Details

Folds into compact 'A4' package.

Front drop-out spacer protects your forks in transit.

Reviews

Mountain Biking Australia - Oct 08

The 'Body Bag' and 'Tardis' bike bags have been longstanding members of the Ground Effect product range and both vary markedly from other systems on the market. Bike bags are often designed with all-out protection in mind. They feature thick foam padding and most don't pack down much once the bike is removed. Ground Effect takes a different tack; their bags are ultra light and have little or no padding inside.
Where a typical padded soft shell bag weighs around 5kg, the Tardis and Body Bag weigh 1.5kg and 1.2kg respectively. Hard shell bike boxes can weigh over 10kg before you even put a bike inside! Both Ground Effect bags pack down into a compact carry bag - our sample of the Body Bag measured just 30x20x15cm once folded up. This makes them easy to manage once you get to your destination and cycle tourists can even use the empty bag as a groundsheet when camping.
The Tardis and Body Bag vary in size and the amount of bike disassembly required. The Tardis requires the removal of both wheels, handlebars, seatpost, pedals and rear derailleur. Once fitted, the bike won't be much bigger than a suitcase (approximately 115x70cm) which can be very handy when travelling on trains, buses or in taxis.
With the Body Bag, you only have to remove the front wheel and seatpost. This makes bike packing relatively hassle free although the finished package is substantially bigger - approximately 170x70cm.
Low cost is an added bonus that comes from the simple and lightweight design. The Tardis sells for A$129 while the Body Bag is just A$99. More elaborate padded soft cases cost $500 and up.
In the past I have either used cardboard bike boxes or heavily padded soft shell bags. While I like the idea of having a bag that won't get in the way once I arrive at my destination, I was concerned about the level of protection offered by the minimalist Ground Effect bags.
DIY Padding
Rather than having permanent padding you can simply add your own as required. If you own an old beater, just throw it in the bag as is. Alternately, line the bag with cardboard, tape some foam to the frame and add a little bubble wrap if desired. You can dispose of this makeshift padding at your destination and source more cardboard on the return journey.
I used the Body Bag to carry my lightweight carbon fibre dually on a number of domestic flights. For each journey I taped padded foam tubes directly to my frame. Rather than placing cardboard between the front wheel and the bike, I cable tied the wheel in place - I figured that if the wheel is secured, it can't rub and damage the frame. The bag comes with a dummy axle for the fork and you should always use it to protect the fork tips from damage. I didn't use any cardboard around the bike and just relied on the heavy duty Cordura fabric to protect against scuffing.
So far the Body Bag has done its job admirably and my bike is no worse off for the experience. While the Body Bag clearly can't offer the same impact protection as a hard case or thickly padded bike bag, it would appear to keep everything together as long as the baggage handler isn't having a really bad day. The only issue that I can see arising is the potential for rear derailleur damage. Ground Effect recommends shifting into the largest cog with the rear derailleur to get it as far inboard as possible. Derailleurs are vulnerable at the best of times so I would recommend removing the rear derailleur completely - just cable tie it to the frame and you will avoid any damage in that area.
While minimal disassembly is required, fitting the bike into the Body Bag wasn't always easy. My dually isn't a big travel rig; it is a cross country machine with fairly standard issue 66cm wide riser bars in a 19 inch frame size. Even so, it proved to be a really tight squeeze inside the Body Bag. Even after deflating the rear tyre, I still had to stretch the bag around the end of the handlebar. I think the dimensions of the Body Bag may have been formulated in the days of hardtails and 22inch flat bars. Large frames, 29ers and long travel bikes will probably require more disassembly to fit inside the bag. Removing the bars should do the trick in most cases but you will need to safely secure them so they don't hang loosely and damage your frame.
After a number of trips the Cordura is faring well and all of the stitching remains intact (despite being stretched to its limits to fit my bike). This probably isn't the bike bag to go for if you are scared of damaging your duco but my bike already has plenty of scratches! I appreciated the Body Bag for its ease of use, compact size, excess baggage dodging weight and the broad shoulder strap which made getting around the airport relatively easy.
Article by John Hardwick

Australian Mountain Bike - Oct 02

This is the Ground Effect solution to transporting your beloved MTB in a convenient and damage-free manner. Constructed from tough cross-ply Cordura with reinforcing at primary wear areas such as the base skewer and pedal areas. All we needed to remove was the front wheel and seatpost to enable our XL size hard tail to effortlessly slip into the bag. For big trips on big planes, GFX recommend lining the bag with stiff cardboard to offer a higher degree of impact protection. On its own the bag provides little in the way of protection from direct impacts, but does protect from abrasion damage. The bag has sturdy handles and a shoulder strap for easy bike cartage. Combo bike/public transport commutes where bikes are forbidden could be made easier by slipping your bike into the Body Bag for bus and train rides. The whole package folds down to a tiny A4 size. For a totally affordable NZ$99 this bag is a top value way of protecting your bike from transport damage, whilst also providing a convenient transport option.

Valerie and Body Bag wait on that elusive last piece of luggage. LAX, USA.
Photo: Grant Stirling.