Co-Pilot Travel Case & compression members

[Kevin Williams]

Hello everyone,

I recently had my first S&S frame built and I'm preparing it for its first flight next month. I'm using the Co-Motion Co-Pilot Travel Case, which is described as follows:

“We use a tough nylon fabric shell with lots of Ballistic nylon reinforcements, then fortified with protective polyethylene sheets on the main panels to keep everything safe.

This hybrid design eliminates the need for rigid plastic supports and makes it easier to fit 700c wheels with the tires intact.”

It’s not a true hard case, but more of a reinforced soft case... a hybrid, as they describe it.

I’m curious if anyone here has experience with this case and can offer advice about using compression members. According to Ti Cycles, compression members are:

“Recommended for use with S&S cases. For checked baggage travel, backpack cases can be enclosed in a cardboard box for the compression members to work more effectively.”

However, I seem to recall reading somewhere that compression members aren't recommended for soft cases. Since the Co-Pilot is technically a hybrid, not a full soft case or hard case, I’m wondering if using compression members would be beneficial or even compatible.

The Co-Pilot product description implies they aren’t necessary, but I wouldn’t mind a bit of extra reinforcement and peace of mind during air travel. Has anyone tried using compression members with this case? Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

--Kevin W.

[Mike Sturgill]

Hi Kevin,

I don't have that case, but I do have the S&S Soft case (https://www.ticycles.com/components/ss-soft-case-10-backpack). I have traveled with it about 20 times. I also have the S&S hard case, which I prefer.

Regarding the compression members, use them! This is especially true with a compressible case. In addition to the 4 compression members (https://www.ticycles.com/components/ss-hard-case-10-compression-member) in the case, I also recommend using the TSA Security net (https://www.ticycles.com/components/ss-universal-tsa-security-net). This acts as a clam shell around the bike and the compression members. Once this is cinched, the compression members stay in place and do not move. They could easily dislodge or tip over if not secured in place. This also helps to keep your bike packed correctly because if the TSA opens it, there's not a snowball's change in, well you know, that it will be repacked properly. The net keeps things in place allowing for the case to be opened and inspected without removing any of the components.

You didn't mention any of the frame tube covers (https://www.ticycles.com/components/ss-frame-tube-covers), but I also recommend these. Many of the bike parts will be touching one another in the case. I've watched the bag handlers load/unload my bike and I can assure you that if you don't make it "dropable" from 3 feet, it will be damaged. In almost every instance that I've watched the loading, it has been dropped or thrown from a considerable height.

I've flown with, and shipped, my bikes at least 100 times of the years. In only 1 instance did something get broken. It was with my soft case when shipping it via FedEx. I used to leave the fork in place when I packed my bike, but this places it is a reasonably vulnerable position. It was crushed when I rcvd the bike. Sine then, I remove the fork and place it diagonally between the rear triangle when packed. This is far safer, and I have never had a problem with that. Removing and replacing a threadless fork only takes about 2 minutes and is trivial. I think it's worth that little extra effort.

In case you're interested, I was asked to photograph the steps I take to pack my bike. This set of images is packed in my hard case. Packing a soft case is far easier, in my experience. https://www.azbrevet.com/assets/images/PackingMySnSBikeCase.htm

Let me know if you have any additional questions.
-Mike

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[Bill Bryant]

Hi Kevin,

RUSA #8 and I use the Co-Motion cases and they have worked out well for our flights. I think they are a good product. Yes, we do use the compression members and I think they add a bit of case security if some heavier luggage is piled on top of our cases. Alas, they add to the complexity of packing too. So… we could leave them out, but having repaired a number of damaged bikes from airline travel for years when I was a bike mechanic and frame-builder, well, I guess I don’t mind spending a little extra time with our packing chores. 

Bill Bryant

Santa Cruz Randonneurs

[Kevin Williams]

Mike,

Excellent write-up, this is perfect! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. I already have the net and the tube covers, all that's left are the compression members. I will be ordering 4 of the 10" today! I will also keep your advice about the fork in mind. I am going to break down and attempt to pack the bike well in advance to give myself plenty of time to figure things out. I am sure I will refer to the write-up you linked to with the screenshots many times throughout that process :)

Bill,

Your stamp of approval goes a long way towards making me feel better about moving forward with this case. I don't mind the extra bit of complexity for the added peace of mind. I have already made peace with the fact that breaking down and packing, then unpacking and reassembling, will be a time-consuming chore either way!

Thanks again!

--Kevin W.

[Jake Kassen]

FWIW, I've only used soft cases for my Ritchey breakaway: first the S&S branded one and now one made by Dill Pickle Gear. I've traveled with the bike a few dozen times in the US and internationally.

I've had wheels get out of true but nothing that couldn't be straightened enough to make the rim brakes work. My trick is to tightly pack clothing in the outer pouches of the bag which makes a pretty big cushion for the frame. I haven't used the tube pads and have small nicks and scrapes as a result but no real damage. I do use the compression straps but generally everything is already packed down tight.

The soft "backpack" bag is handy when you're going to be traveling solo and the ability to carry the bike on one's back and a 2nd backpack on the front between locations is helpful. Although at 49.9lb, not exactly comfortable.

Jake

> -------Original Message-------
> From: Kevin Williams <kws...@gmail.com>
> To: Randonneurs USA <randonn...@googlegroups.com>
> Subject: [RUSA] Co-Pilot Travel Case & compression members

> Sent: 19 May '25 12:43
>
>
>
> Hello everyone,
>
> I recently had my first S&S frame built and I'm preparing it for its
> first flight next month. I'm using the Co-Motion Co-Pilot Travel Case,
> which is described as follows:
>
> > "We use a tough nylon fabric shell with lots of Ballistic nylon
> > reinforcements, then fortified with protective polyethylene sheets
> > on the main panels to keep everything safe.
> >
> > This hybrid design eliminates the need for rigid plastic supports
> > and makes it easier to fit 700c wheels with the tires intact."
>
> It's not a true hard case, but more of a reinforced soft case... a
> hybrid, as they describe it.
>
> I'm curious if anyone here has experience with this case and can offer
> advice about using compression members. According to Ti Cycles,
> compression members are:
>

> > "_Recommended for use with S&S cases. For checked baggage travel,

> > backpack cases can be enclosed in a cardboard box for the

> > compression members to work more effectively._"

>
> However, I seem to recall reading somewhere that compression members
> aren't recommended for soft cases. Since the Co-Pilot is technically a
> hybrid, not a full soft case or hard case, I'm wondering if using
> compression members would be beneficial or even compatible.
>
> The Co-Pilot product description implies they aren't necessary, but I
> wouldn't mind a bit of extra reinforcement and peace of mind during
> air travel. Has anyone tried using compression members with this case?
> Any insights would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> --Kevin W.
>

[Hamid Akbarian]

Hi Kevin,

I am using a Co-Motion case for more than 15 years and I travel with it few times a year and so far

I had it to be repaired once for broken zipper which it did cost about $40.

I did not use any compression members which they came with my S&S hard case.

The trouble with compression members are when TSA is opening and messing up the case.

I used the compression members twice and never used them since 2010 and I never encountered any issues so far.

As you might guess, I use two cases (a Co-Motion & a S&S hard case) when I travel so I do not need to dis-assemble my bike to pieces :-)

I hope that this info helped.

Best of luck,

Hamid Akbarian

[Kevin J. Williams]

HI Hamid,

Thanks so much for your input! As I expected, I am getting varying advice regarding the compression members, and packing in general, from a wide range of sources. I think this might end up being a "throw everything at the wall and see what sticks" sort of situation. I think I will try it with the compression members and do the best I can with what I have, then adjust accordingly after I take it on a few trips. I will need to see what works and what doesn't, while being prepared to deal with a worst case scenario.

--Kevin W.

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