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Quickly packed, quickly ready to ride again: Packing a bike has never been so uncomplicated as with the Road Bike Bag Pro from evoc.
Test & Review: Thule RoundTrip Pro XT – A case for all types of bikes
A stroke of genius out of Sweden: The RoundTrip Pro XT from Thule has a work stand integrated in the case. Patrick put this all-rounder to the test.
At a price of 459 Euros, my Thule RoundTrip Pro XT lies right in the middle of our test group. Unlike the evoc case that my colleague Fabian tested, the Thule is not a pure road bike transporter, but is aimed at road cyclists, cross and gravel pilots and mountain bikers alike. This can be a decisive advantage, especially for bikers who are at home in several disciplines. For the RoundTrip Pro XT, the transport specialists from Malmö in southern Sweden rely on a softshell construction with a solid bottom. Bracing struts and padding ensure valuable contents are well-protected, and come with certain advantages. They can be easily removed, for example, and the Thule case can be stored efficiently when not in use. In addition, this design saves weight without sacrificing protection. This is helpful when airlines are tight on space, but more importantly it demonstrates the best part of the Thule RoundTrip Pro XT:
Invaluable in training camp: the integrated assembly stand
I think the idea of integrating a work stand into the bike case is a stroke of genius. It’s especially good for those who spend a longer time at training camp, and also use the opportunity for material tests. Replacement parts, repairs and service: thanks to the sturdy and well thought-out work stand, everything is much easier, quicker and more gentle on the material – and all at a working height that is easy on the back. I find the fully modular concept particularly clever. The stand uses the bike holder on which the bike is mounted anyway, and therefore adds relatively little weight. If I still have to worry about every last gram, I’ll just leave the work stand at home.
Simple and well thought-out: packing and unpacking
When packingwheels, handlebars and, depending on the wheel length, thederailleur may have to be removed. The wheels disappear into well-padded wheel bags, while the handlebars are attached to the frame. Tip: It is best to take off the handlebars including the stem so that you do not have to go through the trouble of adjusting all the angles again at your destination. Don't forget to fix the fork with the Ahead screw! I found the mounting of the fork on the bike holder to be a very clever solution. This works with the included adapters for both thru- and quick-release axles and, thanks to sophisticated length adjustment, is completely universal. Together with the block under the bottom bracket, the bike stands absolutely secure in the case, regardless of front to centre length, tube shapes or geometries. For ratchets and adjustment levers, Thule has obviously taken inspiration from the in-house bicycle carriers from the automotive sector. Everything is of very high quality, easy to use, gentle on the material and yet securely fixed. I would have liked to round off the positive impression with a little more padding material and some extra compartments for small parts or accessories. However, it's nothing I couldn't improvise with some tube insulation, bubble wrap, and a few zip ties.
Top level: Safety, handling and comfort
Packed like this, I didn't have the slightest hesitation about taking my BMC carbon racer on the road –and the Thule case didn't disappoint. Thanks to its well-placed handles, the RoundTrip Pro XT is easy to handle at all times, whether I'm dragging it through the endless aisles of some airport or heaving it onto a baggage carousel. I was positively surprised by the diagonal zipper, which is pleasantly easy to use. The softshell material also makes an absolutely durable impression, even if scratches and abrasion marks after the flight cannot be avoided. I also particularly like the efficient use of space in the sturdy Swedish bag. Despite rather compact external dimensions, the case offers plenty of space on the inside.
Summary
Overall, the Thule is an absolutely solid and reliable companion at a fair price. If you have the work stand with you, it's rather on the heavy side, but in return you’ll get a unique feature that makes repairs fun even when you're on holiday.
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