vacation , this review will help you understand the pros and cons of each bag and decide which Scicon bike bag best suits your travel needs.

Table of Contents

1. What are the key differences between the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag?

When it comes to transporting your bike, Scicon offers a range of high-quality bike bags. The Aerocomfort 3.0 , the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag are among their most popular products. Each bag has its unique features and benefits, which we will explore in this article.

The Aerocomfort 3.0 is designed for simplicity and comfort. It features a 360-degree rotating wheel system for easy manoeuvrability, and its lightweight design makes it ideal for those who frequently travel with their bikes. The bag also includes a TSA-approved lock for added security.

On the other hand, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA is built for maximum protection. It is made from a hard-shell material that can withstand high impacts, ensuring your bike remains safe during transit. The bag also includes a TSA-approved lock and a set of sturdy wheels for easy transportation.

The Soft Bike Bag , as the name suggests, is a softer and more flexible option. It is designed for cyclists who prefer a lightweight and compact solution for transporting their bikes. The bag is made from a durable material that can resist tears and abrasions, and it includes a set of padded straps for comfortable carrying.

In terms of dimensions, the Aerocomfort 3.0 and the Aerotech Evolution X TSA are slightly larger than the Soft Bike Bag, making them more suitable for larger bikes. However, the Soft Bike Bag’s compact size makes it an excellent choice for smaller bikes or for those who prefer a more portable solution.

2. How does the protection level compare between the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag?

When it comes to protecting your bike, all three Scicon bags offer a high level of protection. However, there are some differences in their design that can affect their protective capabilities.

The Aerocomfort 3.0 is designed with a padded interior that provides a cushioning effect for your bike. It also includes a set of internal straps that secure your bike in place, preventing it from moving around during transit.

The Aerotech Evolution X TSA, on the other hand, features a hard-shell exterior that provides superior impact protection. Inside the bag, there are foam pads that protect your bike from scratches and dents. The bag also includes internal straps for securing your bike.

The Soft Bike Bag is made from a durable material that can resist tears and abrasions. Inside the bag, there is a padded compartment for your bike, and the bag includes internal straps for securing your bike. However, it does not offer as much impact protection as the other two bags.

In conclusion, while all three bags offer a high level of protection, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA provides the highest level of impact protection, making it the best choice for those who frequently travel with their bikes.

3. How easy is it to transport a bike with the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag?

Transporting a bike can be a challenging task, especially if you’re travelling long distances. However, with the right bike bag, this task can become much easier. In this section, we will compare the transportability of the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag.

The Aerocomfort 3.0 is designed for easy transportation. It features a 360-degree rotating wheel system that allows you to manoeuvre the bag with ease. The bag also includes a set of padded handles for comfortable carrying.

The Aerotech Evolution X TSA also includes a set of sturdy wheels for easy transportation. However, due to its hard-shell design, it is slightly heavier than the Aerocomfort 3.0, which may make it more challenging to carry.

The Soft Bike Bag is the lightest of the three bags, making it the most portable option. It includes a set of padded straps for comfortable carrying, and its compact size makes it easy to store in the boot of a car or in the overhead compartment of a plane.

In conclusion, while all three bags are designed for easy transportation, the Aerocomfort 3.0 offers the best combination of manoeuvrability and comfort, making it the best choice for those who frequently travel with their bikes.

4. What are the storage capabilities of the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag?

When travelling with your bike, having enough storage space for your gear is crucial. In this section, we will compare the storage capabilities of the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag.

The Aerocomfort 3.0 includes a set of internal pockets for storing your gear. The bag also includes a separate compartment for your bike, ensuring it remains safe and secure during transit.

The Aerotech Evolution X TSA also includes a set of internal pockets for storing your gear. However, due to its hard-shell design, it offers less flexibility in terms of storage space compared to the Aerocomfort 3.0.

The Soft Bike Bag, on the other hand, offers the most flexibility in terms of storage space. Its soft-shell design allows you to easily adjust the bag’s size to fit your gear. The bag also includes a set of internal pockets for organising your gear.

In conclusion, while all three bags offer ample storage space for your gear, the Soft Bike Bag offers the most flexibility, making it the best choice for those who need to carry a lot of gear.

5. How does the price compare between the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag?

Price is often a significant factor when choosing a bike bag. In this section, we will compare the prices of the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag.

The Aerocomfort 3.0 is the most affordable option among the three bags. Its combination of high-quality materials and features make it a great value for money.

The Aerotech Evolution X TSA, on the other hand, is the most expensive option. Its hard-shell design and superior protection level justify its higher price tag.

The Soft Bike Bag is priced in the middle of the range. Its combination of lightweight design and ample storage space make it a great value for money.

In conclusion, while all three bags offer great value for money, the Aerocomfort 3.0 offers the best combination of price and features, making it the best choice for those on a budget.

6. How durable are the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag?

Durability is a crucial factor when choosing a bike bag, especially if you frequently travel with your bike. In this section, we will compare the durability of the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag.

The Aerocomfort 3.0 is made from high-quality materials that can withstand the rigours of travel. Its sturdy construction and reinforced corners ensure it can last for many years.

The Aerotech Evolution X TSA, on the other hand, is built for maximum durability. Its hard-shell design can withstand high impacts, and its high-quality materials ensure it can last for many years.

The Soft Bike Bag is made from a durable material that can resist tears and abrasions. However, due to its soft-shell design, it may not be as durable as the other two bags and might not survive on regular flights but instead is probably better suited to train or car travel.

In conclusion, while all three bags are highly durable, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA offers the highest level of durability, making it the best choice for those who frequently travel with their bikes.

7. How easy is it to pack a bike in the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag?

Packing a bike can be a challenging task, especially if you’re not familiar with the process. However, with the right bike bag, this task can become much easier. In this section, we will compare the ease of packing a bike in the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag.

The Aerocomfort 3.0 is designed for easy packing. It includes a set of internal straps that secure your bike in place, and its wide opening allows you to easily insert and remove your bike.

The Aerotech Evolution X TSA also includes a set of internal straps for securing your bike. However, due to its hard-shell design, it may be more challenging to insert and remove your bike.

The Soft Bike Bag, on the other hand, offers the easiest packing process. Its soft-shell design allows you to easily insert and remove your bike, and its internal straps secure your bike in place.

In conclusion, while all three bags offer easy packing, the Soft Bike Bag offers the easiest packing process, making it the best choice for those who are new to travelling with their bikes.

8. What are the weight limits of the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag?

When travelling with your bike, it’s important to consider the weight limits of your bike bag. In this section, we will compare the weight limits of the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag.

The Aerocomfort 3.0 has a weight limit of 32kg, making it suitable for most road and mountain bikes. Its sturdy construction ensures it can handle the weight of your bike without any issues.

The Aerotech Evolution X TSA, on the other hand, has a weight limit of 35kg. Its hard-shell design and sturdy construction ensure it can handle the weight of your bike without any issues.

The Soft Bike Bag has a weight limit of 25kg. Its lightweight design makes it suitable for lighter bikes, but it may not be suitable for heavier bikes.

In conclusion, while all three bags can handle the weight of most bikes, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA offers the highest weight limit, making it the best choice for those with heavier bikes.

9. How do the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag compare in terms of design and aesthetics?

Design and aesthetics are often a personal preference, but they can also play a role in your decision-making process. In this section, we will compare the design and aesthetics of the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag.

The Aerocomfort 3.0 features a sleek and modern design. Its black and red colour scheme gives it a sporty look, and its streamlined shape adds to its aesthetic appeal.

The Aerotech Evolution X TSA, on the other hand, features a more rugged and robust design. Its hard-shell exterior gives it a professional look, and its silver colour scheme adds to its aesthetic appeal.

The Soft Bike Bag features a simple and minimalist design. Its black colour scheme gives it a classic look, and its compact shape adds to its aesthetic appeal.

In conclusion, while all three bags offer attractive designs, the Aerocomfort 3.0 offers the most modern and sporty design, making it the best choice for those who value aesthetics.

10. What are the customer reviews saying about the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag?

Customer reviews can provide valuable insights into the performance and quality of a product. In this section, we will discuss what customers are saying about the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0, the Aerotech Evolution X TSA, and the Soft Bike Bag.

The Aerocomfort 3.0 has received positive reviews for its ease of use, high-quality materials, and excellent protection level. Customers have praised its lightweight design and easy manoeuvrability, making it a popular choice among frequent travellers.

The Aerotech Evolution X TSA has also received positive reviews for its superior protection level and durable construction. However, some customers have noted that it is slightly heavier than other bike bags, which may make it less suitable for those who prefer a lightweight solution.

The Soft Bike Bag has received mixed reviews. While some customers have praised its lightweight design and easy packing process, others have noted that it does not offer as much protection as the other two bags.

In conclusion, while all three bags have received positive reviews, the Aerocomfort 3.0 and the Aerotech Evolution X TSA have received the most praise for their high-quality materials and excellent protection levels.

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Life in the saddle.

by Tim Wiggins

Review – Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 TSA Road Bike Bag

Thru-Axle Compatibility

Added Protection

New Rolling Chassis Design

How to Pack the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 Bike Bag

• Remove the wheels from the bike frame and fit these into the padded pockets on either side of the bag
• Attach the bike frame to the bag frame using the appropriate axles. Place the chain over the rear bar of the suspension frame and put it in the biggest chainring on the front. Use the rear derailleur protector
• Add the padding strips to the handlebar, top tube and saddle
• Strap the bike into the bag with the four straps: over the handlebar sides, saddle and top tube
• Zip up the bag, and lock it with the provided TSA lock

Hi, how did you bodge your 2.0 to fit thru axle? Have similar bag and looking at buying new bike but don't want to splash out on new bag :)

Hi! I effectively cable tied the axle (fitted to the fork) to the strut on the bag. Lots of cable ties, lots of tape. It wasn’t neat, but it worked. A better bet would have been to strap a section of the right sized pipe to the strut, and then put the axle through that.

Hi Tim, can the 2.0 be used with QR disc or is the rear dropout too wide? Scicon rather unhelpfully insisted all disc equipped bikes were thru axle, and I couldn’t have QR and discs, at which point I gave up talking to them!

Hi Peter, yes you can use it for both QR and Thru axles

hi Tim, I've got the same bag and have a hard time getting the QR adapters out to fit my thru axle bike. Could you let me know how to do that?

I successfully grabbed the adapter and slid it out with a needle nose pliers

Is it right that you can take it on a flight without removing the pedals and handlebars? Both BA and Easyjet say take off the pedals and have the bar flush with the frame. Which would make the bags benefits pointless. But if it is true it would be just brilliant!! Thanks, Jo

Hi Jo, Yes you can fly with this bag without removing the pedals, however if it is BA or EasyJet and the bike is damaged in transit and you haven't removed the pedals, then they might use it against you in a possible claim for damage costs.

I've thought about and I think there's to much risk to the shifters for such a minimal weight and time saving of probably 5mins

Hi I bought one of these and I had to take the front wheels off to attach the front axel frame into the slot. I assume once I store it I have to take front wheels off again to remove that bar. Anyone been able to remove front axel bar without taking wheels off.

Great review, Tim. I'm currently shopping to a travel bag/case and was wondering: can the wheels pockets can accommodate 40c tires? Having trouble finding a solid answer on this. Thanks!

I have been trying to determine the same thing prior to purchase. Any luck with the answer?

Can gravel bike fit in the road bag? Handle bars are less than 48cm at the top but flare ou on the drops to 51cm??

Yes I'd say it will - I have the Aerocomfort 2.0 bag, so I guess the dimensions on the 3.0 will be similar. The flare at the drops will be fine as there is a bit more space there. My Cannondale Topstone size S fits ok (and as aside have made 3d printed adapters to accommodate thru axles on the 2.0 ;). My bike is 50cm wide at the drops and 45cm wide on top* ( *centre of hood <-> hood ) I guess it depends how high your hoods stand when mounted in bag, as that is where the zip can get tight. Another thing to be aware in that respect is the wheel bags. I have 37mm WTB Riddler tires on 700c wheels and deflated they just about fit in the wheel bags but I'd say 40mm tyres could be a struggle

any concern about flared handlebars being overly exposed to damage if the bag is place on its side during transport? Any thoughts on how to further protect the flared handlebars?

"It also means that the bag is more usable for a cyclocross or gravel bike (the wheel pockets are also slightly larger to accommodate 33-35c tyres)." What about 650 x 45's, etc.? Too big or will they fit?

I managed to just fit my 700 x 40c wheels inside my Aerocomfort 3.0 Road bag without deflating my tires. It’s a tight fit. You couldn’t go larger.

excuse me, i find the 3.0 do not come with rear derailleur protector like the 2.0. how do you protect your rear derailleur? is it safe to travel without one?

It says they’ve added plastic plates to the actual bag so perhaps that’s why there now no separate derailer protector. Mine got damaged on one flight using the seperste protector anyway but was fine on another. So perhaps the bag itself having more protection is better

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Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA bike bag review

In this Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA bike bag review review, we'll look at why version 2 of the Scicon Aerocomfort is a big improvement on the original version and why I think the Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA is probably the best bag on the bike travel bag market.

Firstly, I want to give a HUGE thanks to Scicon for sending a bag out for the Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA bike bag review.

• I'll have a Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA bike bag review on video and a how-to-pack video soon.
• Remember, this is a subjective review, based on transparent objective measures, and real world experience. You may disagree, you may agree; either way, I'd love your feedback.
• I've personally taken a Scicon Aerocomfort Plus (V1) overseas and on several domestic flights. I am yet to travel with the Aerocomfort 2 TSA bike bag but I can easily identify the improvements in the newest version of the bag. The functionality is essentially unchanged but the quality is much better.

What I Look For in Bike Bags

In the list below, you'll see the metrics I use to rate bike bags.

All of these metrics, except price, contribute to the overall utility and user experience of the bag.

Check out my  how to choose a bike bag  article for more information on what I look for in a bike travel bag.

Some of these metrics are more important that others. And obviously, you may think some of them are not important at all.

This Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA bike bag review covers almost everything I'd want to know about a bike bag. For this reason, the review is very in-depth: if you want to just skip to the section of most interest to you, use the section numbers and headings below.

Check out all the VeloNomad  bike bag reviews when you're done.

• Mobility/portability (ease in moving it around airports etc)
• Convenience

Compactability

• Weight/Size
• Robustness/Build Quality

Protection for bike

Adjustability.

Securing the bike

Overall design considerations

Who should buy this bag, where to buy, the complete scicon aerocomfort 2 tsa bike bag review, cutting to the chase – video.

What Comes with the Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA

The bike bag ships with the following items. All are pictured below and throughout the post. Actually, not shown below are the 3 x foam protectors: I'll update the below photo with those shortly. However, they appear in some photos throughout the review.

• Bike bag cover, for storage
• Foam frame protectors x 3
• Rear derailleur (“DR”) protector: more comments on this below
• Front and rear skewers
• Spare castor wheel
• Seat protector

Scicon AeroComfort 2 TSA review: spare parts image

Mobility and Maneuverability

The Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA bike bag is the best bike bag on the market for mobility of the bag itself. (In other reviews I variously refer to this as “agility” or “portability”.)

With 4 castor wheels, it turns on a dime and is never a hassle to move around.

Scicon AeroComfort 2 TSA review: castor wheels

The castors have been significantly improved in V2 of this bag: they are bigger and more robust.

The BikND Helium (which I also have— BikND Helium Review here ) is also great in this respect; but the Aerocomfort 2 TSA is just that little bit better.

Where it really excels is airport queues, particularly check-in, as well as transit and transfers.

There's no lifting, no carrying, no dragging or struggling with a hefty bag.

Convenience and Packing

It's very important that it's fast and easy to pack and unpack your bike.

Once you're on your trip, it makes transits—for example on trains and planes—much easier as you can pack quicker.

Being able to unpack the bike is a real advantage on shorter duration trips too, because you waste less time.

It's also good when you arrive and get going right away. For example, when I flew to Adelaide from Melbourne for the Tour Down Under, I arrived at the hotel in the morning before my check-in time. I had the bike set up quickly, and was able to go riding to watch the race with minimal delay.

It's also really nice to get in from a long haul flight, like a flight from Australia to Europe, then quickly have the bike set up for a quick ride to blow the cobwebs out.

Packing your bike in the Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA is really easy. All you need to do is:

• Take the wheels off.
• Secure the bike on the internal mounting frame, with the rear D/R protector on.
• Add some bubble wrap to sensitive areas, and frame protectors.
• Take skewers out of the wheels, putting the wheels in their compartments.
• Do up the internal straps, add bubble wrap to sensitive areas, and you're done!

The best part is there's no need to take the bars off and wrangle them into place.

Because you don't need to break down your bike as much as other bike bags, you can take less tools with you.

All up, packing your bike in the Aerocomfort 2 TSA should take 20 minutes at the most.

Unpacking is even faster.

How to pack the bike in Aerocomfort

Whilst some people simply take the wheels off, secure the bike and strap it in, there a few extra things you can do to further protect your bike.

• Take the pedals off. Not entirely necessary, but depends on the pedals you have. I used to do this to prevent an impact from the side but I think that's redundant.
• Lower the seat or remove it entirely (more on this later).
• Loosen the handlebar screws and roll the bars forward (more on this later).
• If you're really paranoid, you can loosen off your levers too. This means they'll swing inward if they get knocked, which is better than them breaking. I just add loads of bubble wrap to this area and skip this step.
• Unscrew the rear D/R during step 2 above, and tape it to the down-stays. That adds 2 minutes. I'll discuss why this is smart, later in the review.

This bike bag is reasonably stable.

The wheel base is wide enough to prevent it falling over, which is a problem with some bike pods.

The Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA packs down into a fairly small package (given its size).

You could further compress it with some occy straps or straps.

It comes supplied with a bike bag bag, and the bike bag is easy to roll up and get into the bag. You won't find yourself trying to squash the bike bag into its case.

That the bike bag packs down is useful if you have a hire car, campervan or want to leave your bike bag stowed out of the way in some accommodation.

Below you can see how the bag packs down compared to a wheel.

Weight and Size

Another important factor in choosing a bike bag is the weight and size. This bike bag weighs a mere 7.5kg on my scales (6.9kg claimed). It is one of the lightest on the market.

Scicon AeroComfort 2 TSA review: size of bag

The size is about as small as you could hope for given how the bike is housed (the handlebars stay in-situ).

And compared to other bags like the EVOC Bike Travel Bag (my EVOC Bike Travel Bag Review here), it is quite narrow and not very long.

Narrow at the rear

Wider at front

Now, does the Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA fit in a car?

If you're an Aussie or from North America (and used to having a roomier car), you will probably have no problems getting this bike bag into the back of your car.

I have a Subaru Forrester so it fits in easily.

For those of you used to smaller cars—those from the UK are a good example—be aware you might struggle to get this into the boot (aka trunk) of your car.

For a bike bag, this is quite small, but compared to a little car's boot, it's quite big.

If you're booking a hire car at your destination, make sure you hire a station wagon or small van.

Most of the Euro station wagons like Peugeots, will fit this bag, and other luggage.

Robustness, Longevity and Build Quality

I'm glad to have had the chance to do this Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA review. This is because the Aerocomfort 2 TSA bike bag makes very significant improvements in build quality over the previous version of the bag.

Admirably, in every area I highlighted as an issue on Version 1 of this bag, Scicon has fixed the issue. (After reading this review, read the AeroComfort 2 TSA review to appreciate how much of an improvement V2 is.)

Improvements include:

• The quality of the castor wheels, and how the attach to the bag, are much better. You also now get a spare wheel.
• Zips: the old zips were of smaller gauge and flimsy. Not so these ones. Even the zip tags are nice and chunky.
• Straps: padded and more robust.
• Bash guards: bash guard material around the base (sides) of the bag.
• Base material: now with waterproof material and a plastic insert to prevent impact penetration.
• Internal straps: new extra straps to hold handlebars down instead of old one that went around the front forks.
• There's also now plastic discs covering the wheel hubs.

About the only niggle now is how the front strap and carry straps attach to the bag.

The external strap used to tow the bike bag—an important part of its utility and usability—is attached with a plastic D ring and clip.

Scicon AeroComfort 2 TSA review: front strap

These can easily break due to impact or excessive force.

For minimal cost these could be swapped to aluminium which would hugely add to the quality and longevity.

As a sidenote, make sure you pack the strap away when you hand the bag over to airline staff, to prevent it catching on something and breaking. This advice is actually embroidered on the straps…cool!

Shoulder strap and plastic D ring

Zips with lock

Below you can see how the castors are secured to the frame.

Castors and attachment

I'd still like to see the top tube straps attached to the mounting frame proper, instead of the wheel compartments.

In my view, this change would help hold the bike down into the frame better. What I mean by this is, when you tighten the straps they pull the sides in and the bike down a little. If the straps were attached to the bike bag frame, rather than the bag sides, they would provide extra down-force on the bike and secure it harder against the mounting frame.

Below, you can see the buckle and strap on the wheel compartments.

Top tube strap

The handlebar and seat (or rear stay straps if you remove your seat) attach to the frame, and the top tube ones ought to as well.

It would be good to see the plastic tongue and clip replaced with some sort of aluminium or composite alternative (similar to roof rack Rhino tie downs like these ).

In 2009, I arrived in Frankfurt and found the plastic clips had decoupled. The bike had come off the frame mounts and was resting on the rear derailleur.

Mind you, this was version 1 of the bag; this version has the handlebar straps and the seat strap (which replaces straps across the rear stay).

So, all in all, you can lock the bike down very well.

There's now a strap to that goes up and over the seat. This is useful if you leave your seat in. It really helps lock the bike down (perhaps mitigating the top tube strap a little).

If you take your seat and seat post out, you can wrap it around the top tube as I've shown. Maybe put some bubble wrap or a bit of material around the frame to protect it.

Seat strap across top tube

The internal fabric is still lightweight in places, but the contact points at the wheel compartments is tougher.

Whilst it's not the same level as the surfboard bag foil used in the EVOC and BikND, it's more than adequate.

The external fabric is tough ripstop (or its close equivalent). There's bash guard material (as seen on the EVOC Bike Travel bag) in exposed areas, which is awesome.

Bash material

One other little niggle is the front material hanging over the castor. If you pack the bag out a bit, you might be ok. This was an issue in V1 of the bag, too, and lead me to say that these parts of the bag would get worn out. On the Aerocomfort 2 TSA, though, the front material has bash guard material, so you last longer.

Hanging over castors

There is adequate padding in the sides of the bike bag. There are two removable medium density pads which protect the hoods.

Internal stash pocket

Here's a shot of the pads from version 1 of the bag: yep, they used to be yellow. This better illustrates where they are.

Handlebar pads

The entire bag has padding throughout.

Whilst there's not the same level of protection as the BikND, it's perfectly adequate.

The bike bag ships with 3 foam cylinders/pads which are to protect the frame and forks. Because I am a silly Tim, I didn't get any photos with any on the Tarmac, but here is a shot of the exact padding from Version 1 of this bag, on my Look.

Foam frame protectors

The wheels fit into padded, zippered compartments on each side of the bike, protecting the frame. Take travel or commuting wheels, so that if they get a knock, there's no great loss. Yes, you'd rather cheaper wheels take a knock than a frame.

Wheel compartment

The wheel compartments have external plastic discs to protect the hubs.

Plastic discs for hubs

I'd add some bubble wrap (or an old sheet or towel) to the forks, the rear stays and handlebars for extra protection. Be aware that most other bike bags, except hard case bike pods, need to have extra padding too, so this isn't an oversight by Scicon.

Hoods, Levers, Bars

I used version 1 of this bag for my trip to France in 2009. Upon my return home, I found my bars bent (alloy bars, luckily) and the right hand side shifter/hood assembly (Ultegra) had been smashed inwards.

Upon consulting with a friend, he reported the same experience.

Don't get me wrong, I've travelled with the Aerocomfort Plus (version 1) and not had this issue. This means it's not the fault of the bag per-se, as baggage is damaged in transit all the time.

However, if you are paranoid about this sort of thing, loosen your hoods off a bit. If they get knocked hard, they'll spin round rather than break (hopefully). For Shimano hoods it's not as important, as both levels click in. But on SRAM, where the brake lever doesn't act as a shifter, a well-placed knock might snap the lever.

To save mucking around with the hoods, loosen your stem nuts off and rotate your bars forward so the hoods are effectively at the “bottom” of (or underneath) the bars. Alloy bars and stem are highly recommended for travel.

Obviously, all this fiddling around adds extra time. Personally, I'd just roll the handlebars forward, add a lot of bubble wrap, and if there's damage, make an insurance claim.

Rear Derailleur

The bike bag ships with a rear D/R protector that is supposed to sit flush in the rear dropout and protect your rear D/R.

Rear derailleur protector

The protector has a funny shape that prevents it from sitting flush in the dropout in some bikes (like a Look 586 I used to have). The means it sits “off” the frame, and the provided skewers aren't long enough so basically it's rendered not usable.

The protector fits in my Tarmac though, so your mileage may vary. Note, in the image below, the protector sits right against the derailleur cage. You might want to put a piece of cloth between them, or, as I say, take the D/R off entirely.

If you leave the D/R in situ , the bag might not long enough to provide enough room for your rear D/R cable. Your rear D/R cable and probably rear D/R may get knocked. Don't say I didn't warn you. Even with padding, you risk damage.

To be sure that your rear D/R won't be damaged, unscrew it (2 minutes work), and tape it to a downstay after wrapping in bubblewrap. Easy.

Rear derailleur cable on Look XS

This will free up extra space for padding for the rear of your bike. A 2 minute job will provide peace of mind.

Merlin Cycles Scicon search has Scicon's chain protector, which holds the chain taut, would be useful in this situation to keep the chain from going everywhere.

Typically, I put some cloth around the chain stays to prevent chain grease going on them, then tape some bubble wrap around the chain.

In the pictures below showing my old Look in V1 of this bag, my seat is about as low as it can go due to the proprietary seat-post geometry and the down tube geometry. If the seat received a downward impact of enough force, the post would be jammed into the frame. For standard shaped posts, this isn't so much of an issue.

You have a few options here.

• Lower your post down.
• Remove it entirely, wrap in bubblewrap, and tape to the downtube.
• Leave it in-situ, and hope it's all ok.

On my newer bike, I'd just lower it a bit and put some bubble wrap around it.

Space for bigger bike

The Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA will fit most road bikes, given that the front arm that the forks attach to slides forward and backward (inside a metal sleeve).

Note, bikes with handlebars wider than 45cm won't be able to have the bars remain in-place. That is, you'll need to undo the bars. Note, Scicon can custom make a bag to fit bars wider than this, but it's not ideal as wider bags cause sag in some parts of the bag.

The only question mark here, is the amount of “play” or spare room in the front of the bike bag. With my 52cm Tarmac frame in the bag, there is about 4cm of spare room in front of the forks into which I can put padding. If you have a larger bike, particularly one where the geometry results in the forks being thrust forward more (head tube angle, rake), you might have an issue.

With my 52cm Tarmac in place there's not a lot of room though. But, I reckon it could move forward another 4cm or so, which would accommodate an awfully large bike.

However, if there was a problem you'd probably find it in reviews on the ‘net, and I haven't noticed widespread comments online.

The rear metal support structure is an arm through which a skewer (supplied) passes and secures the rear of the bike. The rear stand is not adjustable but there is ample room between it and the rear material of the bag for some padding, if you remove the rear D/R (more on this later).

You might struggle to get a mountain bike, triathlon or larger sized bike (especially with integrated seat posts) in this bag. My personal feeling is you're better off looking at a Scicon mountain bike bag or Scicon triathlon bag (links at the end of the post).

There is ample space in this bag to store some of your gear. You can add kit and clothing in order to help protect the bike.

There is only one internal pocket which in my opinion is in an awkward position and is not big enough. I'd guess it's for your wheel skewers and probably pedals.

Bike bags need big, big stash pockets and lots of 'em! I'd still love to see a couple of stash pockets added internally.

There's actually a lot of room, but not too much. And in actual fact, its smaller size is a bonus. This is because it helps stop you packing too much stuff in the bag. Other bags, like the EVOC Bike Travel Bag, have a lot of room. So, you tend to put a lot of stuff in them, and they get very bulky.

Securing your bike in the Aerocomfort 2 TSA is very easy.

• Secure the front and rear dropouts on the appropriate stands with provided (or your own) skewers.
• Attach straps over seat or double wrap around top tube.
• Attach straps around handlebars.
• Attach strap over top tube.

The Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA bike bag makes it absolutely painless to get your bike in and out.

I can't think of another bike bag that provides such a rapid pack/unpack process.

The zips are in the right spots. The straps are adequate in number and properly located.

The bag is balanced and stable. It moves around easily.

The bike stands up when you're packing it which is great. This means you don't need to awkwardly half-lie it on its side (like the BikND Helium, EVOC Bike Travel Bag).

There's no need to take your pedals off. If you have wider pedals, you might take them off: see the photo below for how much room there is between the crank and side of the bag.

Taking pedals off

From a design, ease of use, and overall usability point of view, it's well thought out and executed.

The quality is there and the bag is well constructed.

Let's face it: this bike bag is at the upper end of the price scale.

It's certainly not the most expensive bike bag on the market, and there are plenty cheaper (you get what you pay for though).

However, given the price (circa AUD$500 online), and how great the bag is to use, I think it's excellent value for money.

Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA bike bag review: Summary

This bag is fantastic.

The mobility and weight of the Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA are bloody fantastic. Market leading.

I cannot speak highly enough of how easy this bike bag is to wheel around airports. It's a joy.

The weight is a huge plus given airline baggage limits these days.

It's SO easy to get your bike out of the bag and set up ready to go in double time. The more you use it, the more proficient you'll get.

Easy to pack and unpack

With the fixes to the Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA bike bag from V1 of this bag, I think this is now the best bike bag on the market.

If you aren't really price conscious, fly with your bike a lot and want something that is going to last multiple trips, this bike bag is for you.

Regardless of whether you travel a lot, or not much at all, or if you only fly interstate, international, or both, this bag is for you.

If convenience and being able to pack and unpack your bike quickly is of paramount importance to you, get this bag.

What about other bikes?

I get a lot of questions about whether a particular bike bag will fit an ISP bike, XL bike, mountain bike or triathlon/TT bike.

So will the Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA bike bag fit a mountain bike? Probably.

But a better bet, is to check out the Scicon Aerocomfort MTB bike bag (links below).

As for TT bikes, the reality is that a lot of TT bikes, won't fit into this bike bag (especially those with integrated seat posts).

So check out the Scicon Triathlon Bike Bag (links below).

And for those with extra large or ISP frames, the amount of room from the rear mounting point to the top of the bag is about 74cm. From the front mounting point to the top is about 62cm.

Don't hold me to those numbers! I eyeballed a tape measure just before a very threatening thunderstorm opened on us.

The links below are affiliate links.

The affiliate links on this site and the small commissions they garner help keep the site going and importantly help create reviews like this.

Reviews like this Scicon AeroComfort 2 TSA review are a pretty significant investment in time. If you don't want to click an affiliate link, head on over to Google to find where to buy the Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA.

The links below mostly land you on the Scicon search results pages. I used to link to exact products but the major online retailers turn these bags over and reassign new landing pages too often to keep up with.

Simply open the links below, and choose one that is best for you.

Thanks you guys for using these links: they don't cost you a cent and the loose change the retailers shake out of their pockets our way help a lot.

• Wiggle Scicon search
• Merlin Cycles Scicon search
• PBK Scicon search : PBK also has spare parts
• Chain Reaction Cycles
• Evans Cycles
• Competitive Cyclist
• Backcountry.com
• [easyazon_link identifier=”B005DHB64O” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”n” tag=”velonomad2-20″ cart=”y” localize=”y” popups=”y”]SCICON Aero Comfort Plus 2.0 TSA Air Travel Bike Bag[/easyazon_link]
• Mobility - 100
• Convenience - 90
• Utility - 90
• Compactibility - 100
• Weight/size - 100
• Robustness - 60
• Protection for bike - 60
• Adjustability - 75
• Storage - 80
• Securing the bike - 80
• Price/value for money - 90

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About Tim Marsh

Tim is an ex Melbournite now living near Byron Bay on 10 acres, happily growing mangos, avocados and lots of other stuff, with his wife, 2 sons and adorable Golden Retriever, Whiskey (RIP our 1YO G/R Poppins :( ).

23 comments add yours

I have had continuous problems with the wheels on my bike bag, I bought it new in December 2014 & the ball bearings were coming out of the wheels from the very start. I have replaced some wheels, which is not easy, & the ball bearings keep falling out.

if you register your product on their website you get free spare wheels!

If I take the aluminum fenders off my touring bike, can I fit them in the Sci-con Aerocomfort and expect them to not get bent?

I bought this bag. I have previously owned a Trico hard case, a Pika packworks, and an Evoc travel bag. What appealed to me about the Scicon is the ease of packing. My concern with it was how exposed the handlebars were. When I packed the bike, I took extra care to put extra padding around the bars and the shifters. When it arrived at my destination, the shifters were all twisted in. Hmm. That got me concerned. When I packed it for the trip home, I put even more padding around the shifters. And the bike arrived with the handlebars broken — the drops on one side were snapped off. My concerns were validated about the case. The only good thing is that it happened on the trip home and not the trip there. I don’t trust the bag and returned it. Even though it was used, the dealer took it back.

I have read your review a couple of times and that influenced my decision to buy two of these bags. A problem you do not raise is the width of the handle bars. I have a Specialized Tricross with a handlebar width 50 – 51 cm. That is three cm too wide to fit in the bag. I will have the same problem with my other bike, a Specialized Roubaix which is about 49 -50 cm. I am really disappointed. Claims that the bars can remain in situ is just not true for road bikes with bar widths matching bigger riders.

Thanks Ray, have added this insight to the review. I contacted Scicon who told me the Scicon AeroComfort 2 TSA accommodates bars up to 45cm.

Most road cyclists don’t use bars wider than that (and certainly not 50cm). And I guess this is first and foremost a road bike bag, as opposed to a tri/CX/adventure bag.

With the Roubaix, I suppose you can undo the bars?

You’re going to have the same issue with most bags if your bikes are that big, notwithstanding that other solutions call for bars to be removed.

I’ll add this to the post.

All the best, Tim

Thanks Tim: turning the bars is the solution to widths greater than 45cm. I have found other riders who use these bags and who have to adopt this practice. I hope Scicon make the appropriate amendment to their promotional material. Best wishes Ray

The Scicon Aero Comfort 3.0 TSA Triathlon Bicycle Bag says there is no need to remove handle bars. This is not correct. I have a Specilized Shiv XL and a Roubaix 61cm and have to take the handle bars of both bikes to get it to fit. The advice that it takes up to 62cm frame is not correct

Good intel, thanks Paul.

Just packed my bianchi into scicon 3.0 tsa bag. However, the skewers seem cheap and I feel like it can damage my forks , as I will leave my bike in the bag for a month before I ship it; will this damage the forks ?

Agree Alex, they do feel cheap. I always use some spare Ultegras (or equivalent).

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Review: Scicon AeroComfort 3.0 Travel Bag – Worth the Upgrade?

Review of the upgraded Scicon AreoComfort 3.0 bike travel bag from Scicon.

David Deakin

Nothing worries triathletes more than traveling to a destination race with their bike. Losing your wallet, phone or first-born must be covered by travel insurance. But your bike? No such luxury. You only have to stand around the over-sized baggage area with the rest of your nervous brethren to see just how popular the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 travel bags are.  Bag after bag being wheeled/thrown out by airline staff nervously greeted with a passion akin to welcoming a child into the family.

I’ve travelled with the Scicon Aerocomfort bags for several years, so I will focus not so much on reviewing the bag itself. If you’re travelling with a triathlon bike, get one. I will focus more on differences between the Aerocomfort 2.0 and 3.0 and whether or not there’s sufficient reason for an upgrade.

Hard shell vs soft shell

The Scicon Aerocomfort 2 has become the de-facto standard for soft shell padded travel bags. But with hard shell cases available, why do most triathletes travel with them?  Well, with the growing trend of integrated headsets on aero frames, the ability for a rider to simply push their bars down to fit in a hard-shell simply isn’t there. Unless you’re paying for your mechanic’s holiday. Also, there is the question of weight. Something that can sting you if you travel internationally. Softshell bags simply weigh less. With sufficient planning, strategic purchasing of additional padding and the occasional prayer most triathletes can be assured their carbon child is in safe hands.

Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 Build Quality

The first thing you will notice is the external bag build quality.  Scicon have replaced the 840 Nylon with a new weave called Scicon D-TEX860. This Nylon seems more flexible but is also tougher and thicker whilst maintaining the 8kg weight.  They have also added key reinforcement points where you tend to bang the bike on the base.  I’ve heard several reports of the bag ripping at the points that Scicon have now re-enforced. I’m glad Scicon have listened – you can see this happening in the photos.

The second key improvement concerns the wheels. They are a big improvement and seem to respond no matter where you push the bike, freely rotating in 360 degrees. Previous versions of the bag could see you careering off in strange directions, given the often varied terrain that overseas travel brings.

Internal Improvements

One of the big attractions of the Scicon Aerocomfort range of bags is the integrated mounted frame. Not only does the bike frame keep the front forks and rear dropouts stable but it also serves as a bike stand, allowing you to quickly assemble your bike at your destination. It’s certainly a very simple process to slot your bike into, with minimal fuss.  In previous versions of the frame, the front forks were secured with a T-bar, which was not statically secured to the mount.  This meant that it tended to wobble about a bit and could result in the front forks detaching from the frame.  Scicon have now fixed this with the T-bar being secured to the mount via an adjustable screw which also aids assembly.

The bag also comes with a steel rear derailleur protector, which protects the mech from being damaged during transit. The chain is now kept out of the way via a new chain keeper function to hold the chain in place.

For you disc brake riders out there, the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 now supports thru axles, so no compatibility issues there.

As you can see in the photos, once the bike is secured in the mounted frame you simply place your wheels in the internal padded bags, hook up the jockey straps (now with tightening cords on both sides rather than one, a small detail but it helps when your tightening) and close the bag at the top.

What does ‘no disassembly required’ really mean?

I’m a 6ft 3 rider on a 58cm bike with aggressive reach out front and, true to the brochure, I have never had to adjust my bike… much. For larger riders, there isn’t enough space at the front of the bag to fit your aero bars in as you would ride them. The arm pads stick out too much, even with the additional 1cm of height this bag provides.  It’s simply a matter of loosening the bars a little and turning them inward so the pads are inside the bars.  Nothing major, just something to be aware of if you are a taller rider. Shorter riders don’t seem to have this problem.

The Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 now comes with clearly labelled top tube, seat and aero bar protectors which is a welcome addition. But this leads to my biggest gripe with this bag – the lack of frame padding that comes default with the bike.

Scicon sells a series of additional padding options to cover the seat post, forks, aero brakes, and importantly the drive chain. I suggest that you invest in each and every one of these. The problem is, even on sale this can add another $200 to the overall cost. I would like to see Scicon include more of these options by default in the base bag in future releases.

Given these bikes cost around the price of a small car, many of us with these bags also create additional padding to help cover almost 100% of the frame. Maybe overkill but the safety of a loved one is surely worth it.

So, would I recommend it as an upgrade? Well perhaps. The Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 improves over the 2.0 in all areas, particularly securing the forks to the frame and in its mobility. So if your travel bag is getting a bit old in the tooth, it’s certainly worth an upgrade.  However, I would be hard pushed to say that any of the features warrant a must upgrade recommendation.

Would I recommend the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 to someone who is considering travelling with their bike for the first time? Absolutely. Although the price of the bag at retail is twice that of some of its competitors ($949 AUD, with most of the competition around the $500 AUD mark). Its build quality and integrated protection are top of the line.  It’s worth noting, though, that you can still pick up the Aerocomfort 2.0 on sale for $550 AUD. This, with only a few lesser features, is the smart buy.

All in all a great travel bag with advanced features, sure to get you to the start line with your precious intact. Just remember the additional padding required and nuisance of protecting your components and frame.

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Scicon AeroComfort 2.0 TSA Bicycle Travel Case review

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

Traveling with your bike is one of the great joys for avid bicyclists. You get to challenge yourself by riding in new conditions and terrain, experience new and foreign places in a very intimate way, and it’s plain practical as you’ll have your transportation already with you.

But the actual traveling bit –the plane, car and train rides –isn’t always so easy with a bike.

First, there’s the challenge of getting your bike there unscathed. While some airlines will at least give you the pretense that your beloved steed will be taken gentle care of by taping “Fragile” stickers all over the box, the fact is that luggage handlers are anything but gentle.

Many people argue that there is nothing safer than packing your bike up in a cardboard box. It’s how they’re being shipped around the world for retail after all. While this might be true, have you ever tried hauling a cardboard box of that size plus your suitcase through airport terminals and onto public transportation? Doable, but certainly not practical.

Bike bag manufacturer Scicon has set out to make bike travel by plane as easy and comfortable as possible with the release of their AeroComfort 2.0 TSA bike bag.

About the bag

Price: 599 Euros/ 930 AUD, available online and at various retailers around the globe.

While this model is specifically fitted for a road bike, Scicon also offers a triathlon and mountain bike version as well as a hard case.

When you get the bag, it’ll be folded up in its stored-and-awaiting-the-next-trip position. When fit into the provided stuff sack, it’s approximately 110 cm in lengths, 90 cm tall and 25 cm around. It’s not small by any means and it weighs close to 9 kilos but you’ll be able to tug it away in your closet, garage or under the bed.

The bag contains a metal structure, Scicon’s antishock bike frame (ABF), and the rest is made of a padded and sturdy 840 Nylon material.

You’ll also find a small bag of accessories which include protective padding, steel quick releases, a mini pump, shoulder straps, spare parts, a TSA lock and a rear derailleur protector.

The bag in use:

During the reviewing process, this bag has been subjected to luggage handlers all across the globe. Here’s how it faired:

I found the Scicon AeroComfort 2.0 TSA bag incredibly intuitive to pack. While there are packing guides and videos available on the web, the little how-to guide inside the bag is really all you need. It may have taken me 20 minutes or so the first go-around and after that, it became a matter of mere minutes.

Unlike most other bags, you can keep your bike mostly intact. No removing of the handlebars, seatpost and derailleur necessary. You simply remove your pedals (optional) and wheels and that’s it! This is a major plus in terms of time spent packing and reassembling your bike once you get to your destination.

You will need to remove the quick releases from your wheels before slipping them into the allocated and well-padded compartments. And there is a small compartment for your pedals, quick releases and tools as well.   The bag comes with steel quick-releases to secure your bike onto the bag’s antishock frame but they’re the same size as any other skewers should you prefer to use your own.

For extra protection, there is a rear derailleur protector that goes on the quick release, which is a neat feature because derailleurs, along with shifters, are among the first to get damaged during travel.

Once secured to the antishock frame, you cover the bike frame with the provided foam protectors and tighten the various snaps around the frame. Even before closing the bag, I was impressed with how securely the bike was fastened down.

The bag is also quite big with plenty of room for ‘extras’. The bag and bike together is pretty close to standard airline weight limits and in most cases, you’ll be paying the oversize/athletic equipment fee already anyway, so you may as well leverage that extra space. I’m not saying you should fill it to the brim and forgo bringing a suitcase –and placing any hard and heavy items in there is strongly discouraged as it could damage your bike –but I usually place my cycling shoes, helmet, water bottles and some clothes in between and below the bike frame. You do want to make sure they won’t be bouncing all over the place however.

Once the bike and the extras are securely fastened, there’s an internal strap to keep the whole case tightly closed. Then all you have to do is zip the bag shut and you’re good to go.

The bag comes with a TSA-approved lock but in the various TSA checks (note: bike bags do get checked often, especially within the US), that went missing quickly.

The external straps are easily snapped on to your choice of D Hooks but you will have to remove them before flight. Luckily there is an external pocket you can slip them into.

The four wheels generally make it easy to manoeuvre an otherwise big and awkwardly shaped bag around, however one of wheels did receive a knocking early on and jammed like a faulty shopping cart. As a result, the bag perpetually stirs to one direction, which makes lugging it around the airport along with othe luggage quite cumbersome. However, the people at SciCon are forward thinking and the bag comes with an easy-to-replace spare wheel.

Conclusions:

It’s a great bag, among the best cases I have used. It’s by far the easiest to pack and it truly makes traveling with a bike so much easier. I’m also impressed with its heavy-duty nylon exterior as it shows no sign of tears, rips or fraying.  The bag is however quite expensive and once packed, the awkwardly shaped bag doesn’t always fit in your average rental car or taxi.

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li\u00e8ge-bastogne-li\u00e8ge","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/cycling-sucks-sometimes-what-pogacar-van-der-poel-and-pidcock-said-before-liege-bastogne-liege\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/cycling-sucks-sometimes-what-pogacar-van-der-poel-and-pidcock-said-before-liege-bastogne-liege\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"\u2018cycling sucks sometimes\u2019: what poga\u010dar, van der poel and pidcock said before li\u00e8ge-bastogne-li\u00e8ge\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/cycling-sucks-sometimes-what-pogacar-van-der-poel-and-pidcock-said-before-liege-bastogne-liege\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"\u2018cycling sucks sometimes\u2019: what poga\u010dar, van der poel and pidcock said before li\u00e8ge-bastogne-li\u00e8ge\"}}\u0027>\n \u2018cycling sucks sometimes\u2019: what poga\u010dar, van der poel and pidcock said before li\u00e8ge-bastogne-li\u00e8ge\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"sea otter randoms: riser handlebars, nifty racks, and tubes aren\u2019t dead","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/sea-otter-randoms-riser-handlebars-nifty-racks-and-tubes-arent-dead\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/sea-otter-randoms-riser-handlebars-nifty-racks-and-tubes-arent-dead\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"sea otter randoms: riser handlebars, nifty racks, and tubes aren\u2019t dead\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/sea-otter-randoms-riser-handlebars-nifty-racks-and-tubes-arent-dead\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"sea otter randoms: riser handlebars, nifty racks, and tubes aren\u2019t dead\"}}\u0027>\n sea otter randoms: riser handlebars, nifty racks, and tubes aren\u2019t dead\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"the thesis n1 wants to be your sole drop bar bike for everything","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-gear\/thesis-n1-do-everything-drop-bar-bike\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-gear\/thesis-n1-do-everything-drop-bar-bike\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"the thesis n1 wants to be your sole drop bar bike for everything\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-gear\/thesis-n1-do-everything-drop-bar-bike\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"the thesis n1 wants to be your sole drop bar bike for everything\"}}\u0027>\n the thesis n1 wants to be your sole drop bar bike for everything\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"xpedo\u2019s new power meter pedals are ready for the spotlight","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/xpedo-new-power-sonik-omni-and-thrust-omni-meter-pedals-sea-otter-classic\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/xpedo-new-power-sonik-omni-and-thrust-omni-meter-pedals-sea-otter-classic\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"xpedo\u2019s new power meter pedals are ready for the spotlight\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/xpedo-new-power-sonik-omni-and-thrust-omni-meter-pedals-sea-otter-classic\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"xpedo\u2019s new power meter pedals are ready for the spotlight\"}}\u0027>\n xpedo\u2019s new power meter pedals are ready for the spotlight\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"mathieu van der poel realistic about quest for monument sweep: \u2018even with roubaix legs i cannot follow poga\u010dar\u2019","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/mathieu-van-der-poel-realistic-about-quest-for-fourth-monument-even-with-roubaix-legs-i-cannot-follow-pogacar-here\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/mathieu-van-der-poel-realistic-about-quest-for-fourth-monument-even-with-roubaix-legs-i-cannot-follow-pogacar-here\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"mathieu van der poel realistic about quest for monument sweep: \u2018even with roubaix legs i cannot follow poga\u010dar\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-racing\/mathieu-van-der-poel-realistic-about-quest-for-fourth-monument-even-with-roubaix-legs-i-cannot-follow-pogacar-here\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"mathieu van der poel realistic about quest for monument sweep: \u2018even with roubaix legs i cannot follow poga\u010dar\u2019\"}}\u0027>\n mathieu van der poel realistic about quest for monument sweep: \u2018even with roubaix legs i cannot follow poga\u010dar\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"results: keegan swenson and sofia gomez villafa\u00f1e win the fuego xl at sea otter classic","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/fuego-xl-sea-otter-results\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/fuego-xl-sea-otter-results\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"results: keegan swenson and sofia gomez villafa\u00f1e win the fuego xl at sea otter classic\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/fuego-xl-sea-otter-results\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"results: keegan swenson and sofia gomez villafa\u00f1e win the fuego xl at sea otter classic\"}}\u0027>\n results: keegan swenson and sofia gomez villafa\u00f1e win the fuego xl at sea otter classic\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"ride the rockies canceled for 2024, future uncertain","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/ride-the-rockies-canceled-due-to-low-registration-future-uncertain\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/ride-the-rockies-canceled-due-to-low-registration-future-uncertain\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"ride the rockies canceled for 2024, future uncertain\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/ride-the-rockies-canceled-due-to-low-registration-future-uncertain\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"ride the rockies canceled for 2024, future uncertain\"}}\u0027>\n ride the rockies canceled for 2024, future uncertain\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"the cadex race integrated bar is as light as it is good looking","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/cadex-race-integrated-bar-first-look\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/cadex-race-integrated-bar-first-look\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"the cadex race integrated bar is as light as it is good looking\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/road\/road-gear\/cadex-race-integrated-bar-first-look\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"the cadex race integrated bar is as light as it is good looking\"}}\u0027>\n the cadex race integrated bar is as light as it is good looking\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"time to plan your next trip: 5 companies with new bike bags at sea otter","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-gear\/new-bike-bags-at-this-years-sea-otter\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-gear\/new-bike-bags-at-this-years-sea-otter\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"time to plan your next trip: 5 companies with new bike bags at sea otter\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/gravel\/gravel-gear\/new-bike-bags-at-this-years-sea-otter\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"time to plan your next trip: 5 companies with new bike bags at sea otter\"}}\u0027>\n time to plan your next trip: 5 companies with new bike bags at sea otter\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "},{"title":"highbar wants to revolutionize your helmet straps","url":"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/highbar-wants-to-revolutionize-your-helmet-straps\/","markup":" \n \n\n\n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/highbar-wants-to-revolutionize-your-helmet-straps\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"highbar wants to revolutionize your helmet straps\"}}\u0027>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n \n >\", \"path\": \"https:\/\/velo.outsideonline.com\/news\/highbar-wants-to-revolutionize-your-helmet-straps\/\", \"listing_type\": \"recirc\", \"location\": \"list\", \"title\": \"highbar wants to revolutionize your helmet straps\"}}\u0027>\n highbar wants to revolutionize your helmet straps\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n "}]' > >", "name": "footer-menu", "type": 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Scicon aerocomfort 2.0 tsa bike travel bag – review, smart design makes flying with your bike a breeze.

Travelling abroad with your bike is both exciting and stressful in equal measure. Exciting thanks to the adventure which awaits, whether that’s an overseas sportive or warm-weather training camp, but stressful as you watch your pride and joy disappear down the oversize baggage carousel at the airport.

It’s also a stressful experience not just hoping your bike arrives at the other end safely, but because it’s generally nothing less than a faff to pack your machine to make it ready to fly.

The Scicon Aerocomfort eliminates all the faff – a road bike can be fully packed in the bag in five to ten minutes – and the smart design gives your machine a strong chance of arriving intact.

If you’re flying abroad, you generally have three options when it comes to transporting your bike. The most affordable is to try and source a cardboard bike box from your local shop, but they typically don’t offer a great deal of protection and, once damaged, can’t be re-used. They’re difficult to transport, too, and can be a pain to store at home or in a hotel room.

Specification

• Price: £475
• Website: Scicon

Otherwise you can opt for a padded bike bag, which offer varying levels of protection depending on the design, and can be packed down for storage. Or there’s a hard case, which offers additional protection, but is heavy and cumbersome. There’s also a school of thought which says baggage handlers may give bike boxes less respect, as they assume they offer more protection (or it’s less obvious what’s inside).

Whether that’s true or not, both bags and boxes typically require the bike to be dismantled to a certain extent – but with the Scicon Aerocomfort there’s no need to remove your handlebar, take off the rear derailleur or yank your seatpost out. You also don’t need to remove your pedals, but we’d recommend doing so and packing them in your hand luggage with your shoes and helmet – that way if your bike is delayed, you can still rent a bike and ride.

The beauty of the Aerocomfort is in how easy it is to both pack and unpack the bag. When packed, the bag is big, measuring 118cm x 25cm x 90cm (approximately), though it folds down to 106cm x 29cm x 24 cm (again, that’s an estimate), so, while certainly not compact, it’s not a nightmare to store. However, while the bag (with a bike inside) will fit inside the back of a small hatchback with the seats folded down, you do need to consider how much room you’ll need for other luggage (and other people) if you’re traveling by car. Scicon say the Aerocomfort can hold a 65cm frame, though we only used a 56cm frame during testing.

Most importantly, how easy is it to pack your bike? Open the bag and there’s an aluminium frame inside. Remove the wheels of your bike and clamp the bike frame to the anti-shock bag frame, using the supplied Scicon skewers. Next up, fit the rear derailleur protector – a neat feature which saves you taking the derailleur off and protects it from being bashed from the side. The rear derailleur (or hanger) is one of the first things which can be damaged by an over-zealous baggage handler throwing a bike bag onto the carousel.

Then you need to further secure the bike using the internal straps, which run over the saddle (Scicon supply a neoprene saddle cover) and either side of the handlebar (again, Scicon provide padding to protect the handlebar), while there’s also a strap which clips together from either side of the frame to keep the bag tightly closed.

All that’s left to do is to fit the toptube protector, slip the wheels into the side compartments (remember to pack the quick release skewers, too –  Scicon provide a small accessories bag), and do up the three-sided zip. The bag is significantly wider at the handlebar end, and while it can be a squeeze to get the zip over the shifters, everything fits without any problems.

It’s incredibly simple. I’ve used a number of bike bags over the years and the Scicon Aerocomfort is by far the easiest – it takes all the stress out of preparing your bike for travel. During a summer trip to Colorado, I arrived late at night due to a flight delay and, facing just a few hours sleep, was grateful that I could prepare my bike to ride the next morning in a matter of minutes. On the way home, I squeezed in a morning ride, knowing I could pack the bike and be in a taxi to the airport in ten minutes.

It’s partly why the Aerocomfort is the bag of choice for Scicon’s sponsored WorldTour teams, who include Trek-Segafredo, Etixx-QuickStep and Orica-GreenEDGE.. We’ve been at races and seen mechanics hastily packing up riders’ bags, ready for them to fly to another race or straight to a training camp, and when you’ve got a host of riders waiting, the Aerocomfort makes the job infinitely easier.

However, while the Aerocomfort is easy to pack, it’s not lacking on protection, either. The bag is made from a rugged, heavy-duty nylon, with a high-density foam padding in all the right places, including where the bag sits against the shifters. We can’t guarantee your bike will arrived unscathed – there’s always an element of luck involved when it comes to flying with a bike – but can vouch for the Aerocomfort based on the four return trips (both short-haul and long-haul) made during testing. Of course, you also have the option of packing your bike with additional protection (like bubble wrap and foam pipe lagging).

Otherwise, the bag has four replaceable castor wheels which, combined with the front strap and/or shoulder strap, make it easy to move the Aerocomfort around a train station or airport. The bag is also fairly light, at 8.9kg, so with a bike packed it should comfortably come under the 23kg weight limit specified by many airlines, even if you use the bag to also carry some of your cycling kit.

On the outside of the bag there’s an attachment for a flight tag, while Scicon also supply the Aerocomfort with a mini-pump and TSA-approved lock, which means it can be opened by airport security staff without the passenger present (so they don’t need to break it open), if the bag needs to be inspected.

The Scicon Aerocomfort 2.0 TSA bike bag is undoubtedly a significantly investment at £445 (though you will find it significantly discounted – see below), but if you fly regularly with your bike and want a bag which is incredibly easy to pack, while also offering a good level of protection, then this should be near the very top of your shortlist.

• A doddle to pack (less than ten minutes)
• Strong fabric and well-placed padding offers a good level of protection
• Relatively lightweight
•  Size can make it difficult to fit in a car or taxi with other people/luggage
•  It will cost you

[monetizer101 search=’Scicon Aerocomfort 2.0 TSA’]

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The bag is sufficiently large that as well as your bike and its wheels you are able to add a few other items in the floor space to bulk it up, at 9kg plus the weight of a bike you may be getting close to the plane limits, so be careful with this one. If you cram too much stuff inside the case it can be a bit of a pain to transport, so it's worth experimenting to find what works for you.

Putting the bike in the case is straightforward enough. The first attempt, including reading the instructions, took about fifteen minutes and after a few goes it can be done (mistake-free) in about five. Simply remove each wheel and attach to the quick releases inside the bag, effectively bolting the frame to the base, and cover the rear mech with its big guard. Then remove the wheel quick releases and put them inside their own little pocket, put the wheels in their internal sleeves, put foam on handlebars and chain-stays, then secure it all tightly with the four internal straps. Other than the wheels there's no need to undo anything else, including in my experience, the pedals.

As long as the straps are tight the bike will stay put; it really is very securely fastened down, with five separate points of contact, and the whole case is kept tightly closed by an internal strap between the wheel slots.

All the fabrics are heavy-duty and have shown no signs of wear despite aircraft and coach holds. I have snapped one plastic D-hook, but that was easily replaced with a mini-carabiner. There's a good chance it was caused by my impatience and tugging too hard to get through crowds.

It comes with a TSA-approved lock, ensuring it can be kept secure in transit with a simple four-digit code. (TSA approval means security staff can unlock and relock it again without breaking anything.)

The castors make travel relatively easy, though if the ground is rough or bitty then there can be issues '' I have a one mile walk between train stations on my commute with it '' but in general they are pretty good.

At £475 (shop around, natch) it's a big purchase, but if you are a frequent traveller then the ease of use is almost certainly worth it. I liken it to the cost of a lock. Would I spend that amount on a case for a £500 bike? Probably not, but for the best bike, or if you are away on a foreign sportive then it seems prudent.

Expensive, but more than capable of doing its job; travel just became much easier

road.cc test report

Make and model: Scicon AeroComfort 2.0 bike bag

Size tested: n/a

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Ideally suited to those who travel frequently, it's a common choice among journos and pro teams alike. It really does make travelling with your bike a lot less stressful.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Material:Body: Nylon 840D Ripstop PE backed Bottom: Waterproof PU Diamond Texture. External Dimensions:L 118cm x D 45cm x H 90cmFolded DimensionsL 106cm x D 24cm x H 29cmFrame Limit:Any bike frame up to 65 cm.

And because of the rigid frame there is no need to remove or move handlebars or saddles so your dialled-in position can stay that way.

Well thought out, solidly built bag.

It's extremely capable as a transport bag, its downside comes really from it's weight which may be a limiting factor for some. Ease of use is superb.

Apart from one plastic clip breaking, it's been holding up to plenty of trips really well.

It's 9kg, thats quite a heft before you add the bike in. Having said that, it's certainly lighter than rigid cases.

Easy to use, simple straps for pulling, a doddle.

Good if you will use it a lot, even better if you can find it at a reduced price.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

I thought it was really good indeed. Made packing simple, and transit became much smoother.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Peace of mind, no gaffing about with bubble wrap and cardboard boxes.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Pulling the bag along uneven and gritty surfaces, causing the wheels to jam like a shopping trolley.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

For frequent travellers, on coaches and trains as well as planes, it makes the whole process much, much simpler, smoother and far less stressful.

Overall rating: 8 /10

About the tester

Age: 37   Height: 176cm   Weight:

I usually ride: WyndyMilla Massive Attack, Raleigh SP Race, Hoffman BMX   My best bike is: WyndyMilla Massive Attack

I've been riding for: Under 5 years   I ride: Every day   I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, touring, sportives, general fitness riding, Adventure-packing, crossing-countries

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Note that the Aero Comfort Tri WILL NOT fit a XL Specialized Shiv or a Roubaix 61cm without taking the handle bars off. The advertising by Scicon "One size does not fit all" up to 62cm is not correct. It is a good bag and easy to pack if your bike is small/medium or large but not xl or above 59cm frame.

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Recently purchased one - easy to pack, and easy to wheel. The addition of permanent handles / straps would be a bonus for picking off the luggage carousel though. Whichever bag you're thinking of buying - just do it. It really is a case of 'have bike bag, will travel'. 

Exactly what ianj said, it's a doddle to use, even with an ISP

Quick question: it looks like you don't have to remove the seatpost and saddle - is that correct? My best bike has an ISP and I'm looking for a sensible way to transport it by plane. If it could fit in this, I think it might be the solution...

no need to remove seat post, saddle, pedals or turn the bars- simply bolt the bike to the frame and you are done. Well apart from taking the skewers out the wheels and putting them in the bag !! The frame is "bolted" to the frame with quick release skewers which are specific to the bag not the ones from your wheels lol No need to rebuild your bike at all when you arrive. If the pros use these then you cant really go wrong !

Best bike bag by far..i travel abroad a lot, to Italy mainly but have never had a problem and am ready to ride in 5mins. Especially handy when I have a coaching job, the plane is late and my client is waiting for me !!!! Just pad the frame, forks etc with some foam pipe insulation and job done. Cant recommend Scicon enough. rule5cyclingcoaching.com

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Nothing to see here, move along.  It wasn't a cyclist in a pedestrian area so no harm......

While I agree with your sentiment, I suspect it's considered a bad idea in PR for an organisation to say "unsurprised you didn't do what you'd say...

It beggars belief that after a major safety failure, the driver isn't automatically prevented from driving until they can demonstrate that they can...

Slightly off topic, but $1,161 and $619? WTF?  Does anybody know why Australia's fines are not "round" numbers like they are in the rest of the...

it used to be, obviously opinions differ. But the stuff they sold a decade ago, absolutely was very good quality stuff, it felt quality too,and...

That's connected via OBD-II so can't access GPS data, therefore won't help with navigation. 

Ahh; the usual issue....

Yeah; read Tom Allen's blog for his thoughts on the difference between Touring & Bikepacking......

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You can see the effect of a 'way too late' opening of this comp, with my dismal results!  Wrecked a good start to my season.

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SCICON AEROCOMFORT 3.0 TSA Route Transport Bag

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Product details, about this item.

• Weight: 10,5 Kg
• External Dimensions: 115x95x28 cm
• Disk breaks ready
• Rim breaks ready
• Road bikes only
• Built for air travel. Travel Sentry Approved (TSA) padlock equipped

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Product Description

HI-SPEED PACKING

The clever design of the SCICON AeroComfort Road 3.0 TSA bike travel bag takes the stress out of dismantling and reassembling your bike, because it allows the bike to remain almost fully intact. There is no need to tamper with the complicated internal wiring of your bike anymore. You don’t even have to take off the pedals. Ready to fly or ready to race in minutes

AT A GLANCE

Hybrid protection system

The hybrid protection system combines a padded outer soft shell and an integrated frame stand compatible with both quick release and thru axle skewer systems. While the internal Frame Defender protects your bike from impacts, it also doubles up as a bike stand. Advanced protection features include a smart belt system that holds your bike frame firmly in place as well as rigid protection shields to protect the bike’s most critical areas and fragile parts.

The upright position of the bike, ¾ length zipper around the bag and individual internal wheel pockets mean customs and security personnel can inspect your bike without having to remove it from the bike bag. While a TSA padlock protects provides added security – only allowing access to TSA agents.

NO NEED TO REMOVE HANDLEBARS

Minimal disassembly of your bike. All that you need to remove are the bike’s wheels. Complementing a good bike fit, you don’t even have to remove the handlebars or seat post.

TRAVEL SENTRY APPROVED

A TSA padlock ensures the safety of the bike as well as access to the bike travel bag to customs authorities in the USA, Canada and many other international airports.

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Scicon Sports Aerocomfort 3.0 TSA Road Bike Travel Bag

SCI CON AEROCOMFORT ROAD 3.0 TSA BIKE TRAVEL BAG

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• Date First Available ‏ : ‎ February 14, 2023
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ SCICON
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BVPPQDQP
• #32 in Bike Pack Accessories

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Customers say

Customers like the ease of packing and maneuverability of the bike carrier. They mention that the wheels on the bottom make it convenient to roll around. They also appreciate the quality of the bag, saying that it seems well-made. Customers are also satisfied with performance. However, some customers have reported issues with size and protection.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the vehicle bag easy to pack and transport their bike. They appreciate the straps and handles for easy transport to and from the airport.

"...I was super happy how easy it was to put my bike , wheels and ease of securing my bike in the back. The wheels are one of the best parts of the bag...." Read more

"Great bag. Easy to pack . Bike arrived safely." Read more

"It is simple to pack the bike and to transport it. But one has to deinstall the rear derailleur...." Read more

"The bag and accessories make it very easy to pack your bike without having to remove handlebar or seat post/saddle...." Read more

Customers find the wheels on the bottom of the vehicle bag convenient to roll around. They say the bag rolls smoothly and in any direction. They also mention that it's easy to carry around and convenient for TSA inspections.

"...The wheels are one of the best parts of the bag. it rolls in any direction you need it to with such ease...." Read more

"...It's easy to carry around , convenient for TSA inspections...." Read more

"...Wheels on bottom of case are great - so easy to move it around ...." Read more

"...Certainly the wheels on the bottom make it convenient to roll around , but be aware that since you don't fully disassemble your bike, the bag is..." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the quality of the vehicle bag. They mention it's well-made and a great product.

" Great bag . Easy to pack. Bike arrived safely." Read more

"...make sure to check the measurements. Other than that, the bag seems well-made , if pricey for the narrow use-case of sending your bike as checked..." Read more

" Excellent road bag . Initially came without the gear bag. Called Amazon to help but they wanted me to return the entire bag...." Read more

" Great bag ..." Read more

Customers like the performance of the vehicle bag. They say the retaining system works well to rigidify the bag.

"...Was expecting the worst - but the case worked perfectly . Looked closely but no damage at all to bike. Good job Sci Con - great case............" Read more

"...The internal strap retaining system seems to work well to rigidify the bag, though I didn't keep the bag so I can't say whether the straps stay..." Read more

" Worked great on my flight to RAGBRAI. I had to walk 1 mile with it, bag just rolled along smoothly. No issues checking bag with airline." Read more

Customers like the straps of the vehicle bag. They mention that they support their bike well, and are easy to secure to the case frame. They appreciate the lots of straps and handles for easy transport to and from the case.

"...I was super happy how easy it was to put my bike, wheels and ease of securing my bike in the back. The wheels are one of the best parts of the bag...." Read more

"...Also bought extra padding to surround the derailleur. Easy to secure bike to case frame and straps support bike well...." Read more

"...wheels that rolled easily, accessory bags and pockets, and lots of straps and handles for easy transport to and from the airport...." Read more

Customers are mixed about the protection of the vehicle bag. Some mention that it protects and is easy to pack, while others say that it does not offer proper protection to the wild baggage handlers and that there could be damages to the derailleur if the bag were to be hit.

"...Looked closely but no damage at all to bike . Good job Sci Con - great case............" Read more

"...It kept the bike safe . The new ver 3.0 improves on 2.0 by adding a shield around the derailer...." Read more

"...The existing guard doesn't fit very well and there could be damages to the derailleur if the bag were to be hit hard in that area...." Read more

" Protects and it's easy to pack..." Read more

Customers are dissatisfied with the size of the vehicle bag. They mention that the existing guard doesn't fit very well, it does not fit modern thru-axle bikes, and the seat cover did not fit their seat. Additionally, the provided thru- axle caps do not fit the standard 100 mm front. Customers also mention that it may be too big for some car trunks.

"...The seat cover did not fit my seat :-..." Read more

"... Nothing fit on the mount so I simply used only the quick release without the adaptors, yet it seemed very unstable...." Read more

"...trade-off for not having to disassemble the bike, but the bag may be too big for some car trunks etc. make sure to check the measurements...." Read more

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Cycling Plus

Scicon Aerocomfort 2.0 TSA review

Soft bike travel bag with hard case safety

Travelling with your bike on a plane, your options are essentially an ultra-budget cardboard bike box from your local bike shop, a cheap bag, or an expensive hardcase.

The big problem is at the other end: a cardboard box will inevitably get damaged and it, along with a full size hardcase, can be difficult to store in a hotel room – once you’ve got it there. The most convenient choice is a padded bag, and the Aerocomfort is one of the easiest to use.

Open up the three-sided zip and you find an aluminium box-section support frame taking up the full length of the reinforced floor. Stow your wheels in the padded zipped pockets on either side, then attach your frameset via its dropouts to the frame using the skewers provided.

The bag is wider at the bar end than the rear, so you don’t even have to undo your stem or remove the bar. We had no problems fitting a 58cm frame inside, and only had to drop the saddle 2in. Our first go at packing took around 10 minutes, and now we’re used to it we’ve just about halved that.

As well as the skewers, accessories include frame pads, a nylon frame cover, rear mech hanger protector and a TSA approved padlock – a combination lock that can still be opened by airport security with a masterkey held by them.

Four replaceable castors make moving the bag around a doddle, and there’s a removable drag handle and a padded shoulder strap too, though it can be a little unstable.

The 8.55kg (18.85lb) weight, including accessories (it’s claimed to be 7.5kg/16.5lb) is still good for the protection the Scicon offers, and when empty it’ll pack down to 34x39x98cm – small enough to stow under a hotel bed or in the corner of a wardrobe.

The bike is very well protected thanks to the use of frame-fitting, high-density padding. It’s simple to pack, reasonably light and tough fabrics are used throughout. An impressive product.

This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio .

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Review: SCICON Aerotech Evolution X TSA Bike Travel Case

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The delivery driver let out a huge sigh of relief as I opened my front door a couple of weeks ago and took delivery of a large cardboard box from him.

"Didn't want to put that back on the van," he said, as he shoved the 118cm x 97cm x38cm cardboard cave into my lounge then added, "New bike?"

"No," I replied, "New bike box."

"Ah, that's nice. What's the name please?" - then he was back on the van and gone.

The humble bike box is, without doubt, either the best friend or the worst enemy of a travelling cyclist. It goes to places where the sun doesn't shine (aeroplane holds) and feels the loving caress of burly baggage handlers. It sees things that you really don't want to see yourself!

So, with great anticipation I carefully opened the box to let my SCICON Aerotech Evolution X TSA Bike Travel Case see the light of day.

With the Evolution X lying flat, I hunted in and around the cardboard box for instructions on how to open it. With no paperwork to be found, I started to fiddle with the four retaining clasps, finding that they all need just a quick anticlockwise turn to loosen the clamping system, then the clasps can be opened.

I opened the Evolution X to the full extent and found the opening instructions inside! Fortunately, the TSA clasps are actually really simple to operate, but to the newbie owner afraid of causing damage, especially one that has purchased the case over the internet rather than in a shop, it would be very helpful if SCICON were to include instructions in a packing slip outside of the case!

My interest moved on to the additional bag in the centre of the case, opening it excitedly to see what lay within. QR skewers - yep, understand them. Two padded things (19cm x 13cm) with Velcro straps - nope, not a clue. Two plastic lugs (5cm) - not a clue either. Extra Velcro strap - huh?

It seemed clear to me that SCICON must have a purpose for these items, so I hunted for the packing guide. Nope, nowhere to be found! As with most things these days, YouTube is your friend and I was soon watching a slick production that gave me most of the basic advice that I needed to know.

I may be something of a luddite, but I do think that it would be useful for a printed summary of the packing approach to be included in the box, just in case a new owner does not have an internet connection at the first time of packing.

Removal of the rear derailleur hanger is not shown in the video and it is always a subject of concern - especially if, like me, you've previously snapped yours.

Replacements can be a nightmare to source so I always have a spare with me, but that doesn't help you decide if you should remove it, or not. Comments on the video from SCICON reveal that rear derailleur removal is sometimes required, sometimes not, which isn't really that helpful so I decided to remove mine and wrap it in bubble wrap.

The stages to preparing your bike for fitting in to the Evolution X are remarkably straightforward - remove seatpost with saddle; remove wheels, deflate tyres; remove QR skewers; remove left pedal; loosen handlebar and turn it to the right.

That's it - extremely simple in principle, and very stylishly animated in the YouTube video.

Reality, however, is not always so kind and I was soon falling at the first hurdle - my seatpost simply would not come out of the frame. After deciding against cutting my perching post out, I simply removed the saddle and found that it fitted perfectly.

The Evolution X is designed to be compatible with integrated seatpost extensions, and this was my saviour. Admittedly, my trusty nine-year-old, 56cm Trek Madone doesn't have an integrated seatpost, but the vice-like bond between downtube and seatpost amounted to the same thing. Fortunately, it now fitted in to the Evolution X like a glove!

I then turned my attention to securing my bike in the box before adding the wheels. Hmmm, I thought, the video animation shows two red straps being secured but my Evolution X has a third one down near the rear derailleur.

It's just a minor point as it's relatively clear that the third Velcro strap must locate around the chainstays, but it would be nice if the video was more accurate here and gave better guidance.

At this point, it's a simple process to fix your wheels in the wheel-shaped recesses in the case - no need for extra advice there - then close the lid and begone to your chosen destination. As with most travellers though, I have seen how baggage handlers always treat luggage with the utmost respect, so I added a few optional insurances to the Evolution X.

This is all personal choice and not meant to be critical of SCICON in any way. Moreover, it is actually a compliment because the dimensions of the box are generous enough for you to add your own little extra bits of packing.

My additional packing included:

• Bubble wrap over and under chainset
• Bubble wrap around front and rear brakes
• Bubble wrap underneath handlebar drops
• Chain wrapped in rag to prevent excessive soiling on the case
• Heavy-duty wheel bag placed under bike and another on top for extra padding
• Bottle cages removed
• Waterproof overshoes wrapped around brakes - I was travelling to Norway so the need for overshoes was quite high!

With helmet, shoes, saddle bag and frame bag also squirreled away inside the Evolution X, I was mildly hesitant as to whether it would close and lock.

I need not have worried at all - the wheel side closes down in to a couple of runner 'guides' so, as long as you check the alignment there, the locks will also neatly line up. Occasionally, I found that the red closure straps would stick out from the side of the case, but that's a real nit-pick and easily managed with a bit of care when you close the lid.

All in all, the entire process from start of bike preparation to final lid closure took around two hours (excluding watching videos on how to remove stuck seat posts) which was quite acceptable as a first-time effort. I have no doubt the time would reduce significantly with practice.

Having manhandled the now heavy case into the upright position, I attached the provided red strap which I assume is to enable you pull the Evolution X along. The location of this attaching point is not mentioned in the video and, in my opinion, is frankly daft. It needs to be placed high and to the front of the box, not low and to the side. Please SCICON, can you reconsider the location of the attachment point in future iterations of the design?

Manoeuvring the Evolution X by hand pushing - i.e. without the strap I have just mentioned - is very easy as all of the casters rotate through 360 degrees, thereby avoiding the need for the shopping trolley dance.

We've all had one of those at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons etc, where the front wheels are locked and you 'drive' from the rear, right? I was initially very impressed with the manoeuvrability of the case, but that was before it had been to Stavanger - more about that later in this review.

The next thing you realise, as you attempt to load the packed Evolution X into a convenient estate car, is that there aren't any real handles on it. Well, there are shapes on the box that look like handles but they miss the essential feature of being able to put your hand through them.

This, of course, means you can't really get any grip or purchase on it. So, unless you have the wingspan of an albatross, it is very, very, difficult to lift a packed Evolution X on your own.

I managed it, just, but I'd like to see more usable handles to make the case a little more manageable - especially for solo cyclists. We have to lift heavy packed bike case more times than you may have thought about - e.g. getting on/off airport shuttle buses; getting in/out of cars/taxis and lifting it on/off the hotel bed for packing/unpacking!

On the subject of lifting, "How much does it weigh?" is probably on your mind. The official weight from SCICON is 12kg but my flight scales suggest the Aerotech is a little bit heavier at 13.11kg.

With packing, transfer to Gatwick and self check-in all now taken care of, I waved goodbye to my Evolution X through the oversized baggage scanner and started to dream of three days' bike riding at the Haute Route Norway event in Stavanger.

Depending on when you are reading this, I will have also written a report on that event - or, at the very least, am currently doing so. (Check back later on Sportive.com, or drop me an email - [email protected] - and tell me to hurry up. If you do that and take a training plan as well, then ask me for a 10% discount.)

Individual airport procedures for oversize baggage handling do vary, and there is a little gotcha that the Evolution X can fall foul of. At the top of the case is a very handy slot through which you slide your baggage tag before sticking the ends together.

On the face of it, it's a perfect design feature thought out for your convenience. Unfortunately, it can be quite the opposite.

At Stavanger airport - and no doubt many others - the procedure is that bike boxes have to be opened for a visual security inspection. Unfortunately, the baggage tag, once threaded through the slot, is effectively locking the box sides together so you have to remove it to open the Evolution X.

Darn, that perfect design feature is now a perfect pain, as you rip off the old baggage tag and hope the security staff will help you print a new one. The solution here is to wait until the case has been inspected - if required - before fitting the baggage tag. Otherwise, it could be a long trek back to the check-in desk for a replacement tag.

Forty-five minutes after landing in Stavanger, I'm reunited with the Evolution X and steering it with a light touch towards the waiting mini-bus. It's 1.30am by the time I get to my hotel and I just want a quiet, quick, check-in before crashing out on my bed.

Stavanger has other ideas though - a lot of the paths in the old town where I am staying are cobbled. They're not cobbles as in Paris-Roubaix try-to-kill-you cobbles, but they are cobbles nonetheless.

Bike box wheels don't like cobbles, tired cyclists don't like bike boxes on cobbles, and no one likes to hear bike boxes on cobbles at 1.30am in the morning. You can't really lift the Evolution X up and carry it over the cobbles, so there is no choice but to bang, bang, bang your way over them.

After pushing my Evolution X over about 200m of cobbles, twice, I found that it had developed the shopping trolley dance. Instead of guiding with a light touch and steering in a straight line, I was having to push hard to control and steering at an angle across my forward path. This characteristic was being displayed before my return flight but not immediately after the outward flight, so my only conclusion is that it has been caused by pushing over cobbles.

I may pushing my luck here, but SCICON maybe you could consider a pavé-ready "Spring Classics" edition of the Aerotech - perhaps with built-in suspension?

Three days later, Haute Route Norway is over and I'm packing up to go home. With better knowledge of bike preparation, the packing routine and addition of my extras, the whole process takes me just 90 minutes.

I think a 25% reduction in time is not too shabby and quite reflective of what is, overall, a very well thought out design. (One customer on a retail website reports being able to pack the case in just 20 minutes - a target to aim for!

SCICON's reputation is built on the quality of their bike cases, and the Aerotech Evolution X is packed with feaures that testify to the brand's many years of experience mollycoddling valuable and fragile race bikes.

The case has a lot to recommend it:

• Easy to pack - no need to remove handlebars
• Responsive and easy to steer (notwithstanding cobbles)
• Integrated seat post compatibility
• Intuitive locking mechanisms
• Guides to help correctly place the top lid ensure that the external locks line up
• Generous capacity for extras
• It looks good!

Set against these plus points are a few minor quibbles:

• Internal padding sheet is relatively thin
• Packing instructions are online only, and the video is slick but gives guidance rather than details
• Pull along attachment point is poorly located
• Luggage tag is effectively another lock - can cause issues at airport check-in
• "Handles" are difficult to grip

On balance, the positive points far outweigh the negatives. It's a sturdy, well-built case that inspires trust, and this was borne out by my experience flying to and from Norway - the bike returned home without a scratch.

Finally, the price. The Aerotech Evolution X has a recommended retail price of £699, which is a big investment for a plastic box. However, set against this is the value that it brings in protecting a steed that could be 10 times as expensive.

Fortunately you can also pick up the case at a hefty discount from online retailers - for example, Probikekit currently offer it at £399, which makes it much better value.

Overall, I would be happy to recommend the SCICON Aerotech Evolution to sportive riders looking for a reliable, well-made case to protect their bikes when flying.

Scicon Aerotech Evolution X TSA Bike Travel Case, RRP £699 - uk.sciconbags.com .

Currently available for £399 at probikekit.co.uk .

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Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 triathlon bike bag review

Is this top-end triathlon bike bag the answer to all of your transport troubles? Matt Baird tests out the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 to find out...

Hardshell cases tend to offer your bike more protection if you’re navigating the queues and baggage chuckers to fly to foreign climes to race or train.

Yet they’re hard to store at both the hotel and home, their appeal limited to those with double garages and/or very understanding partners.

That's where a stashable loft-friendly softshell comes in, such as the Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 Triathlon bag.

For those with triathlon bikes, the Aerocomfort’s USP is the internal bike stand, which means you can, once the wheels are removed, attach the remaining bike to the mounting mechanisms without needing to dismantle your integrated tri-bars (the bag’s sizing means that those going for the road bike/ clip-on tri-bar option will need to remove the clip-ons first).

Happily, those mounts are suitable for both calliper and disc brake wheels.

As that £650 price for a softshell suggests, there are plenty of bells and whistles here in the form of protective pouches for bars, tubes and the saddle, while an included padlock and a gear bag for helmets, shoes, etc, adds to the welcome package.

Where the Aerocomfort falls down is leaving the front-end shifters more exposed and having a rear derailleur protector that isn’t compatible with disc-brake bikes, which seems an omission in 2022 and makes me worry about rear mech damage (an extra £60 gets you padded brake and gear covers).

The wheels and straps conquered a two-mile test walk through a Bristol heatwave, though, looking better than we did on arrival home.

Verdict: Points for triathlon specificity, but we have shifter concerns.

Pair this with...

Topeak mini 20 pro mini tool.

A bike tool is an invaluable piece of kit and it's one that would undoubtedly come into its own when travelling with your bike, as it'll allow you to perform certain tasks when you need to, such as putting your pride and joy back together when you land.

This Topeak option has a claimed weight of just 151g, yet has nearly a couple of dozen handy tools at your disposal. These include a chain tool, Allen wrenches, torx wrenches, screwdrivers, spoke wrenches, a tyre lever and an all-important bottle opener.

• Best clip-on aerobars reviewed
• Best triathlon-specific bike saddles
• Best triathlon watches

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Editor of Cycling Plus magazine

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Statue of Lenin

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Statue of Lenin - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• (0.57 mi) Elektrostal Hotel
• (1.00 mi) Yakor Hotel
• (1.31 mi) Hotel Djaz
• (1.41 mi) Mini Hotel Banifatsiy
• (1.45 mi) MTM Hostel Elektrostal
• (0.07 mi) Teremok
• (0.21 mi) Coffee Shop Usy Teodora Glagoleva
• (0.25 mi) Mazhor
• (0.30 mi) Tashir Pizza
• (0.31 mi) Ermitazh

• Regions  
• Russia  
• Moscow Oblast  

Elektrostal

Cycling routes in

Find the right bike route for you through Elektrostal, where we've got 330 cycle routes to explore. The routes you most commonly find here are of the hilly type. Most people get on their bikes to ride here in the months of June and August.

Find cycle routes in Elektrostal:

Flat routes | Hilly routes | Uphill routes | Downhill routes | Quick rides | Long tours | Top rated routes

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