Travel case replacements

[John Thurston]

There was a discussion earlier this year (see "Travel case minimum dimensions") about suitcases, and my query is related.

We have a very old Samsonite "Oyster", and somewhat newer Carlton "AirTec". The Samsonite has a lot of trips on it, and is starting to show its age. The axle of the front wheel hasn't yet poked through the side of the case, but it's getting thin there. The towing-handle on the end is starting to feel loose. The lock fell out at least a decade ago (which is probably good, because it saves having the TSA pry it open).

When it is wearing its 50mm shoes, my right-swing Llama fits very snugly into the Samsonite. The limitations of the Samsonite are: I need to remove the right crank arm (for which I've installed a self-extracting bolt), and I can't use (drop) bars wider than 42mm. I like the snug fit. When the bike is in, there's not any space left for it to slide around an be damaged. When packed, it is just shy of 40lbs (39.5 was the most recent number I saw). I consider the above to be "constraints", but not problems. I don't mind puzzle piecing, or pulling a crank arm.

What I'm getting tired of is its old-school "tow from the end" style of the Oyster. It means lifting about 50% of those 40lbs, and that gets tiring after 1/2 a mile :( The "long" form factor also takes up extra space on sidewalks, and lifts. And the offset handle works well, as long as it is used with my right hand (trying to pull that case with my left is stupid), and my arm gets tired after a bit.

The Carlton we have is the same form-factor, but roomier (and larger). So switching to that won't solve any of my perceived problems.

The Samsonite F'lite is the most recent solution I'm aware of, but I get the impression the F'lite has been replaced (in the Samsonite product line) with the S'cure. Does anyone want to opine on how those two cases:

• Behave on sidewalks
• Hoist onto buses or subway cars
• Handle an old right-swing Friday
• Compare to the Oyster for durability
  

And there is still the question: Will the "28-inch" version of either of them work, or must I use the "31-inch" version?

-- 
John Thurston
Juneau, Alaska

[rsma...@gmail.com]

Hi John,

Yes, I have an old Oyster around for an equally old Pocket Rocket that I cannot part with and sometimes lend folks.  I also had a Carlton, but was never happy with it.  I really enjoyed the move to the Samsonite Hardcase, with the wheels along the long edge of the base and I still have one of these.  But then one them broke upon arrival in Madrid around 2019 and I got to pick out a new one at Delta's expense (thanks, Delta!!) I switched to the spinner design (4 wheels) and have never looked back.  I think mine is the Samsonite S´Cure Spinner 81/30 138L Trolley.  It has worked fine for all my subsequent trips, plenty of room, but not fitted for use as a trailer.  I am not sure the material is stiff enough.  

Does BF even sell cases anymore?  It is so strange that they stopped with the accessories shop altogether. 

Cheers,
Rob
Salt Lake City, UT

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[Gregory Behie]

John, I have two of the hardcase, Samsonite F'lite suitcases that we have used with our Family tandem and currently with our Twosday tandem.  They are 4 wheel spinners.  We have only used them for two successful international trips (and a third commencing next week) since getting them and haven't had issues with the airlines relative to their size.  The cases can be deformed when pressing heavily on the top so I use crush protectors that I got from BF years ago.  They can be a little finicky to use as you need to line up the base part early in the packing process. Wheels still roll cleanly and I like the three latches to close the case up like a clamshell.

The cases have plenty of room for our tandem and accessories.  The big challenge is keeping the loaded weight under 50 pounds each so I always have a portable scale with us when we travel. The cases empty, minus all interior strapping and removable compartment accoutrements weigh 11.3 pounds each. I think the F'lite is still available.

Greg

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[John Thurston]

On 9/10/2023 10:26 AM, rsma...@gmail.com wrote:
> I switched to the spinner design (4 wheels) and have never looked
> back.  I think mine is the Samsonite S´Cure Spinner 81/30 138L
> Trolley.  It has worked fine for all my subsequent trips, plenty of
> room, but not fitted for use as a trailer.

How do the spinner wheels do for you on sidewalks, Rob? My Friday is
almost always flying to a city, and being transported by bus or train,
before being set up for riding. The process is then reversed to bring it
home again. I worry about smallish wheels snagging on sidewalk and curb
cracks.

And 'plenty of room' is a bit vague (and maybe not an asset from my
perspective). What size bike, left/right swing, and how much other gear
are you stuffing in there?

[rsma...@gmail.com]

Hi John

I have not had problems with even long hikes with the spinner.  One night we arrived home at SLC airport and they were understaffed on the shuttle busses so we had to walk 20 minutes to long-term parking and our car.  We had three different suitcases, the Samsonite was the cheapest, but was just as easy to drive over sidewalks, curbs, etc. 

My bike is a large-frame Pocket Rocket and I cannot compare the packed size with other models.  I am able to fit shoes, tools, water bottles, and a healthy set of bike clothes into the case (and still stay barely under the 50 lbs limit).  The 30" model spinner definitely offers more space than any of the previous bags.   I am a fan.

Cheers,
Rob

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[Larry Newman]

I’ve used the original Samsonite, then a Carleton, and now have the Samsonite Spinner, I thin the 31”. S’Cure is not a familiar name, so mine is probably a slightly earlier model. Like Rob, the Spinner is courtesy of Delta ripping the handle off the Carleton. The only issue I’ve had with the Spinner, when used as a trailer, is that the sliding tow handle is on the bottom of the case. You have to be careful when drilling for the trailer attachment. The slide also can get filled with road grit and may no slide very well. It’s much roomier, so I had to make wider stiffeners and have had them broken several times. Easy to pack stuff around the bike, so have to be careful to check the weight to avoid a surprise charge. The four -wheeled version is a bit easier to negotiate in narrow spaces, moving it in the upright position. The original side-tow cases tended to topple and were heavier on the towing arm. The Spinner is slightly over the permitted airline dimensions but I’ve never been challenged.

-- 

Larry, Bozeman, MT

AF, PR, NWT, and TT (formerly)

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[Larry Newman]

I’m packing a 1994 Pocket Rocket. Always remove the rear derailleur. The Spinner wheels roll over cracks about the same as the side-pull cases. The plus is the case on the side is less likely to tip over.

-- 

Larry, Bozeman, MT

AF, PR, NWT, and TT (formerly)

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[John Thurston]

On 9/10/2023 12:32 PM, Larry Newman wrote:
> I’ve used the original Samsonite, then a Carleton, and now have the
> Samsonite Spinner, I thin the 31”.

This is all excellent information. Thank you, folks.

One last question .. has anyone had success using the 28-inch S'cure or
F'lite as their Friday travel case?

[Richard Cochrane]

John,

Better late than never :-)

We have two large Sampsonites for our bikeTwosday.  There is no model
name, but they have four wheels on the short side.  They have three
latches.  They roll pretty well on most surfaces (and sometimes too well
if the surface is sloped).  Gravel presents a problem.  No airline has
ever questioned the dimensions.

We have taken our bike Twosday on several trips to Europe and one to
Alaska and one to Phoenix with no problems.  (Anchorage is a
surprisingly bike friendly city, as you probably know.)

Regarding your axles poking through the side, we just pack clothes
around the wheel(s) to keep the hub away from the side.

The sides are pretty flexible, so we use the standoffs and spacers that
Bike Friday provided.  The standoffs screw into the rack mounting holes
in the rear triangle,which holds the sides apart in the suitcase with
the rear half of the tandem.  We put a tennis ball with a hole cut in it
to cushion the sides of the suitcases.

It is important to have the spacers to keep the sides apart - they are
pretty flexible.  Noel

A scale is important.  With clothes for padding, our Sampsonites are
right at 48± pounds.

Richard Cochrane