chain reaction travel bag

Chain Reaction Cycles Pro Bike Bag review – I’d pick the big softy

The only times I’ve ever suffered serious non-repairable damage to any of my bikes over the years is traveling with them. Once, it was because I was stupid enough to forget I had a bike on the roof before driving into a garage, but it’s happened flying with them too. After investing in a couple of bike cases, I’ve learned a lot about the pros and cons of different products and come to the conclusion that a soft case like the Chain Reaction Cycles Pro Bike Bag is the best option.

Let’s face it, flying with a bike is a pain

I really should teach myself to be a runner as I’m always envious on business trips when my coworkers pop out from the hotel for a run because all they had to pack was shoes and running clothes. If you haven’t flown with a bike before, I’d first suggest you really think hard about it before investing in any case at all for three reasons:

1) It’s awkward – I don’t care how light your bike is or how good your case is, schlepping through airports with a case and other luggage is difficult. Not impossible, just difficult. Oversize luggage often has to go to a special place to check it in, and then it comes out somewhere other than the usual baggage carousel at the other end – often long after other bags have arrived. I recently missed a connecting flight in New York returning from the UK and had to stay overnight, which meant taking the bike to a hotel and then re-checking it the next morning. Yes, it’s great to have your own bike on a trip over getting on a rental, but you need to think about exactly how many times you plan to ride and weigh that against the difficulties. Is it worth it?

2) The cost – Once upon a time, you could take a bike for free on most international flights and some domestic, but it now costs an average of $100 each way unless your other luggage is all carry-on. Depending on what you’re renting and what you plan to use it for, there may be cheaper/better rental options.

3) Special ground transportation may be required – Once you get to your destination with your bike case, what’s your plan then? If you’re getting around by rental car, then count on having to pay for a larger one – particularly in Europe where cars are typically much smaller.

Go hard or go soft?

If you’ve considered all of the above and still want to travel with your bike then you next need to decide how to do it. Do you get a box from your local bike shop or go with a more expensive case? Should that be a hard-shell case, bag, or roll-around soft side case?

Hard bike cases offer the best protection from the type of crush damage that only maniacal airport baggage handlers seem to know how to inflict. I once watched from a plane window as a bike bag toppled off the top of a luggage train and was promptly run over by the train coming behind it. Thankfully, it wasn’t mine. There is a serious downside to hard cases though, just because they are hard. Once you get to where you’re going, you have to figure out what to do with the case. Say you do get a rental car, is there room in it for both the case and the bike once you get it out and assembled? If you’re only going to one destination, that’s not a problem, but how about a multi-stop trip? Will the bike have to be re-packed each time?

My hard case experience

On my first adventure into bike cases, I’d recently suffered a frame ding to a road bike when I’d just used a cardboard bike box on an international trip and was in the mood for maximum protection. While hard cases are typically the more expensive option, I found a cheap case at an online retailer similar to this one from Amazon and ordered it.

The case did offer fairly bulletproof protection for my bikes, but it was inflexible and heavy. Because of its size, I had to rent SUVs to haul it, and I found it discouraged me more than ever from wanting to put up with the hassle of traveling with a bike. I used it just a couple of times, and then it sat in my spare bedroom, looking ugly and taking up space. Eventually, I realized I wasn’t inclined to use it and got rid of it on Craigslist.

I switch to a Chain Reaction Cycles Pro Bike Bag

Soon after I got rid of my hard case, a chance to go to Europe and ride came up, and I once again debated whether to rent a bike there or take my own. Seeing as how I planned to ride more than three days on challenging terrain where I knew I’d be happiest on my own bike, I opted to take one and started looking at my options. After doing some research, I chose a Chain Reaction Cycles Pro Bike Bag and couldn’t be happier. Here are some of my reasons:

1) Flexibility – The greatest thing about this case is while it does have a rigid bottom with wheels to make it easy to roll around, the sides can be rolled up to make it easy to cram into a car or a closet. Now, there’s no more ugly large case in my spare bedroom. It takes up less space in a rental car, and I don’t have to re-pack my bike on trips with multiple stops.

2) Price – Chain Reaction puts an MSRP on its website of $370, but I got mine for $220, which is well below a lot of other cases. Compare it with the price of the Evoc Bike Travel Bag , which has almost identical features, and you’ll see what I mean.

3) Quality – I’ve been burned in the past ordering products that have been branded with the name of a retailer, but this is an extremely well-made case that has proven its hardiness on transatlantic flights and banging around in airports. It also comes with some unexpected bells and whistles that make it a winner.

What’s included in a Chain Reaction Cycles Pro Bike Bag

Now for some stats about the Chain Reaction Cycles Pro Bike Bag. Fully unfolded, it measures 31 inches high, 55 inches long, and 11 inches wide – which puts it within the specs of most airlines for not being classified as oversize luggage requiring an extra fee. When you roll it up, you can get the height down to about a foot.

There are zippered sleeves on either side of the inside of the case to put your wheels. If you’re running disc brakes, I’d strongly recommend you pull the discs off the wheels to keep them from getting bent. They’re going to be vulnerable to side impacts and crushing if you don’t. The sleeves are plenty big enough to take my 29er wheels with 2.2 tires, even when they’re fully inflated.

A really nice touch about this bag is it comes with a full range of axle inserts to fit almost any setup, from standard QR to thru-axles. They’re in a little pouch with each length and diameter labeled.

Inside the bag, there are what Chain Reaction calls “shock blocks” along the bottom and padding around the fork to protect the bike. There are straps and Velcro tabs to hold the frame securely in place.

I won’t go into how to pack up a bike in the case. The folks at BikeRadar have a great video that walks you through it.

Chain Reaction Cycles Pro Bike Bag Review Conclusions

I’ve used this case on a couple of trips now, and I quite like it. It has beefy zippers and carry handles, and it’s proven to be fairly lightweight and stable when I’ve had to make long walks between terminals or from parking areas. I have suffered no damage to my bikes so far. The only criticism I have is the color. Chain Reaction has made the bags rolling billboards with their blue branding with white lettering, and my case is obviously quite dirty after just a couple of uses. All luggage should be a dark color, in my opinion. Still, that’s a minor fault, and I don’t think you can beat this case for the price.

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• Bikepacking Gear

Chain Reaction Pro Bike Bag Review

by André · Published November 11, 2018 · Updated November 11, 2018

Find out if the Chain Reaction Cycle Pro Bike Bag is the right bag for you. Traveling with your bike can be a daunting task but this moderately-priced bag makes traveling with your bike a little bit easier.

Why Choose a Bike Bag Over a Bike Box

The answer is quite simple: Convenience and durability. Bike boxes are not a bad option, but they are definitely harder to pack and cumbersome to move around. For bigger riders, it can be hard to find a bike box big enough for your bike. I usually ride XL frames and finding a box is not as simple as going to a bike shop and asking for a free box. Purpose-built bike bags can be expensive, but they provide conveniences like burly carrying handles that don’t cut into your hand, and they have these amazing things called…. wheels!

Enter the Chain Reaction Cycles Pro Bike Bag. An affordable option to the bike air travel conundrum.

Chain Reaction Pro Bike Bag Main Features

Let’s start with the important features. Chain Reaction’s marketing material states that this bag was designed to fit their pro team downhill bikes, and I believe them. The Pro Bike Bag is roomy. Like I mentioned before, I ride XL frames, and I have no issues fitting my bikes inside the bag.

Several loops and velcro straps make it easy to secure your bike to the bag. This is a good thing since you want to get a snug fit so the bike doesn’t wobble inside the bag (more on this in a little bit).

Another great feature is that this bag comes with many spacers to protect your frame from being crushed inside the bag. The spacers also serve as sturdy attachment points. It’s worth noting that boost spacers are not currently provided with the bag.

In addition to the many attachment points, the Pro Bike Bag has two wheel pockets. These pockets are reinforced with a hard plastic so the axels don’t damage the bag or scratch the bike. This is a very well thought out design. I was able to fit 29 x 2.3 tires in the wheel pockets.

I’m happy to report that 27.5+ tires fit in the side wheel pockets. Unfortunately, I don’t have any 29+ tires to test.

The bag is equipped with burly handles in the front, back, and sides. The side handles make it easier to lift the bag when you need to load it into a car trunk or the belly compartment of a bus.

The rolling wheels are probably the most convenient features this Pro Bike Bag has. I just wish the wheelbase was a little wider like I have seen on some other bags. During my recent trip to Germany , TSA opened the bag and removed some of the straps that were securing the bike to the bag, making the whole bag a little wobbly. If the wheels were placed farther apart, this bag would be a lot more stable. I also wish Chain Reaction Pro Bike Bag designers would have placed the front carrying handle (used to roll the bag around) a little higher to provide more stability while using the rolling wheels.

Pros x Cons

• Affordable: Usually priced well below $300 dollars and includes free shipping to many countries.
• Sturdy construction: Good choice of materials. I appreciate the blue fabric in the interior of the bag, providing a nice contrast.
• Strap Galore: No shortage of attachment points, making it easy to secure the bike to the bag.
• Narrow wheelbase: A wider wheelbase would provide more stability when wheeling the bag around.
• Storage: When not in use, the bag folds down to a smaller size, but not as neatly as other pricier bags.

The Chain Reaction Pro Bike Bag is an affordable option to those looking for a more convenient way to travel with a bike. Even though this bag costs less than its competitors’ offerings, it is just as well-built and has some of the same features as pricier options. My only real complaint about this bag is that the wheelbase is a little narrow when compared to other more expensive bags. Premium features come at a premium price though.

I paid for this bag with my own hard-owned money. I would 100% recommend this bag to a friend looking for an affordable, yet well-built, bike bag.

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Chain Reaction Cycles Bike Bag Review

In this Chain Reaction Cycles Bike Bag Review we'll take a look at CRC's value-for-money bag including wheel bags.

The Chain Reaction Cycles Bike and Wheel Bags Review is CRC's highest selling bike bag and at first glance looks like good value for money.

So let's get inside the bag and see what it offers.

The VeloNomad Bike Bag Review Metrics

As with all VeloNomad bike bag reviews , this is a very thorough review so feel free to click through each item to skip through to that section.

• Agility/portability

Convenience

• Compactability
• Weight/Size

Robustness/Build Quality

• Protection for bike

Adjustability

• Securing the bike
• Where to Buy

Agility/Portability

This bag is ok in the portability stakes, but it's not as good as the Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA or BikND Helium .

There is one handle on the front which is down quite low, meaning you have to bend right down and lift the bag right up. This is a bit of a pain in the neck, and could easily rectified with some front castors a-la the Scicon Aerocomfort 2 TSA and a handle higher up.

Single front handle

The bag ships with two shoulder straps which are pretty well made with metal clips, and attach to the bag onto metal eyelets. The metal clips are Quick Release (QR) so you can quickly unclip them and stow the straps inside the bag.

Eyelets for shoulder straps

One thing I did notice is that there are no handles on the sides, top, or back, so baggage handlers are not going to be happy.

If you minimise the weight you add to the bag, you could carry it on your shoulders for short stretches (stairs, on/off trains and buses etc).

In the agility stakes, this bag is on-par with the EVOC Bike Travel Bag .

It's a bit smaller than the EVOC Bike Travel Bag ( VeloNomad EVOC bike travel bag review ) so will be a bit easier to move around (especially airport check in queues).

Convenience refers to being able to quickly get your bike in and out of the bag ready to ride or ready to travel.

You'll need to remove your handle bars and rear D/R and your sear will either need to be pushed right down (not possible on my Look 586 RSP as pictured) or, removed outright.

You can see below that the bag is not even close to being able to be zipped up around the handlebars.

Remove handlebars, seat and post

Remove seat and post

This bag is fairly stable when packed, but, due to a pretty narrow lateral wheelbase, could tip over fairly easily. It won't tip over as easily as the Polaris bike pod tips over.

It has a low centre of gravity and won't tip forward like the Scicon AeroComfort Plus .

Also an issue will be cross winds. If you're in a cross wind (airport car park for instance), because you must lift the front of the bag off the ground to move it, the wind can tip the bag over. It's not a huge issue though.

Compactibility

As you can see, the bike bag packs down into a fairly compact package which means it can be easily stored standing up in your house or garage. If you're on the road, it will be non-intrusive in your hotel room, back of your car or campervan.

Weight and Size

This bag weighs around 7kg unloaded (claimed 6.7kg).

It's not too big which is a blessing and a curse.

It's good in that it forces you to minimise how much extra you out in the bag; you're better off having more weight in a luggage bag.

It's also good as you'll have less trouble fitting into taxis ( fitting an EVOC bike bag into a BMW M3 saloon is tricky business ).

The negative aspect of a smaller bag is that you have less “play” for bigger bikes, and you'll have to take your handlebars off.

The quality of this bag absolutely shocked me – it's absolutely fantastic in this regard. I was not expecting much (given the price point) but this bag has been built to last.

The exterior of the bag is ripstop.

The zips are metallic and pretty large gauge. They slide easily. They are not YKK zips.

One thing to note is that one of the internal zip tracks for the compartments was broken – I zipped it closed but the teeth wouldn't engage. After a bit of fiddling I managed to fix it, but keep in mind this is on a brand new (unused) bag. A change to YKK zips might fix this.

There are plastic rails on the base to help protect the base from wear and tear. The base seems to be a PVC type material inside the base bash guard material which will aid in the longevity of the bag.

Plastic rails on base

The wheels are robust and are recessed inside the bag as opposed to the EVOC bike travel bag . They're housed inside individual plastic housing and bolted and sewn into the bag in a reassuringly solid fashion.

The wheels are a little low on the quality side, but in fairness, this is an extremely low price point bag, so compromises are to be expected. Don't get me wrong, they're completely adequate, but aren't as good as skateboard wheels.

There is a whole lot of this tear-proof latex or rubber-like material on the bottom, extending about halfway up the front and back of the bag. This is great thinking as these are the areas most likely to get scratched and torn.

Rubber-like bash material

Protection for Bike and Contents

Protection for bike.

Another outstanding feature is the protection for the bike. There is a uniform and generous amount of padding throughout the top and sides of this bag.

You will need to remove your handlebars, rear D/R and seat. You'll need to wrap and tape your crankset up, and probably wrap your bottom bracket up as the whole package will rest on it. This will protect your crankset and the bag.

A big improvement here would be straps to secure the bike higher up the side of the bag, off the bottom of the bag. I'd even be prepared to lose some storage pockets for some straps.

Or, a block could be added in the bottom (like on the EVOC) to rest the bottom bracket and chain stays on. You'll need to be very careful in protecting your cranks. You've been warned!

Bike sits on BB and chain rings

Your best bet is to lay the bike bag on its side, put your bike in and put some (and by some, I mean a LOT of) padding underneath the bike to protect the chain stays and bottom bracket.

Protection for Wheels

The bike bag ships with two Chain Reaction Cycles wheel bags, which in and of themselves, are excellent quality. A bike bag that ships with two padded wheel bags – tremendous value.

The wheel bags are padded, with an internal pocket for skewers and other stuff. The pockets are generously sized so you can fit a few things in there.

Below, you can see the 2 included shoulder straps for the bike bag and the tool roll.

The wheel bags had protector disks for the hubs and are internally protected from grease by surfboard bag foil.

Inside the wheel bags

The wheel bags slot into your bike bag wherever you would like them to, and are a welcome extra bit of protection for the bike. I like the idea of putting your wheels inside wheel bags inside the bike bag. The bike gets extra protection and the wheels get extra protection. Plus as an added bonus, you get two wheel bags for everyday use (races, etc).

Wheel bag inside bike bag

This bag is smaller than the EVOC Bike Travel Bag .

Integrated Seat Post (ISP) bikes almost certainly will not fit in this bike bag, as it is does not have a large height dimension (i.e. it's short). Richard from Quebec tells me he fitted his Scott Addict into this bag.

I have grave doubts that you'll get a mountain bike in this bag, as opposed to an EVOC Bike Travel Bag , whose genesis was as a mountain bike bag.

The person who designed this bag is either a big Ikea fan, or, really is a cyclist. This bag has 8 – count 'em, 8! – internal pockets.

Storage pockets ahoy-hoy!

There are two very large ones (opposite ends of bag – good design thinking), two large ones, and 4 small ones. In reality, I'd call the small ones medium.

In these pockets, you could easily pack ALL the cycling kit you'll need for a month, some tools, food/nutrition/powders/protein and countless other items. This is a good thing – everything for cycling, in one bag (unless you lose it, then this is bad).

If you are travelling domestically – or even internationally if you pack light – this bag would carry everything you needed for a short cycling trip, with extras in carry-on luggage.

The bike bag also ships with a tool roll – totally unexpected. The roll is a bit limited in terms of what it can carry, but still, it's a nice added extra.

Securing the Bike

As I mentioned, this bag is a bit smaller than the EVOC so, once you pack out all the storage pockets, and put your bike and wheel bags in, your bike is going to be very snug.

Which is just as well, because – wait for it – there are no internal straps to secure the bike. This initially shocked me, because I had the EVOC (lots of straps) and the Scicon as frames of reference.

But, thinking about it, and taking into account the amount of space and size of this bag, I am not sure it's a huge issue. Like I said, once you get your bike and everything else in, your bike is going to be nice and snug, negating the need for straps.

The only major issue with this bag is the main zips. They do not extend all the way to the base of the bag, meaning you cannot lay the bag down – completely open with each side on the ground – to pack the bag.

This means packing the bag is a frustrating episode where the bag sides flip-flop all over the place and the bag constantly tips over.

Whilst this might not fuss some people (it's a trade off given everything else) it sh!t me to tears.

The main zips do have padlock holes which is cool. But I'm not sure how useful that is given there are 4 large zips providing access directly into the bag anyway.

Main zips with padlock holes

There are 4 zips on the exterior that unzip to provide complete access into the bag. These are so you can hang your bike bag on a bike rack. I am not convinced as to the utility of these – they could easily provide access for someone who was up to no good. My personal feeling is that the bag does not need these – handles for baggage handlers could go here instead.

Bike rack holders

The internal storage uses single zips, which cuts costs, but is a bit of a pain. If you have the pockets full of stuff, and only one zip, when you zip them open to gain access, things can just fall out – i.e. no ratting around in pockets without stuff falling out.

The internal material is surfboard bag material, so when it gets greasy, some eucalyptus oil or citrus cleanser will have it clean in a jiffy.

All the other considerations contribute to provide a bag with a high degree of utility, or usefulness.

Expect to pay around AUD$115 for this bag.

I will be brutally honest – I was not expecting much from this bag given the price point. However, after unpacking the box, and really getting into the bag, I was pleasantly surprised.

Great padding, loads of pockets, pretty good zips, solid construction – this is a pretty well thought out bag.

Apart from the shortcomings listed below – especially the main zips not extending to the ground – this is a great bike bag that is STUPIDLY good value.

Comparable to the EVOC Bike Travel Bag, but 1/3 the cost, this is the perfect bag for the value conscious traveller who can overlook the few shortcomings this bag does have.

• Internal pockets
• Internal lining
• Zip quality (internal zips)
• Only one strap on front
• Too small for integrated seat post bikes
• No internal straps (partly mitigated by snugly putting everything in)
• No external handles for baggage handlers/general wrangling

Where to buy the Chain Reaction Cycles Complete Bike Bag and Wheelset

You can get the Chain Reaction Cycles from Chain Reaction Cycles .

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About Tim Marsh

Tim is an ex Melbournite now living near Byron Bay on 10 acres, happily growing mangos, avocados and lots of other stuff, with his wife, 2 sons and adorable Golden Retriever, Whiskey (RIP our 1YO G/R Poppins :( ).

6 comments add yours

Great review! I’ve owned one of these for the last few years and have travelled to France and Australia without any issues. I agree about the uselessness of the lateral access zippers…

I had a Scott Addict with integrated seatpost and was able to fit the bike in the bag… by removing the crankset. Ok so that sucks, but it eliminates the issue of needing to protect the crank and rings if left on the bike. Plus you don’t need 101 tools to remove a modern crank, so no big problem there.

Now that I switched to a Foil I’ll be able to remove the seat post. I’ll get a few solid foam blocks (used to haul canoes on a roof) to secure the crank inside the bag. I also got a bunch of inexpensive foam tubes for water pipes and cut them and taped them around each frame tube. This adds a really light, yep efficient protection for the frame.

Cheers! RJ (Québec, Canada)

Hi Richard, this is great feedback, I will add your comment to the post about the cranks – what size Addict do you have?

The tips about the foam blocks is a good idea too.

This is a superb review about Chain reaction bag, I’ve ever read. I want to ask one thing that I’ve got chain reaction cycles coupon code.

£12 off orders JUBILEE Expires: Jun 07, 2012 Source: http://www.couponrefund.com/stores/chain-reaction-cycles-discount-coupon-codes.html

If I order a chain reaction bike bag. Will they give me discount or not.

Thanks Julie for the kind words! The coupon should work if you’re in the UK. Jubilee 1 is 12GBP off orders of 79-98GBP, Jubilee 2 is 15GBP off orders 99GBP+.

Redeem them here .

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Best bike bags and boxes for cycling travel 2024

Protect your bike and reduce stress when you travel with one of these best bike bags and boxes

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The quick list

• 1. Best overall
• 2. Easy to use
• 3. Best value
• 4. Most portable
• 5. Most versatile
• 6. Most robust

How we test

Best bike bags and boxes 2024.

The list in brief ↴ 1. Best overall 2. Easy to use 3 . Best value 4. Most portable 5. Most versatile 6. Most robust

Advice How we test

Riding new roads and exploring different places bathed in warm sunshine is one of the great joys of cycling, but getting you and your bike there safely can be the most stressful part of a cycling holiday . Some riders choose to hire a bike whilst on holiday, but for others, part of the attraction is the opportunity to ride their familiar bike up famous climbs or through beautiful landscapes - no one wants a week of cycling spoiled by an ill-fitting bike or uncomfortable saddle.

If you decide to fly with your own bike, then you have the choice of using a hard box or a soft bag, each with pros and cons which we will investigate below. If you choose to drive to your destination instead, however, you can read our guides to the best bike racks for cars  and the  best caravan and motorhome bike racks .

Best overall

The AeroComfort's soft exterior houses a metal structure to which you fasten your frame so it's held securely. There is very little disassembly required and as the bag is pretty light there is plenty of potential to pack extra kit inside and still be within your airline's limits.

Read more below

Best for ease of use

As the Evoc Bike Bag is soft, it's light and easy to store when not in use. There is plenty of padding provided to protect your bike when it's in the bag, and the large side opening makes it simple to put the bike in place.

Best value 

Very light and compact, LifeLine's EVA Bike Pod also offers excellent value for money. Its semi-rigid design offers more protection than a soft bag but they are still quite flexible and as it only has two wheels it can be a little awkward to manoeuvre around an airport.

Most portable

Another light option, the Orucase B2 even includes rucksack-style straps which are handy if you have packed very light. There is a fair bit of disassembly required though and it can feel a bit lopsided when wheeling it around.

Best with integrated stand

Thule's RoundTrip Pro XT bike bag uses an internal frame that can also double as a workstand whilst on holiday, which is very handy. It's more of a reinforced bag than a hard case though and as such is quite pricey.

Most robust

One of the heavier boxes available, the VeloVault2 provides very reassuring protection for your bike. Its quality construction and overall sturdiness will ensure that your lightweight carbon frame should emerge unscathed, but there might not be much weight allowance left once this gets on the scales.

Best bike bags and boxes for cycling travel: Our picks

Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 Bike Bag

1. Scicon AeroComfort 3.0 Road Bike Travel Bag

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The AeroComfort 3.0 from Scicon is a firm favorite among the Cycling Weekly tech team. We've flown test bikes all over the world, and we like to use this carry case because it makes travelling by bike easy, hassle-free and incredibly quick. It takes just 15 minutes to pack the bike away, and even less time to put it back together.

How so? The outside is a soft, fabric bag, but inside you'll find a metal structure. You simply remove the wheels, loop your chain over a specially designed T-bar and use your quick releases to stand the bike on the metal frame, so it's immovable inside and thus a lot more secure. It couldn't be easier.

There's no need to remove anything aside from the wheels, the handlebars stay straight and don't need twisting. This does make the front end quite bulky, but we found that the protection is good, with a thick soft fabric, designated pockets for wheels, helmets and shoes, and most importantly the rear derailleur is kept off the ground. 

Read more: Scicon Aerocomfort 3.0 Road Bike Travel Bag full review

Evoc bike travel bag

2. Evoc Bike Travel Bike Bag

Whilst hard cases give the ultimate reassurance that your bike is well protected, they also take up a lot of room when out of use, and, they're heavy - limiting your ability to pack kit alongside your bike and stay within airline limits.

Enter soft cases, and this Evoc bike bag is an excellent option. Yes, it offers less protection - but the Cycling Weekly team has used it to transport press bikes on plenty of occasions (NB, we once even used a cardboard box for a personal bike, the theory is that baggage handlers will be more careful!).

This Evoc Bike bag excels in terms of ease of use, too. The side opening makes getting the bike in a cinch, and the handy Velcro makes getting the parts in the right place a piece of cake. The newer model reviewed here now has a reinforced front zip, meaning it should last longer.

Read more: Evoc bike travel bike bag full review

LifeLine EVA Bike Pod

3. LifeLine EVA Bike Pod

Although it's a reasonably compact bike box, the LifeLine Bike Pod will take a smaller-sized bike without too much disassembly. It rolls on two rear wheels, with two front feet to stand on. Quick-release wheels, although not wheels with thru-axles, can be secured to the outside of the case.

Our tester found that the LifeLine Bike Pod is relatively easy to move around, although since you have to lift the front end and the carrying handle doesn't let you wrap your hand through it, longer carries can be tiring. 

The sides of the bag are quite flexible, so it would be advisable to wrap wheels and frame well inside to prevent crushing. We were also concerned about how robust the feet would be and how well the zip would stand repeated use, but overall, the LifeLine Bike Pod is a relatively inexpensive option for the less frequent flyer.

Read more: LifeLine EVA Bike Pod full review

Orucase B2 Bike Travel Case

4. Orucase B2 Bike Travel Case

We've taken the B2 bike case on several domestic and international flights and were left impressed. It sports many welcomed features, including backpack straps and a rollable chassis. Combined with its compact, space-saving size it makes for a sleek, highly portable and trustworthy bag that we think is a great option if space is limited or you'll be traveling on serval modes of transport during your trip.

We did find that it's not the easiest to pack, and required some disassembling of your bike - so you'll need to be confident of putting your bike back together once you've arrived. It's also far from cheap, but in our opinion, it's likely a worthy investment given the ease of portability and the posibbility to save on extra fees due to its smaller size.

Read more: Orucase B2 Bike Travel Case full review

Most versatile

Thule Round Trip Pro XT bike bag

5. Thule RoundTrip Pro XT Bike Bag

The Thule RoundTrip Pro XT falls into the not-quite-a-bike-bag category. It's a softshell but has some structural implants that should keep your bike safe through the worst of it.

However, the bag does have some weak areas and for the price you pay this doesn't induce confidence. But, maybe we're being picky. This is a solid purchase, undoubtedly, and we always add extra bubble wrap around our frames, whatever we're packing them into.

The base, which holds the bike static in the case, can have three legs added, transforming it into a workstand for when you get to your destination - which is a rather 'nice to have' too.

Read more: Thule RoundTrip Pro XT review

Blue Velovault2 bike box

6. VeloVault2 bike box

We really liked the VeloVault2 bike box when we had it in for test. It's big and robust, which is what many cyclists need to achieve peace of mind when flying with a bike.

However, weighing in at 12.5kg means it should sneak under most airline weight controls. The company has sweated the small stuff, too: the clasps are quality, it's easy to close and it rolls well.

VeloVault2 bike box has a new carrying handle, longer wheelbase, improved strut design and it is roof box ready. Oh, and it's now bright blue... other colours are available if that's not to your liking.

Read more: VeloVault2 full review

How do I pack a bike into a bike bag or box?

Packing the bike into the bag or box sometimes takes quite a bit more effort than expected. The process may differ slightly depending on the specific box or bag, but the general process goes something like:

- Remove the pedals - Partially deflate tires and remove the wheels - Remove the seatpost and saddle - Remove the handlebar from the stem or remove the handlebar and stem together from the steerer - Undo rear derailleur (but leave it on the chain) - Secure the frame and components in the box via the manufacturer-approved method - Pack the tools required to rebuild the bike!

There are a few more mechanical adjustments you might make, and if you’re handy with a spanner they shouldn't cause too much grief. For example, you might have to remove the chainset. This will keep it protected en route but it’s worth bearing in mind that you’ll have to reassemble it when you arrive on your hols, so if you're no spanner wizard it might be best to avoid this. It may also mean packing extra tools, which means extra weight to carry around.

Best bike bags vs best bike boxes: which is better?

You might think this is an easy question: it's surely a box, right? However, that's probably before you’ve taken weight into consideration.

A lighter weight bike bag influences two things: how comfortable it is to carry and lug about but also how much of your baggage allowance it eats into - and how much the baggage supplement might be.

The trade off is in the level of protection: a hard flight case like box is going to take the knocks better than a soft bag. That said, soft bike bags will usually protect your bike from the worst of it and they also tend to be cheaper than bike boxes.

There is an in between option. The best bike bags tend to have some more structural inserts inside but retain more of a bag's lightweight nature. Other bike bags can have nifty, in-built storage techniques. For example, some have built-in dropouts that allow you to stand your frame upright and hold it tight.

Do I need to add extra padding to my bike bag?

Regardless of how tough your bag or box might be, you’ll definitely want to pad the important parts inside it. We’d recommend bubble wrap and foam piping. If you’re lucky, your local bike shop might have excess from all the bikes they get sent in. Don't forget to put it around the frame in places where other items in the box might rub against it.

Riding in the mountains

A good bike box or bag has to tread the line between providing the best protection for your bike and yet still being light, easy to carry and simple to pack. These boxes have been used to carry various bikes on multiple flights, being packed and unpacked several times each. They all protected the bikes from any transport damage and none were particularly difficult or awkward to pack but each has its advantages and disadvantages that may clinch the deal for you.

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Simon Smythe is a hugely experienced cycling tech writer, who has been writing for Cycling Weekly since 2003. Until recently he was our senior tech writer. In his cycling career Simon has mostly focused on time trialling with a national medal, a few open wins and his club's 30-mile record in his palmares. These days he spends most of his time testing road bikes, or on a tandem doing the school run with his younger son.

The full general classification, along with the latest stage result, and the standings for the other jerseys

By Emma Magnus Published 30 June 24

"There’s going to be minutes in three weeks. 21 seconds doesn't mean anything," says Tom Pidcock after first blows dealt from the favourites in Bologna

By Tom Thewlis Published 30 June 24

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Chain Reaction Cycles Pro Bike Travel Bag

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Chain Reaction Cycles Pro Bike Bag

• Blue, Black, 1400mm, 280mm, 790mm
• Designed for MTB / Road riding.
• Made from Alloy.
• Weighs 8.8kg

The Chain Reaction Cycles Pro Bike Bag has been custom designed in-house to offer you the best value bike transport bag possible with features that are better than even the market leading equivalent. Quick, Safe and Secure Transport Whether travelling via car, plane or train the CRC Pro bike bag will make travelling with a bike as quick and easy as it can be. This durable Pro Bike Bag can be wheeled easily to keep make transporting your bike as painless as possible. This versatile design will accommodate any bike you can think of within minutes with minimal tools required. Only the wheels, pedals and handlebars need to be removed before you are safe to transport your bike. The key to our design lies with the Crush Protection Inserts and the Shock Block Securing System, which combine to create an adaptable duo which is easy to use and protects your bike from unwanted knocks and shocks. Protective Inserts Crush Protection Inserts - The bike is connected to the Shock Block Securing System via any two of the Crush Protection Inserts, which, once fitted in place of your hubs will prevent your frame and forks from being crushed together during transport. The Crush Protection Inserts are constructed from solid alloy for durability and a total of eight different Crush Protection Inserts are included to ensure that all bicycles are compatible with our design: Front Hub Inserts:QR 15mm Bolt Through 20mm Bolt Through Rear Hub Inserts:130mm QR 135mm QR 12x135mm Bolt Through 12x142mm Bolt Through 12x150mm Bolt Through When not in use these can be easily stored in a secure pocket inside the bag or left at home to keep weight to a minimum. Shock Block Securing System Shock Block Securing System - Our versatile system protects and secures your bike inside the bag via three separate blocks which are located as follows:Under the fork - Protects the controls on the bottom of your forks and offers a secure location to fix the front Crush Protection Insert. Under the bottom bracket - Prevents your chainrings from striking the bottom of the bag during a large impact. Under the rear axle - Protects the controls on the bottom of your forks and offers a secure location to fix the rear Crush Protection Insert. Material: PU coated inner with padded rip stop exterior Compatible with: Downhill/Freeride/All-Mountain/Cross-Country/Dirt Jump/Road/Tri/TT/touring/commuter bikes. Fits up to 29" wheels via 2 segregated large zippered pockets for the front and rear wheels, with reinforced hard plastic that prevents the axles from damaging the bag and from being damaged. Adaptable Crush Protection Inserts. Variable Shock Block Securing System. Reinforced fork lower padding/protection. 12x variable fixation straps to secure the bike inside the bag. Handy pockets and compartments help to keep your components organised. Heavy-duty lockable zipper. Wide spaced soft gripping dual skate wheels on the base of the bag provide stability and make transportation easy. 6 x separate robust and ergonomic carry handles. 1 on each end and 2 on each side. ID Pocket. Collapsible for easy storage down to 140cm x 28cm x 30cm. Weight: 8.8kgs (Inc. all CPI's, which can be removed), 8.6kgs without. Unfolded L - 1400mm W - 280mm H - 790mm Folded L - 1400mm W - 280mm H - 300mm. .. more details .

This CRC deal was found at Chain Reaction Cycles , costs £249.99 and was last updated on 1st December 2023 .

How much will Postage & Packaging be?!

Yay! This qualifies for FREE UK Postage as it's over £20. Alternatively 1st Class Delivery is £3.99 or UK Next Day Delivery is £4.99 .

Please note this is an estimate, and is based upon Chain Reaction Cycles's UK delivery charges .

Please note this P&P is an estimate , and is based on the following Chain Reaction Cycles UK delivery charges:

Standard Delivery (Hermes or Yodel - within 4 working days) FREE for items over £20 and £2.99 for items under £20 . Priority 1st Class Delivery (within 2 working days) £3.99 . UK Next Day* £4.99 . UK Next Morning* £9.99 . UK Bulk Orders (Bikes, Turbo Trainers etc) FREE - Built and despatched in 10 - 12 working days. There may be an extra charge for Highlands and Islands. *Some more isolated areas in the UK may not be eligible for Next Day Delivery. Full details on Chain Reaction Cycles' P&P charges can be found here .

Please note - I regularly update these charges, but shipping policies do change - Please ensure they are correct before completing a purchase.

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Best mountain bike travel bag: boxes and cases to keep your bike protected when you fly

• Danny Milner
• September 6, 2022

The best mountain bike travel bags can make flying with your bike a less stressful experience and ensure your pride and joy is in good shape when you get to your destination. 

Going on a riding holiday can be an amazing experience, and with so many great destinations just a short flight away, there’s never been more opportunities to expand your mountain biking horizon.

But do you leave your rig at home and take a chance on the hire bike lottery – often expensive and the quality of machinery can be rather questionable – or do you go take your own bike and suffer the stress of navigating through the airport and praying that it doesn’t get damaged by the baggage handlers?

Investing in a good bike bag will definitely ease your journey to and around the airport as well as protecting your bike from potential damage.

Chain Reaction Cycles Pro Bike Bag

Low-cost alternative to the classic evoc.

Weight: 8.8kg | Size: 1,400mm x 280mm x 790mm | Folding: Yes | Rating: 8/10

Pros: Great value. Includes dropout spacers and internal organisation. Folds for storage.

Cons: Narrow wheel track makes it less stable than rivals when manoeuvring.

Chain Reaction’s in-house bike bag is obviously, ahem, inspired by the classic Evoc design, but the price is a lot more palatable. It’s big enough to take a modern 29in enduro bike with a wheelbase of up to 1,360mm – more if you let the air out of the suspension. Internal fixings keep the frame and fork stable while CRC usefully includes dropout spacers to prevent crush damage.

Read our full review of the Chain Reaction Cycles Pro Bike Bag

Evoc Bike Travel Bag

The original and still the best.

Weight: 8.6kg | Size: 1,380mm x 360mm x 850mm | Folding: Yes | Rating: N/A

Pros: Great quality. One of the most stable designs. Folds for storage.

Cons: Expensive if you only use it occasionally.

The OG bike travel bag and still the best today, if your pockets are deep enough. Evoc actually makes several different bike bags, but for most people the basic version is the one to get. Separate wheel pockets are large enough for 29in hoops (with tyres partially deflated) and the frame is cosseted snugly by a series of blocks and straps to stop movement and rubbing. It’s all adjustable to fit different frame sizes and designs and has proven itself durable on numerous trips we’ve undertaken. The wheel track is broad, so the Evoc Bike Bag is one of the more stable designs on the market.

Scott Bike Transport Premium 2.0 Bag

Semi-rigid design.

Weight: 8.7kg | Size: 1,380mm x 300mm x 800mm | Folding: Yes | Rating: N/A

Pros: Internal pockets for organising parts.

Cons: Shorter length makes it tricky for long wheelbases.

Scott’s take on Evoc’s classic bike bag design sees thin aluminium poles maintain the upper shape – a bit like tent poles. Inside there’s a series of adjustable straps and blocks to hold the bike in place and separate compartments house the wheels (up to 29in). Maximum wheelbase is only 1,280mm, which is a bit less than rivals, but letting the air out of your suspension will help a bigger bike squeeze in.

Cardboard box

Weight: From 2kg | Size: Varies | Folding: Yes | Rating: N/A

Pros: Cheap/free. Eco-friendly.

Cons: Awkward to transport/carry. Not great if it rains. Requires more disassembly and packing material.

How can we round-up the best bike travel bags without including the humble cardboard box? Afterall, it’s good enough for shipping a bike from the factory to the retailer, and favoured by all of the downhill racers on the World Cup circuit when flying between rounds. Best thing about the bike box is that it’s cheap. And if you ask nicely at your local bike shop (paying in biscuits always helps) they’ll probably give you one for free. Which, considering the price of some bike bags is over £400, means you’re effectively saving a big chunk towards the cost of your holiday. But, this option is not without its problems. The biggest of which is that a bike box is huge and unwieldy. Fine if you have help and can use a trolley at either end of the journey, a massive pain if you can’t. Then there’s the fact that you’ll need to pack it carefully with loads of protection to keep everything from being damaged. And if it rains you might end up with a pile of soggy cardboard and an exposed bike.

What to look for in the best travel bags for mountain biking

Evoc pretty much revolutionised the bike bag market with its benchmark design nearly 20 years ago and still holds the gold standard for frequent flyers. Since then, the basic Evoc design has won numerous awards and inspired many competitors, but it remains a serious investment.

At the other end of the scale, the humble bike box represents the cheapest – even free – solution and is still favoured by pro mountain bike racers. However, it’s not the slickest or most convenient method if you need to use public transport.

Whichever you choose, it might be worth investing in an Apple Airtag to attach to your bike or hide in the bag, so if the worst does happen and your bike bag goes missing, at least you can track it.

Pack a bike travel bag

Top of the list of priorities when looking for the perfect travel bag is protection, afterall, a bag can be super light and easy to wheel through the airport, but if your bike ends up as scrap after a flight then it’s a complete waste of time. So the base needs to be tough, the corners need to be reinforced and the material needs to be abrasion and puncture resistant. Internally, the frame should be securely stabilised within the bag, the wheels should be separate and there should be provision for small parts that get removed from the bike such as the rear mech, disc rotors, handlebar and pedals.

Although you can get hard case designs, we would only recommend these for XC race bikes and road bikes as they tend to be too small for modern mountain bikes. They’re also more difficult to store at home as you can’t fold or roll them up.

How do I pack a bike bag?

• There are many different ways to pack a bike, but for ultimate safety and protection, we’d recommend removing the disc rotors and storing them in a separate (clean) plastic bag. Use pad spacers in your calipers to stop the pistons from moving. Think about chucking a spare set of pads in the bag as well, particularly if you’re heading somewhere with long descents.
• Remove the rear mech and the hanger together. If it’s a SRAM UDH then we’d leave it in place as you’ll need it to secure the rear axle between the dropouts. Wrap the rear mech in an old t-shirt or rag and secure with a strap.
• Cut two dropout spacers from lightweight alloy or plastic tubing (from a plumber’s merchant) and use the front and rear axle to hold them in place – this protects the frame from being crushed.
• Mark your bars with a permanent pen at the gap between the stem and the faceplate – this will let you set the angle easily when you build the bike up at the other end. Remove the faceplate, drop the bars out (with controls in place) and reinstall the faceplate so you don’t lose the bolts. Alternatively you can remove the stem and bars in one piece and use another stem (150g or so) or a spacer cut from a plastic pipe in its place to keep the fork and headset in place.
• Use bike packing material (your local bike shop probably has surplus being thrown out) to pad the frame, fork and bars.
• Deflate your tyres slightly. This will help them fit into their compartments and adhere to airline advice.

Manoeuvrability

The best bike travel bags are relatively easy to steer around a crowded airport given their weight and bulk. Large, robust skate wheels at one end allow you to wheel the bag around while holding a comfortable handle at the front. Widely-spaced wheels and a low centre of gravity help prevent the bag from tipping over when cornering. Some bags have a third castor wheel at the front to allow you to pull it along without having to lift the front.

Weight is always a concern when travelling with a bike, especially given most trail/enduro bikes now tip the scales at around 15kg on average. Evoc’s bike bags weigh around 8-10kg, so that doesn’t leave a lot of headway to sneak under airline baggage limits. Obviously different airlines have different rules and different price structures for carrying bikes, but here are a few of the most popular:

• Easyjet – Bikes are treated as ‘Large Sports Equipment’ with a weight limit of 32kg. Cost is £45 each way if booked online.
• British Airways – charges £65 each way for any bag over 23kg, which includes bikes up to 32kg. Your standard baggage allowance depends on the route you are flying.
• Ryanair – The maximum weight for a bike is 30kg, lower than other airlines. Cost per flight is £60.
• Air Canada – Maximum weight is 32kg and a bike costs $50CAD each way.

With the advent of longer wheelbases and 29in wheels bike bag size has increasingly become an issue, especially if you’re riding an XL size or larger, or own something like a Pole or Geometron. But, letting the air out of your fork and shock could reduce the wheelbase of your bike by as much as 70mm.

With 29in wheels you will probably need to deflate the tyres to some degree to get them to fit into their specific compartments. Try to leave some air in there to ensure that your tyres don’t become unseated or leak sealant into the bag.

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Back Issue | Grouptest: Five Bike Bags Review

When was the last time you went somewhere new on your bike? When did you last charge into a corner not knowing what would be on the other side? When did you last try and stumble over directions in a new language, or drink a beer that you did not recognise? For many of us, winter is here and riding dry trails is a memory–but adventure is only a short flight away!

Flying with a bike is now easier than ever, and there are a huge range of dedicated bags on the market designed to protect your prized ride. You can make do with a cardboard bike box from your local bike shop, but a dedicated case makes travelling with your bike a lot more enjoyable. A good bike bag should pack up easily, protect your bike, and be light and transportable enough to make carriage stress-free. We tested five of the most popular bike bags on the market to see which one performed the best.

Chain Reaction Pro Bike Bag

Price: 310,49 € Weight: 8,6kg

The Chain Reaction PRO bike bag is the cheapest bag in test, but is certainly feature packed. The bag includes alloy Crush Protection Inserts which, once fitted in place of your hubs, will prevent your frame and forks from being crushed together during transport. These inserts fit inside slots on the foam blocks in the bag to provide a secure mounting. The bag is fully compatible with 29er wheels and features twelve internal straps and integrated fork padding to keep everything protected. We liked the big wheels fitted to the bag, allowing it to be towed over rough ground, and at 8.6kg it keeps the weight down. For the money it offers most of the features of the more expensive bags and was quick to load and unload, and proved durable in our testing. Like the EVOC and Polaris, side protection is good, but not as thick as the BikND and Bikebox.

EVOC Bike Travel Bag

Price: 352,94 € Weight: 8,6kg

The EVOC bag has been the most popular soft bag for a number of years and it is easy to see why. The slide-in plastic stabilizers make the bag stand up, so loading is very quick. Although there are no solid crush-protection inserts for the fork or frame, everything feels very well made, and there are plenty of internal straps to hold your bike in place. The bag has proven durable in many overseas adventures. The best feature is that both bike wheels are stored in the rear of the bag, keeping the weight centered over the bag’s roller wheels; when combined with the class-leading large roller wheels, this bag is a delight to pull around. It covers rough ground easily and makes airports a breeze. If you travel long distances with your bag or need the best roller, then this is the bag for you.

Polaris Axial

Price: 299,99 € Weight: 8,8 kg

Polaris have been making hard shell cases for many years, and have taken that experience to produce the AXIAL soft bag. The attention to detail is very high. The AXIAL bristles with neat design features: removable strengthening inserts keep the bag upright for packing, and can be removed allowing the bag to be stored within its own EVA base. When packing the bag, all the straps are well located and foam inserts protect the bottom bracket; everything is well thought out. The packing instructions suggest the seatpost should be removed and secured in a dedicated sleeve, which is a bit of a no-no with a dropper post. It was not a big problem, however, as the bag had plenty of space to keep the seatpost in place. The wheels slot into two padded sleeves on one side of the bag, and there was plenty of space for big 29er tyres. The AXIAL is easy to transport, but with both bike wheels stored on one side, you have to spend a bit more time packing your belongings to ensure that the bag remains balanced. If space is at a premium in your home, the AXIAL packs down to the smallest dimensions in the group, and is easy to store when not in use.

Biknd Jetpack

Price: 450,00 € Weight: 8,0 kg

Price: 546,00 € Weight: 11,2 kg

If absolute protection is what you require, then the hard-shelled Bikebox is hands-down the best in the group. Handmade in the UK, and offered with a 10-year guarantee, this has been the box of choice for many Olympic track and road teams. With a hard-shell case and a steel anti-crush pole, you can be sure that your bike will turn up safe and sound. All this protection does come at a cost to practicality, however. As a hard case, it does take more preparation to pack your bike–this is the only box in the group test that requires your forks to be removed. There are also no dedicated covers for forks and bars, so additional clothing is best used to ensure no contact is made within the case. Our medium bike was a close fit, so if your bike is a large or bigger you may need to disassemble the bike further (deflate the rear shock). In use the box is very stable and balanced, the integrated handles are useful, and high quality security clasps keep your belongings secured. The four small wheels make airports easy, but struggle on rough ground. We liked the provision of many straps to secure the bike and the quality of the workmanship. The Bikebox does require more time and mechanical knowledge to pack properly, but once packed, it is certainly the most protective in this group test.

All these bags offer a far more convenient and protective solution than the humble cardboard box, especially if you are a frequent flyer. We were very impressed with all the bags in the test, and would happily recommend them all to protect your valuable bike. If absolute protection is what you require, the Bikebox is certainly the best, but is less practical and harder to transport. The AXIAL had some very nice features and is the most compact when stored; the Chain Reaction PRO bag is superb value, offering all the features of the more expensive bags at a very competitive price. In the end it was the EVOC Bike Travel bag and BikND Jetpack that impressed the most: the EVOC is the most comfortable and capable when towing, but the innovative protective features of the BikND and the 360 degree access nose it ahead to take the overall win.

Words & Pictures: Trevor Worsey

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Money blog: Energy bills 'to rise 10% in October' as wholesale costs head up again

Welcome to the Money blog, your place for personal finance and consumer news and tips. Enjoy our Weekend Money content below and we'll be back with live updates on Monday - when we'll also have a Q&A on energy prices. Submit a question below.

Sunday 30 June 2024 21:01, UK

Weekend Money

• Winter energy bills projected to rise for millions of households - submit a question for Q&A on Monday above
• How to split housework fairly with your partner
• Ofgem urged not to lift ban on acquisition-only energy tariffs
• Your comments : Paying off a mortgage into retirement and new cars turning faulty

Essential reads

• A week when probable future of mortgage rates became clearer
• Women in Business : How accident in cafe and £400 turned into a genius business idea that's about to go global
• Money Problem : 'I bought a new car but it's been back six times with same fault - what can I do?'
• How to stop your car from being stolen - or even 'cannibalised'
• Best of the Money blog - an archive

Ask a question or make a comment

Winter energy bills are projected to rise significantly due to an uptick in the wholesale market, according to a closely watched forecast.

Market specialist Cornwall Insight released an updated winter forecast ahead of the latest price cap change kicking in on Monday.

Britons who pay by direct debit will see their typical annual bill for gas and electricity go down 7%, or £122, to £1,568 this week until 1 October.

However, a 10% rise is then expected, taking the annual bill for a typical household back up to £1,763, Cornwall predicts.

This is actually slightly lower than its previous forecast - but still represents bad news for Britons who may have thought energy bills were on a linear path down following two years of sky-high prices.

"The drop in forecasts for October are positive, but we need to keep this in perspective," the Cornwall report says.

"We are still facing an average 10% increase in bills from October, and as winter approaches this will put a strain on many household finances."

We'll have experts from Cornwall Insights and consumer group Which? answering your energy-related questions here in the Money blog on Monday afternoon - so whether it's about why bills could rise again or if now is a good time to switch, submit your query above.

By Jess Sharp , Money team

Splitting up household jobs, whether that be cleaning, washing or life admin, is an issue that affects a lot of couples. 

Starling Bank found women do a total of 36 hours of household tasks and admin per week - equivalent to a full-time job. 

This is nine hours more than men - and yet men believe they do the majority in their household. The average man estimates they do 52% of work overall.

It's the discrepancy between perception and reality (and, of course, this can work both ways) that leads to arguments.

Couples who don't divide the housework equally have roughly five arguments about housework each month - rising to eight for couples who rely on just one person for the work.

We spoke to relationship expert Hayley Quinn about the best ways to split household work - and how to deal with arguments should they arise with your partner. 

She explained that it's necessary to be "transparent" when deciding how to split the workload - but also to be flexible in order to find a solution that suits all involved. 

While a 50/50 split might be your idea of perfection, Hayley said it was "almost inevitable that one partner may take on slightly more of the load" at different periods of time. 

"Striving for perfect 50/50 fairness at all times is a really nice ideal, but it just may not be that practical for modern life," she said. 

She said some jobs may be more visible than others, like cleaning, sorting out the washing, and taking the bins out.

Other jobs can take up just as much time and resource, but will fly under the radar. She gave the examples or sorting out travel insurance or changing over internet provider. 

How should you approach a conversation with your partner about splitting the work? 

To start off, Hayley said you should enter the conversation with a positive mindset - think how you are both contributing to the relationship in different ways.

"When you're having these conversations, it's not that many people are sitting around feeling like they're not contributing," Hayley said. 

"In fact, I think if there's a discrepancy in how people contribute, it's just due to a lack of awareness as to what the other partner does, and some chores are just more obviously visible than others."

Try to avoid starting the chat with the perspective that you are working a lot harder than your partner and they're not pulling their weight. 

"That way, you start from a place of we're all on the same team," she said. 

"When you're doing that as well, it's really important not to make statements which assume what the other partner is thinking, feeling, or contributing. 

"So, for instance, saying something like 'I'm always the one that's picking the kids up from school and you never do anything',  becomes easily very accusational, and this is when arguments start.

"Instead, most partners will be much more receptive if you simply ask for more help and assistance." 

When asking for help, Hayley said it's important to ask in a way that's verbal and clear - don't assume your partner is going to intuitively know what share of household chores to take on if you just complain. 

"In a nice way, explicitly ask for what you want. It could be something like saying, 'Look, I know that we're both working a long week, but I feel like there's so much to do. It would be really helpful if... I'd really appreciate it if you take over lunch,'" she explained. 

"Again, start from a place of appreciation. Acknowledge what your partner contributes already, and be explicitly clear as to what you would like them to do. Phrase it as a request for their help." 

She also said some people can feel protective of how jobs are completed, and learning to relinquish that control can be helpful. 

"If you want it to feel more equitable, you have to let your partner do things in their own way," she said. 

What happens if that doesn't work? 

If you find the conversations aren't helping, you can always try organising a rota, Hayley said. 

She recommended using Starling Bank's Share the Load tool to work out your chore split. 

However, she said if you feel there are constant conversations and nothing is changing then the issue is becoming more about communication than sharing the workload. 

"It's actually about someone not hearing what you're trying to communicate to them, so it's more of a relationship-wide issue," she said. 

She advised sitting down and trying to have another transparent verbal conversation, making it clear that you have spoken about this before and how it's making you feel in a factual way, without placing blame. 

Using phrases like "I've noticed" or "I've observed" can help, she said. 

If after all that, the situation still isn't getting better, she said it's time to consider confiding in friends or family for support, or seeing a relationship counsellor. 

The oldest and most prestigious tennis event in the world returns on Monday, with the best of the best players to battle over two weeks to be named champion.

Crowds in their thousands will flock to Wimbledon to enjoy a spot of sport - as well as the range of food and drink on offer.

It's not the cheapest day out, with a cool cup of Pimms setting you back just under £10 and a bottle of water coming in at nearly £3.

But did you know that despite souring inflation in recent years sending food prices through the roof, one fan favourite - the quintessentially British strawberries and cream combo - has stayed at the same price since 2010?

A pot of the sweet snack costs just £2.50, making it one of the more affordable offerings at the All England Club. It has been served up there since the very first Wimbledon tournament in 1877.

Perdita Sedov, Wimbledon's head of food and beverage, previously told The Telegraph the price freeze "goes back to a long-standing tradition" of strawberries and cream being associated with the championship.

"It's about being accessible to all," she said.

According to the Wimbledon website, each year more than 38.4 tonnes of strawberries are picked and consumed during the tournament.

Ofgem is being urged not to lift a ban on acquisition-only energy tariffs (deals that are available only to new customers, not existing ones).

A coalition of consumer organisations and energy companies led by Which? has penned a letter to the government regulator for electricity and gas warning it of the risk of a "return to a market which discriminates against loyal customers". 

They have also raised the potential impact on customers in debt, who may not be able to switch but could also find themselves struggling to access a better deal with their current supplier under the plans. 

The letter also notes the "very recent history" when more than 30 suppliers went bust - many after trying to win customers with unsustainably cheap tariffs.

Ofgem has said it could remove the ban on acquisition-only tariffs from 1 October but consumer choice website Which?  has research that shows the public are opposed to cheap deals that exclude existing customers, with 81% feeling it would be unfair if their supplier was offering cheaper deals to new customers only. 

The consumer champion has signed the letter to Ofgem alongside E.ON, Octopus, So Energy, Rebel Energy, End Fuel Poverty Coalition, Citizens Advice and Fair by Design.

Two topics dominated our inbox this week.

Many readers got in touch about our Weekend Money feature on older Britons who face having to work past pension age to pay off long-term mortgages.

Lots of you share the fears of those we spoke to in the feature...

I am in my 70s with still about five years to go on my mortgage. It stands at 30k on a 300k house. The mortgage repayments are £800 a month, this doesn't sound much but on a static pension it is massive and I am literally on the point of not having sufficient money to pay it. Red

I was supposed to retire in 2.5 years at 66 and 4 months, my mortgage finishes when I'm 70. I was paying off extra (double) on my previous rate to reduce an interest only mortgage, but the recent increases in mortgage rates have meant I'm paying off hardly any. AVB

I'm 67 and still trying to pay off a mortgage that has another five years to run. I can't stop working and do over 10 hours a day, 5 days a week. Keith

My problem is going to be paying off an interest-only mortgage. More than anything I wish I hadn't changed when I had my twins but we couldn't make ends meet at the time. Sazavan

Six years ago I reached the age of 70 and my interest-only mortgage ended - to extend it was impossible with the conditions attached. This then threw me into the rental market, paying more than my mortgage. Now I am facing eviction from the rental due to it being sold. Marianj

We also heard from a mortgage adviser, whose recommendations matched those of Gerard Boon, the managing director of online mortgage broker Boon Brokers, who we spoke to for the feature...

I am a mortgage adviser in Leicestershire and have found an increasing number of people asking to go as long as possible past normal retirement age. I always point out that it's great to have lower payments in the short term but you will need to work to 75. There's no choice. Semaine

Onto the second topic that dominated your correspondence, and we were sorry to learn that lots of you face similar issues as reader Adam, who has had to take his faulty car back to the garage six times - and is still not convinced it is fixed. 

Scott Dixon, from The Complaints Resolver , was on hand to help break down what Adam could do for our Money Problem feature - read his advice here:

Same thing happened to me, except that they didn't let me refund the vehicle and claimed it was my fault even though I told them about the issue during the six months' warranty multiple times... they barely replied. K

I have bought a used car and there is an engine management light on. The garage where I bought it from has since changed name and moved premises (found out by accident). When I call to book in I am told to expect a call back or the mechanic will ring me but they never do. Andy D

I have taken my car to Halfords four times in the last 14 months. Each time they guarantee me it's fixed and within a week it's back to normal. Can I get it repaired elsewhere and bill Halfords? Simon

I have a JAG SVR that's been faulty since day one, the garage sent me home with it faulty and not working correctly. I have tried to reject it but the finance company are playing David versus Goliath... we can prove issues from day one, we have two vehicle reports to back it up. Jezza

Have a Nissan Juke, which has a seat issue where it sinks on its own… Nissan saying it's not a manufacturing fault, but "user error". Where do I stand in getting it fixed? Technical team keeps fobbing it off as our fault. Esmith97

If you're in a position like this, do check out Scott Dixon's advice in the feature above.

The Money blog is your place for consumer news, economic analysis and everything you need to know about the cost of living - bookmark news.sky.com/money.

It runs with live updates every weekday - while on Saturdays we scale back and offer you a selection of weekend reads.

Check them out this morning and we'll be back on Monday with rolling news and features.

The Money team is Bhvishya Patel, Jess Sharp, Katie Williams, Brad Young, Ollie Cooper and Mark Wyatt, with sub-editing by Isobel Souster. The blog is edited by Jimmy Rice.

Starting from next month, gamers will be able to play Xbox titles like Fallout 4, Starfield and Fortnite using Amazon Fire TV.

A new upgrade coming to the Fire TV 4K devices transforms your television into a console, thanks to Xbox Cloud Gaming.

You'll need to be a member of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to take advantage, plus you'll need a compatible controller and a solid internet connection.

"One of the biggest benefits of cloud gaming is the ability to play premium games without needing a console," Amazon explained.

"The Fire TV Stick may be compact, but it can stream and run graphically intense Xbox games like Senua's Saga: Hellblade II.

"This portability also means you can easily move your cloud gaming setup from the living room TV to a different room or even take it on the road.

"As long as you have a solid internet connection and your compatible Fire TV Stick, and a compatible controller, you can take your Xbox Game Pass games and saved progress travels with you."

Once downloaded, the Xbox app is designed to offer a smooth and seamless experience. Here’s how it works:

• Install and launch the Xbox app from your Fire TV device;
• Sign in with your Microsoft account to play. If you’re an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member, you’ll have instant access to hundreds of cloud-enabled games;
• Connect a Bluetooth-enabled wireless controller. Controllers like the Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Adaptive Controller, PlayStation DualSense, or DualShock 4 controller are all compatible.

A new Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K will set you back £59.99 on Amazon, while a new Xbox Wireless Controller costs £49.59.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate currently costs £1 for the first 14 days for new members, then is billed at £12.99 per month.

House prices are overvalued by thousands of pounds, according to a major property company.

The typical property is £20,000 more than is affordable to the average household, says Zoopla.

But rising incomes and longer mortgage terms mean the "over-valuation" is expected to disappear by the end of the year.

Zoopla's report said: "House prices still look expensive on various measures of affordability.

"We expect house price inflation to remain muted, likely to rise more slowly than household incomes over the next one to two years."

The average house price is around £264,900 – but according to Zoopla's calculations, the affordable price is £245,200.

"A new government will add a dimension of political stability when the autumn market starts in September and even if the [Bank of England base] rate is not lower by then, a cut will be imminent," said Tom Bill, head of UK residential research at estate agent Knight Frank.

"Given that mortgage rates will steadily reduce as services inflation comes under control, we expect UK house prices to rise by 3% this year."

Zoopla's over-valuation estimate was reached by comparing the actual average house price in its index with an "affordable" price, which was calculated based on households' disposable incomes, average mortgage rates and average deposit sizes for home buyers.

It's one of the most iconic and popular music festivals in the world, and it's notoriously hard to get a ticket.

Glastonbury has rolled around once again and roughly 210,000 people have flocked to Somerset this year as Dua Lipa, Coldplay and SZA headline the UK's biggest festival this weekend.

Those in the crowd are in the lucky minority — an estimated 2.5 million people tried to get tickets for this year's event, meaning the odds really aren't in your favour if you fancy going.

Tickets routinely sell out within an hour of going on sale, and that demand is unlikely to decrease next year, given the festival will likely take a fallow year in 2026.

So, if you're feeling jealous this year, how do you get tickets for Glastonbury 2025, and how can you give yourself the best possible chance?

We've run through all the available details as well as some tips so you're best prepared when the time comes.

Registration details:  Before potential festivalgoers get the chance to buy tickets, they must register on the official website.

One of the reasons this is done is to stop ticket touting, with all tickets non-transferable. Each ticket features the photograph of the registered ticket holder, with security checks carried out to ensure that only the person in the photograph is admitted to the festival.

Registration is free and only takes a few minutes. You will be asked to provide basic contact details and to upload a passport-standard photo.

Registration closes a few weeks before tickets are released.

Where to buy tickets:  Tickets can be bought exclusively at  glastonbury.seetickets.com   once they become available.

No other site or agency will be allocated tickets, so if you see anyone else claiming to have Glastonbury tickets available for purchase, it's most likely a scam.

When tickets go on sale: We don't know the details for next year yet - but Glastonbury ticket sales usually take place in October or November of the year before the festival. 

This year's ticket sales began, following a delay, in November 2023. Coach tickets typically go on sale a few days before (traditionally on a Thursday), with general admission tickets following on the Sunday morning a few days later.

For those that miss out, there's also a resale that takes place in April for tickets that have been returned or for those with a balance that has not been paid.

This year's April resale took place on 18 April (for ticket and coach travel options) and 21 April (general admission tickets and accommodation options).

How much it costs:  General admission tickets for this year's festival cost £355 each, plus a £5 booking fee. That's an increase on last year's price of £335 each, which was also an increase on the 2022 price of around £280.

So, we can probably assume that ticket prices will go up once again for next year's festival. 

Remember, there are options to pay for your ticket in instalments, so you won't have to pay the full price in one go if you don't want to. All tickets are subject to a £75 deposit, with the remaining balance payable by the first week of April.

It's also worth noting that Glastonbury is a family festival, and that's reflected in the fact that children aged 12 and under when the festival takes place are admitted free of charge.

TIPS FOR THE BIG TICKET SALE DAY

The scramble for tickets when they go on general sale is nothing short of painstaking, with demand far outweighing supply.

Here are some tips to give you the best possible chance of bagging tickets:

Familiarise yourself with the website: You may see a reduced, bare-looking version of the booking page once you gain entry. The organisers say this is intentional to cope with high traffic and does not mean the site has crashed, so be sure not to refresh or leave the page.

Once you reach the first page of the booking site, you will need to enter the registration number and registered postcode for yourself and the other people you are attempting to book tickets for.

When you proceed, the details you have provided will be displayed on the next page.

Once you have double checked all of your information is correct, click 'confirm' to enter the payment page, where you will need to check/amend your billing address, confirm your payment information, accept the terms and conditions, and complete the checkout within the allocated time.

Timekeeping: You can get timed out if you don't act fast, so it's a good idea to have your details saved on a separate document so you can copy and paste them over quickly.

You might also have to approve your payment, which could mean answering security questions from your card issuer. Have a device on hand to ensure you're ready for this.

Internet connection: This should go without saying, but you won't stand a chance without a solid internet connection.

Avoid trying to rely on your mobile phone signal, and politely ask those you might share the internet with to delay any online activity that might slow your connection.

Don't give up: Until the page tells you that tickets have sold out, you still have a chance. 

Shortly before that point, there will be a message saying 'all available tickets have now been allocated,' which users often think means their chances are up. 

What it actually means is that orders are being processed for all the tickets that are available. But if somebody whose order is being processed doesn't take our previous advice and runs out of time, their loss could be your gain.

Multiple tabs and devices: Glastonbury advises against its customers trying to run multiple tabs and devices to boost their chances of getting a ticket.

Glastonbury's website says running multiple devices simultaneously is "a waste of valuable resources, and doesn't reflect the ethos of the festival".

"Please stick to one device and one tab," it adds, "so that you can focus on entering your details without confusing your browser and help us make the ticket sale as quick and stress free as possible for all."

Shoppers have been buying bigger TVs to enjoy this summer's European Championships, according to the electrical retailer Currys.

The chain said UK sales were up by more than 30% in the past month, with "supersize" screens — 85-inch and above — selling well in the run-up to the Euros.

"Having a third of the TV market and the Euros being a big event for many people, we're seeing that super-sizing trend keep on giving," said Currys chief executive Alex Baldock.

The most popular, and also cheapest, 85-inch TV on the Currys website costs £999. 

The most expensive super-size TV is a 98-inch offering from Samsung that will set you back £9,499.

Currys reported adjusted pre-tax profits of £118m for the year to 27 April. That represented a 10% increase from the previous year's profits of £107m.

Like-for-like sales for Currys UK and Ireland declined by 2% to £4.97bn in the 12 months to 27 April, with consumer confidence knocked by high inflation levels and rising interest rates.

"We can see our progress in ever-more engaged colleagues, more satisfied customers and better financial performance," Mr Baldock added.

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