My bike box is exactly that - a box. The Crateworks Pro XL-C is a giant 2-piece double-walled corrugated plastic box. Don't let the name fool you - it's not "Pro" in any sense of the word. But at $179 it's extremely affordable, making it a good choice for the occasional traveler like myself. If I were taking 4 or more trips a year with the bike, I'd probably go with something with a longer expected life span.
I first used the Crateworks last year when I borrowed a friend's, so when I bought my own it was based on personal experience, not just the low price. What I like about the box is that bike disassembly is minimal. You remove the wheels, pull out the seatpost, spin off the pedals, and then pop the stem off the steerer tube (but you leave the bars attached to the stem, which was important to me - I didn't want to monkey with handlebar position when re-assembling). The company also indicates you may need to remove the front brake cable, but my cable was long enough to allow me to find a spot for the handlebars without loosening the cable. I think the brake cable is a step rarely needed.
You secure the bike by laying it down in a the box and lashing it to the box with velcro straps. There is also a foam chuck to rest your chainring on to prevent it from poking through and also from becoming damaged. On top of your supine ride you lay another sheet of cardboard which creates a separate compartment for the wheels. You can carry a single pair of wheels with the Crateworks.
But you can carry other large items as well, which is the other appeal of this box. They have straps for your helmet in the box, and I was also able to strap in a full-size floor pump.
The crate doesn't have wheels, but I found it doesn't need them. Even loaded with my bike, helmet and pump it's very easy to lift and carry using the integrated handle-holds. I'd be careful about dragging it too much, knowing that it will get plenty of that at the airport when it's out of sight.
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