Cases for our S&S coupled Santana Arriva

S&S case

"Normal" luggage isn't square and, thus, doesn't accommodate wheels. The S&S case, while expensive, is 26" square and we opted for the 10" thickness bringing it exactly to the airlines limitation of 62" total dimension. Our custom Arriva, XL pilot and M stoker, has a raised toptube and is equally limiting, the pilot seattube is EXACTLY the inside dimension of the S&S case, not one mm to spare and, thus, is not protected at the BB shell or the seatpost clamp. It's vunerable to baggage handler hits but both these elements are sturdy.

Note: left side of pictures is the bottom, deeper section of the case and the right side of the pictures is upper, shallower section of the case.

Layer 1

L side: one of the four loose tubes, the lateral with bottle cages, the cassette, and the front racks.

R side: the lower timing crank is covered with a foam disk before the Arai in Layer 2.

Layer 2

L side: the fork steerer is raised and supported by a foam block such that the dropouts are nearly horizontal. The pump handle enters the hole in the fork crown.

R side: hard to see in the picture: a 1" layer of foam under the triple crank and surrounding the Arai.

Layer 3

R side: the Arai is covered with a foam disk and a piece of pipe insulation separates the triple crank and the rim.

Both sides; the wheels, air released, slope down from left to right.

Layer 4

L side: the F triangle slopes down from left to right. To get it into the case, I insert the BB into its corner first, then rotate the seat tube clamp into its corner. There is no room to spare.

The head tube appears outside the case, is stuffed inside angling into the shallower section as case is closed. Both hubs will impinge on the lateral tube. It must be carefully protected with foam pipe insulation at that central spot; this foam is sacrificed to one trip only.

Samsonite American Tourister suitcase

This old suitcase cost me 49 cents at a Goodwill store. It was locked shut and I had to get it opened at a luggage repair shop.

Note: top of pictures is the bottom, hinged edge of the case and the bottom of the pictures is top, handle edge of the case.

Layer 1

Three of the four loose tubes. Next, they are covered with foam strips. Note: foam buildup in LR corner for BB. The case top has a matching foam buildup.

Layer 2

The rear triangle and pilot's handlebars are a real puzzle to fit. A foam block fits between the rack and stoker's seattube clamp and hinged edge of the case and another between the chainstays and handle edge of the case. I figured the rack would provide additional support when the case is upright and banged around. Note: spare tire wedged between rack and case for additional support. Rear mech dropout is, unfortunately, rather vulnerable. It is supported by foam, PVC tube and skewer separating rear dropouts.

Items included in layer 3

These are stuffed carefully into all open spaces. As you will see in the next two pics, holes remain for sox and other small items but not helmets. Would be nice to fit helmets in here but no go. Panniers for F and R racks are not in either. All tools necessary for dis/assembly, and all loose parts. That old Cannondale handlebar bag, been around for 15 years, fits in between the STI shifters and cables on the assembled tandem.

Layer 3 partly packed

Shoes are omitted to show a clearer view of the seatposts. The ends of the seatposts are embedded in the rack foam block at the top and the BB foam block at the lower right. As with the S&S case, foam pipe insulation is used liberally between painted tubes and other components.

Layer 3 complete

Including my shoes and the handlebar bag rack. The L handlebar end appears to overlap the case but fits inside; it's protected by only 1/2" of foam but it's designed to withstand crashes.

Ready to fly

Both cases ready to travel

The S&S case weighs 47# and the SAT case weighs 42#.

I installed a hasp on the SAT case and bought a set of four padlocks keyed alike. After locking the cases, I duct tape the padlocks flat on the surface to prevent snagging in the baggage conveyers. I use the remaining two padlocks on our other two pieces of checked luggage.

N.B.: The above was written prior to the 2001 Sept 11 Attack on the USA. We have not travelled with the cases since. I have no idea what new security regulations will mean as far as opening the cases for examination at airport checkin.