Aerocomfort Road 30 Tsa Bike Travel Bag Review

In this Scicon Aerocomfort two TSA cycle pocketbook review review, we'll look at why version 2 of the Scicon Aerocomfort is a large comeback 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 desire to give a HUGE thanks to Scicon for sending a bag out for the Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA cycle bag review.

Notes:

• I'll have a Scicon Aerocomfort ii TSA bicycle bag review on video and a how-to-pack video before long.
• Recall, this is a subjective review, based on transparent objective measures, and existent globe experience. You may disagree, y'all may agree; either manner, 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 two TSA cycle handbag but I can hands identify the improvements in the newest version of the bag. The functionality is essentially unchanged merely the quality is much better.

What I Look For in Bike Bags

In the listing below, you'll run across the metrics I use to rate bicycle numberless.

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

Bank check out my how to choose a bike bag article for more information on what I expect for in a bike travel bag.

Some of these metrics are more important that others. And plain, you may think some of them are non of import at all.

This Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA bike bag review covers near everything I'd desire to know nearly a bike bag. For this reason, the review is very in-depth: if y'all desire to just skip to the section of near interest to you lot, apply the department numbers and headings beneath.

Check out all the VeloNomad bicycle bag reviews when yous're washed.

1. Mobility/portability (ease in moving information technology around airports etc)
2. Convenience
3. Stability
4. Compactability
5. Weight/Size
6. Robustness/Build Quality
7. Protection for cycle
8. Adjustability
9. Storage
10. Securing the cycle
11. Overall design considerations
12. Toll
13. Summary
14. Who Should Buy This Handbag
15. Where to Buy

The Consummate Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA bicycle bag review

Cut to the Chase – Video

h

What Comes with the Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA

The bicycle bag ships with the following items. All are pictured below and throughout the mail service. Actually, not shown beneath are the 3 ten foam protectors: I'll update the beneath photo with those before long. Withal, 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 end 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 handbag on the market for mobility of the purse 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 two TSA review: castor wheels

Scicon AeroComfort ii TSA review: castor wheels

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

The BikND Helium (which I as well have—BikND Helium Review here) is also great in this respect; but the Aerocomfort ii TSA is just that fiddling flake meliorate.

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

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

Convenience and Packing

It's very important that it'southward fast and piece of cake to pack and unpack your bicycle.

Once yous're on your trip, it makes transits—for example on trains and planes—much easier equally y'all tin can pack quicker.

Being able to unpack the bicycle is a existent advantage on shorter duration trips too, because you waste product less fourth dimension.

It's also good when you arrive and get going right away. For example, when I flew to Adelaide from Melbourne for the Tour Downwards Nether, I arrived at the hotel in the morn before my check-in time. I had the bike set up speedily, and was able to become riding to lookout the race with minimal filibuster.

It'due south also actually overnice to get in from a long haul flight, like a flying from Commonwealth of australia to Europe, then quickly have the bicycle gear up up for a quick ride to blow the cobwebs out.

Packing your cycle in the Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA is really like shooting fish in a barrel. All you need to do is:

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

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

Because you don't need to break downwards your bicycle as much every bit other bike bags, y'all can have less tools with you lot.

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

Unpacking is even faster.

How to pack the bike in Aerocomfort

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

• Accept the pedals off. Not entirely necessary, but depends on the pedals you accept. I used to do this to preclude an impact from the side merely I call back that'south redundant.
• Lower the seat or remove it entirely (more on this later).
• Loosen the handlebar screws and roll the confined forward (more on this afterwards).
• If yous're really paranoid, you can loosen off your levers too. This means they'll swing in if they get knocked, which is amend than them breaking. I just add loads of bubble wrap to this surface area and skip this stride.
• Unscrew the rear D/R during step 2 above, and tape it to the down-stays. That adds 2 minutes. I'll hash out why this is smart, later in the review.

Stability

This bike bag is reasonably stable.

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

Compactability

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

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

It comes supplied with a cycle pocketbook bag, and the bike pocketbook is piece of cake to coil up and get into the pocketbook. You won't find yourself trying to squash the wheel bag into its example.

That the bike purse packs down is useful if y'all have a hire car, campervan or want to get out your bike bag stowed out of the way in some accommodation.

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

Scicon AeroComfort 2 TSA review: castor wheels

Weight and Size

Another important cistron in choosing a wheel handbag is the weight and size. This bike purse 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 pocket-sized as you lot could hope for given how the bike is housed (the handlebars stay in-situ).

And compared to other bags similar the EVOC Bike Travel Pocketbook (my EVOC Bike Travel Bag Review hither), 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 yous're an Aussie or from Due north America (and used to having a roomier car), y'all will probably have no problems getting this bicycle pocketbook into the back of your car.

I have a Subaru Forrester so it fits in easily.

For those of y'all used to smaller cars—those from the Britain are a good example—exist aware you might struggle to get this into the kicking (aka body) of your machine.

For a bike pocketbook, this is quite minor, but compared to a little machine's boot, it's quite big.

If you're booking a hire motorcar at your destination, make certain you hire a station carriage or small-scale van.

Most of the Euro station wagons similar Peugeots, will fit this pocketbook, and other luggage.

Robustness, Longevity and Build Quality

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

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

Improvements include:

• The quality of the brush wheels, and how the adhere to the bag, are much better. You lot also at present get a spare wheel.
• Zips: the old zips were of smaller gauge and flimsy. Not so these ones. Even the aught tags are dainty and mesomorphic.
• Straps: padded and more than robust.
• Fustigate guards: bash baby-sit cloth around the base (sides) of the bag.
• Base material: now with waterproof material and a plastic insert to prevent bear on penetration.
• Internal straps: new extra straps to agree handlebars down instead of sometime one that went around the front forks.
• There'southward as well at present plastic discs covering the bike 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 office of its utility and usability—is fastened with a plastic D ring and clip.

Scicon AeroComfort ii TSA review: front strap

These tin hands pause due to impact or excessive strength.

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

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

Shoulder strap and plastic D band

Zips with lock

Below yous can run across how the castors are secured to the frame.

Castors and zipper

I'd nonetheless 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 pocketbook sides, they would provide extra down-force on the bike and secure it harder against the mounting frame.

Below, you tin see the buckle and strap on the cycle compartments.

Top tube strap

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

Information technology would be practiced to encounter the plastic tongue and prune replaced with some sort of aluminium or blended culling (similar to roof rack Rhinoceros 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 i 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 tin can lock the wheel down very well.

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

Seat strap

Seat strap

If you have your seat and seat post out, you can wrap it effectually the top tube equally I've shown. Maybe put some chimera wrap or a scrap of fabric effectually the frame to protect it.

Seat strap across top tube

The internal material is yet lightweight in places, merely the contact points at the wheel compartments is tougher.

Whilst information technology'due south not the same level as the surfboard bag foil used in the EVOC and BikND, information technology'southward more adequate.

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

Fustigate material

One other little niggle is the front end textile hanging over the brush. If yous pack the bag out a bit, you lot might be ok. This was an event in V1 of the bag, too, and lead me to say that these parts of the handbag would become worn out. On the Aerocomfort two TSA, though, the front material has bash guard material, then you last longer.

Hanging over castors

Protection for bike

Bike frame

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

Internal stash pocket

Here'south 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 unabridged bag has padding throughout.

Whilst there'due south non the same level of protection as the BikND, it's perfectly adequate.

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

Foam frame protectors

The wheels fit into padded, zippered compartments on each side of the bike, protecting the frame. Accept travel or commuting wheels, so that if they get a knock, at that place's no great loss. Yes, yous'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 wheel bags, except hard case bike pods, need to take extra padding likewise, 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 plant my bars bent (alloy confined, luckily) and the right mitt side shifter/hood associates (Ultegra) had been smashed inwards.

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

Don't become me incorrect, I've travelled with the Aerocomfort Plus (version 1) and non had this issue. This means information technology'southward non the mistake of the pocketbook per-se, equally luggage is damaged in transit all the time.

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

To salvage mucking around with the hoods, loosen your stem basics off and rotate your confined frontward and then the hoods are effectively at the "lesser" of (or underneath) the bars. Alloy bars and stalk are highly recommended for travel.

Apparently, 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 handbag ships with a rear D/R protector that is supposed to sit affluent in the rear dropout and protect your rear D/R.

Rear derailleur protector

The protector has a funny shape that prevents it from sitting affluent in the dropout in some bikes (like a Look 586 I used to accept). The means information technology sits "off" the frame, and the provided skewers aren't long plenty then basically it'south rendered not usable.

The protector fits in my Tarmac though, and so your mileage may vary. Note, in the image beneath, the protector sits right against the derailleur cage. You might want to put a slice of textile betwixt them, or, every bit I say, take the D/R off entirely.

Rear derailleur protector

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

Rear derailleur protector

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 complimentary up extra space for padding for the rear of your bicycle. A 2 minute task will provide peace of mind.

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

Typically, I put some cloth effectually the chain stays to forbid chain grease going on them, then tape some chimera wrap effectually the chain.

Seat

In the pictures below showing my erstwhile Look in V1 of this pocketbook, my seat is about as low as information technology can go due to the proprietary seat-mail service geometry and the downwards tube geometry. If the seat received a downward impact of enough force, the post would exist jammed into the frame. For standard shaped posts, this isn't so much of an outcome.

You have a few options here.

1. Lower your mail downwards.
2. Remove it entirely, wrap in bubblewrap, and tape to the downtube.
3. Leave it in-situ, and hope information technology'southward all ok.

Rear derailleur cable on Expect XS

On my newer wheel, I'd but lower information technology a bit and put some bubble wrap around information technology.

Space for bigger bike

Adjustability

The Scicon Aerocomfort ii TSA volition fit near road bikes, given that the front end arm that the forks attach to slides forward and backward (within a metallic sleeve).

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

The only question mark hither, is the amount of "play" or spare room in the front end of the cycle bag. With my 52cm Tarmac frame in the handbag, in that location is most 4cm of spare room in front of the forks into which I tin put padding. If y'all accept a larger bike, especially one where the geometry results in the forks being thrust forrard more than (head tube angle, rake), you might take an event.

With my 52cm Tarmac in place in that location's not a lot of room though. But, I reckon information technology could move forward another 4cm or and then, which would suit an awfully large wheel.

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

Space for bigger cycle

Infinite for bigger bike

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

Castors and attachment

Y'all 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 amend off looking at a Scicon mountain bike bag or Scicon triathlon pocketbook (links at the end of the post).

Storage

There is ample space in this bag to shop some of your gear. You can add together kit and clothing in order to assistance protect the wheel.

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

Internal stash pocket

Cycle bags need big, big stash pockets and lots of 'em! I'd even so love to come across a couple of stash pockets added internally.

At that place's actually a lot of room, but not also much. And in bodily fact, its smaller size is a bonus. This is because information technology helps terminate yous packing too much stuff in the handbag. Other bags, like the EVOC Bicycle Travel Pocketbook, have a lot of room. And then, you tend to put a lot of stuff in them, and they get very bulky.

Securing the bike

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

1. Secure the forepart and rear dropouts on the appropriate stands with provided (or your own) skewers.
2. Attach straps over seat or double wrap around top tube.
3. Attach straps around handlebars.
4. Attach strap over height tube.

Securing the cycle

Securing the bike

Overall blueprint considerations

The Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA bike pocketbook makes it absolutely painless to get your cycle 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. Information technology moves around hands.

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

At that place'southward no demand to take your pedals off. If you lot have wider pedals, you might accept them off: see the photo beneath for how much room at that place is between the crank and side of the bag.

Taking pedals off

From a pattern, ease of use, and overall usability bespeak of view, it'southward well thought out and executed.

The quality is at that place and the bag is well constructed.

Price

Let's face information technology: this bike bag is at the upper end of the price calibration.

It'south certainly non the most expensive wheel bag on the marketplace, and in that location are plenty cheaper (you get what you pay for though).

Nonetheless, given the price (circa AUD$500 online), and how great the bag is to utilise, I call up information technology'due south excellent value for coin.

Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA wheel 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 piece of cake this bike handbag is to wheel around airports. It'due south a joy.

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

It's And then easy to go your bike out of the purse and set up set up to go in double time. The more than you lot utilise it, the more proficient you'll get.

Piece of cake to pack and unpack

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

Who Should Purchase This Bag

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

Regardless of whether yous travel a lot, or non much at all, or if yous only wing interstate, international, or both, this handbag is for y'all.

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

What about other bikes?

I become a lot of questions nigh whether a particular wheel bag will fit an Internet access provider bike, Xl bike, mountain bike or triathlon/TT bicycle.

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

Just 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 bank check out the Scicon Triathlon Bike Handbag (links below).

And for those with actress large or ISP frames, the amount of room from the rear mounting betoken to the superlative of the handbag is near 74cm. From the front mounting point to the top is about 62cm.

Don't hold me to those numbers! I eyeballed a record measure out but earlier a very threatening thunderstorm opened on us.

Where to Buy

The links beneath are chapter links.

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

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

The links beneath mostly country you lot on the Scicon search results pages. I used to link to verbal products but the major online retailers plough these bags over and reassign new landing pages also frequently to keep up with.

Simply open the links beneath, and choose i that is best for you.

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

• Wiggle Scicon search
• Merlin Cycles Scicon search
• PBK Scicon search: PBK likewise has spare parts
• Chain Reaction Cycles
• Evans Cycles
• Competitive Cyclist
• Backcountry.com
• [easyazon_link identifier="B005DHB64O" locale="United states" nw="y" nf="n" tag="velonomad2-20″ cart="y" localize="y" popups="y"]SCICON Aero Condolement Plus ii.0 TSA Air Travel Bike Bag[/easyazon_link]

Scicon Aerocomfort two TSA bike handbag review

• Mobility - 100
• Convenience - 90
• Utility - xc
• Compactibility - 100
• Weight/size - 100
• Robustness - sixty
• Protection for bike - 60
• Adaptability - 75
• Storage - eighty
• Securing the wheel - 80
• Price/value for coin - 90

Summary

This handbag is fantastic.

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

I cannot speak highly enough of how piece of cake this bike bag is to wheel around airports. Information technology's a joy.

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

Information technology'south And so like shooting fish in a barrel to go your bike out of the bag and set up upwardly gear up to become in double fourth dimension. The more you utilize it, the more practiced yous'll get.

jonesaing1941.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.velonomad.com/reviews/scicon-aerocomfort-2-tsa-bike-bag-review/

Share this post