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Will hold all we require
Photo: ©
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Sci'Con's Aero Comfort bicycle bag is an easy to use, travelling
cyclist's friend. It has a number of simple but handy features that make
it an important travelling accessory, as Jeff Jones found
out.
Italian company SCI'CON claims it has "the largest and most complete
range of cycling bags and accessories to satisfy all the requirements of
its customers." Having been in business since 1980, SCI'CON has certainly
built up an impressive array of such products, which include saddle bags,
sports bags, and various types of bicycle protection bags.
The ultimate protection is a hard shell bike box (SCI'CON also makes
these), but these can lead to problems at various airports due to their
weight. A hard shell bike box can weigh 15-20 kg by itself, and when the
bike and luggage is added, the excess baggage charge is potentially
horrendous. Of course, many airlines allow bikes on board for a modest
additional charge, or for free if you're lucky. Bike bags are lighter,
afford a good degree of protection, and are a lot easier to lug around
than the basic level of protection, the cardboard box.
The Aero Comfort
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Internal workings
Photo: ©
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Cyclingnews recently had the opportunity to test
SCI'CON's Aero
Comfort, which is its middle of the range bike bag. Besides being large
and red, the Aero Comfort has several nifty features that make it a
distinct improvement over my existing, and rather battered bike bag.
The bag is made of sponge padded nylon and has an anti-shock metal
frame inside. The bike, sans wheels, attaches to this, much like a home
trainer. There are two front fork attachments - one which allows the forks
to sit 'straight ahead' as they normally do, and another that allows the
forks to be turned sideways, avoiding the necessity to remove the
handlebars. Because the fork attachments are rigid (they can slide in and
out of the frame), the bike's head tube angle and fork offset must be
exactly right for the sideways attachment to fit properly. In the bikes we
tested, we found one fitted fine and the other did not. In the latter
case, the forward facing attachment could still be used without
problems.
The bag also comes supplied with a pocket for keeping your skewers,
tools etc. in, three foam pads that can wrap around the frame, a couple of
Velcro straps, and a metal rear derailleur protector. All of this should
greatly reduce the need for bubble wrap and towels, although these have a
dual purpose for a traveller.
The bag has two carrying straps for hauling it around, as well as four
caster wheels, meaning that it can be wheeled wherever the ground is
smooth enough. A word of warning: Don't mistreat the wheels, or they will
eventually fall off. Then it becomes rather taxing on your shoulders to
carry a 20 kg bike along with 30 kg of other luggage. I speak from painful
experience...
Ease of Use
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Snug fit
Photo: © CN |
The Aero Comfort's six step instruction sheet is simple to follow, and
a standard racing bike can easily be packed in under 15 minutes. We tested
it using the packing materials supplied with the bag, and packed a
complete racing bike in 8 minutes, and unpacked it and put it together
again in 3 minutes. Not bad!
How it's done
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Derailleur protection
Photo: ©
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The wheels come off first, before placing the bicycle frame onto the
anti-shock metal frame and attaching via the two metal skewers. The rear
derailleur protector is placed between the bike's rear dropout and the
skewer nut. Depending on which fork attachment you are using, the
handlebar may have to be unfastened or rotated at this point. After
putting the foam pads on the frame, the wheels are placed either side, on
top of the pedals. These are secured using the Velcro straps, and the bike
bag can then be snugly zipped up.
There is no need for a lot of unbolting of bike parts, meaning that
this process should be quite easy, just as unpacking it at the other end
should be. This is an important factor for a racing cyclist who is
regularly moving around, and Sci'Con has done its homework on this one.
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Ready to roll!
Photo: ©
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Who uses them?
SCI'CON
recently
confirmed a deal with the US Postal Service team who will be using
their Aero Comfort bags throughout the 2003 season. In addition to USPS,
The Navigators as well as the Colavita Bolla and Sierra Nevada/Clif Bar
professional teams will be using them next season.
Photos
Images by Cyclingnews / Paul Mirtschin
Dimensions (folded for storage): 300mm x 275mm x 900mm (12" x
11" x 36")
Dimensions (with bike): 960 mm x 300mm x 1200mm (38"
x 12" x 48")
Weight: 7 kg (approx.)
Colour:
Red
Recommended retail price: US$325
Pro: Relatively light, plenty of protection, easy to use, easy
to carry
Con: Sideways fork attachment doesn't fit all racing
forks
More information:
SCI'CON website
Cyclingnews Rating:
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