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2012-06-22 8:04 AM

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Subject: Bontrager Speed Box

Just wondering how slim the box fits on top of the Speed Concept.  My knees tend to track in towards the top tube and occasionally graze the tube or continue at an angle that make me wonder if my kness might be a bit impeded by the box.

Thoughts?



2012-06-22 8:11 AM
in reply to: #4274946

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
GoFaster - 2012-06-22 9:04 AM

Just wondering how slim the box fits on top of the Speed Concept.  My knees tend to track in towards the top tube and occasionally graze the tube or continue at an angle that make me wonder if my kness might be a bit impeded by the box.

Thoughts?

It's quite slim. I tuck my knees in on descents and they do not touch it. It aligns pretty much with the top tube so if you graze the tube you will most likely graze the box. Also, if you pack stuff in the straps don't hold too well on bumps. I've lost bonk breakers and gels. but if it is not bulging it works great.

2012-06-22 8:20 AM
in reply to: #4274946

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
Agree, it's definitely not wider than the top tube.  I think its even a little narrower than the tube.  I've got a couple pictures of mine posted on photobucket but it appears they're down for maintenance.  I'll post them up when photobucket comes back up.
2012-06-22 1:18 PM
in reply to: #4274946

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box

Never have a problem with box being in the
way. The issue I have is that when I sweat a lot the sweat drips into the
speedbox and after 20 or so miles I have a pool of sweat in my speedbox so
every all my dry item need to be wrapped (electrolyte tablets....). I have
ended up with a mix of nuun and endruolytes on many occasions after a hot ride.
I may drill a few holes to see if it helps with the drainage.

Now if I could keep my rear cassette in adjustment for more than 100 miles that would be great

2012-06-22 1:34 PM
in reply to: #4275684

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
BuckHamilton - 2012-06-22 1:18 PM

Never have a problem with box being in the
way. The issue I have is that when I sweat a lot the sweat drips into the
speedbox and after 20 or so miles I have a pool of sweat in my speedbox so
every all my dry item need to be wrapped (electrolyte tablets....). I have
ended up with a mix of nuun and endruolytes on many occasions after a hot ride.
I may drill a few holes to see if it helps with the drainage.

Now if I could keep my rear cassette in adjustment for more than 100 miles that would be great

 

I'm not trying to push anyone away from here. But there is a thread on ST titled "speed concept owners thread" It is very long but has a lot of great information about these bikes. Also an engineer from Trek is very active in the thread and very helpful.

 

To the OP, I agree with the others, I don't think the Speed Box will cause you any problems with your knees hitting it. I have both the Speed Box and the Draft Box on my SC and I love them both.

2012-06-22 1:58 PM
in reply to: #4274946

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
I hit mine occasionaly while riding but, not enough to bother myself or really put much thought into it.


2012-06-22 2:35 PM
in reply to: #4275707

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
TriBoilermaker - 2012-06-22 2:34 PM

I'm not trying to push anyone away from here. But there is a thread on ST titled "speed concept owners thread" It is very long but has a lot of great information about these bikes. Also an engineer from Trek is very active in the thread and very helpful.

I've asked Carl a bunch of questions - and did post this over there as well.  But sometimes real life experiences give a better account, hence I posted to both forums for this one.

But thanks for the suggestion.

2012-06-22 3:07 PM
in reply to: #4274946

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box

Looks like Photobucket is finally back up.  I can take more detailed pictures if you want, but here's the only pictures I have out there with the speed box showing in them.  Looks like its thinner than the top tube and as the others have mentioned I've never had any issues hitting it with my legs.  Now as for having yard sales on the highway with my aero trunk thing, yeah that's another story.

 

 

 

2012-06-22 3:13 PM
in reply to: #4275859

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
tuwood - 2012-06-22 3:07 PM

Looks like Photobucket is finally back up.  I can take more detailed pictures if you want, but here's the only pictures I have out there with the speed box showing in them.  Looks like its thinner than the top tube and as the others have mentioned I've never had any issues hitting it with my legs.  Now as for having yard sales on the highway with my aero trunk thing, yeah that's another story.

 

 

 

Looks like you need a new battery in your studfinder

2012-06-22 3:59 PM
in reply to: #4275684

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
BuckHamilton - 2012-06-22 1:18 PM

Never have a problem with box being in the
way. The issue I have is that when I sweat a lot the sweat drips into the
speedbox and after 20 or so miles I have a pool of sweat in my speedbox so
every all my dry item need to be wrapped (electrolyte tablets....). 

+1. I also hate that the box is divided into compartments.

2012-06-22 4:03 PM
in reply to: #4275868

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
Red2sbr - 2012-06-22 3:13 PM

Looks like you need a new battery in your studfinder

There's actually a funny story there.  I put my stud finder on the wall and it was dead red that I was on the stud.  I moved it left and right and it just stayed red the whole time and I thought it was messing up.  I then took a small nail and pounded it in to see if I hit a stud and sure enough I did.  Then I kept moving it over a little to find the edge of the stud so I could make sure I was centered.  Well, I kept going and going and never hit the edge of the stud.  (hence the trail of holes)

I was very perplexed thinking there was a beam going across there or something so I went back to the pictures of the garage when they were building our house.  Yeah, the whole wall was sheeted with plywood.  /facepalm



Edited by tuwood 2012-06-22 4:04 PM


2012-06-22 5:59 PM
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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box

mellicon - 2012-06-22 3:59 PM

+1. I also hate that the box is divided into compartments.

If you're looking for another more streamlined option than the stock top tube speed box, you may also want to consider our Speedpack 480D or 483D (and our Speedpacks don't have dividers, so you can carry longer items).

Here is pic of a very well-equipped speed concept with a Speedpack 480D:

2012-06-22 6:21 PM
in reply to: #4275978

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
tuwood - 2012-06-22 4:03 PM
Red2sbr - 2012-06-22 3:13 PM

Looks like you need a new battery in your studfinder

There's actually a funny story there.  I put my stud finder on the wall and it was dead red that I was on the stud.  I moved it left and right and it just stayed red the whole time and I thought it was messing up.  I then took a small nail and pounded it in to see if I hit a stud and sure enough I did.  Then I kept moving it over a little to find the edge of the stud so I could make sure I was centered.  Well, I kept going and going and never hit the edge of the stud.  (hence the trail of holes)

I was very perplexed thinking there was a beam going across there or something so I went back to the pictures of the garage when they were building our house.  Yeah, the whole wall was sheeted with plywood.  /facepalm

Sorry I couldn't resist I have used the nail method myself in a pinch. I like your story though.

BTW I have a SC with the speedbox. I like it ok for the most part and it does not interfere with my knees. I'm not crazy about the compartments, but I have only used it for gel pack so far so it has worked out ok. I was considering taking a small die grinder to the back divider to cut it down a bit to make at least the rear compartment a little larger. I do like the way it fits on the bike though.

2012-06-25 8:27 AM
in reply to: #4274946

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
The dividers in the speed box can be removed. They are just plastic pieces that can be removed and replaced as you need to fit different items in there. I leave the front one (closest to front of bike) in place and have removed the others. Plenty of room for my shot bloks and gels. At first I didn't think you could remove them because they are very tight, but they do come out and go back in.
2012-06-25 8:40 AM
in reply to: #4278495

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box

TriBoilermaker - 2012-06-25 8:27 AM The dividers in the speed box can be removed. They are just plastic pieces that can be removed and replaced as you need to fit different items in there. I leave the front one (closest to front of bike) in place and have removed the others. Plenty of room for my shot bloks and gels. At first I didn't think you could remove them because they are very tight, but they do come out and go back in.

 

How'd you remove the dividers? Do they just slide out? Sorry to be dense.

2012-06-25 8:45 AM
in reply to: #4278532

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
Doh! Never mind! =)


2012-06-25 9:01 AM
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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box

Thanks for all the great feedback guys - I was a bit concerned about the dividers, but if they can be removed, then this sounds just right.

Has anyone fit a gel flask inside this or the Dark Works box?  Problem with the Dark Works is I need to get it shipped across the border...

2012-06-25 10:01 AM
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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box

TriBoilermaker - 2012-06-25 8:27 AM The dividers in the speed box can be removed. They are just plastic pieces that can be removed and replaced as you need to fit different items in there. I leave the front one (closest to front of bike) in place and have removed the others. Plenty of room for my shot bloks and gels. At first I didn't think you could remove them because they are very tight, but they do come out and go back in.

Huh?  OK, I'm checking this when I get home.  I've had mine for over a year and didn't realize this.

2012-06-25 10:27 AM
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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
GoFaster - 2012-06-25 9:01 AM

Thanks for all the great feedback guys - I was a bit concerned about the dividers, but if they can be removed, then this sounds just right.

Has anyone fit a gel flask inside this or the Dark Works box?  Problem with the Dark Works is I need to get it shipped across the border...

The speed box is a different product than our soft-sided Speedpacks, but if you are considering a 480D or 483D for your Speed Concept, shipping to Canada is not a big issue. We've shipped hundreds of packs to Canada already, typically there are no customs problems as our pack is US-made and we use the US post.

2012-06-25 11:00 AM
in reply to: #4278837

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
DarkSpeedWorks - 2012-06-25 10:27 AM
GoFaster - 2012-06-25 9:01 AM

Thanks for all the great feedback guys - I was a bit concerned about the dividers, but if they can be removed, then this sounds just right.

Has anyone fit a gel flask inside this or the Dark Works box?  Problem with the Dark Works is I need to get it shipped across the border...

The speed box is a different product than our soft-sided Speedpacks, but if you are considering a 480D or 483D for your Speed Concept, shipping to Canada is not a big issue. We've shipped hundreds of packs to Canada already, typically there are no customs problems as our pack is US-made and we use the US post.

BTW, that is a sharp looking Speedpack.  

2012-06-25 11:04 AM
in reply to: #4278740

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
tuwood - 2012-06-25 10:01 AM

TriBoilermaker - 2012-06-25 8:27 AM The dividers in the speed box can be removed. They are just plastic pieces that can be removed and replaced as you need to fit different items in there. I leave the front one (closest to front of bike) in place and have removed the others. Plenty of room for my shot bloks and gels. At first I didn't think you could remove them because they are very tight, but they do come out and go back in.

Huh?  OK, I'm checking this when I get home.  I've had mine for over a year and didn't realize this.

 

LOL me too! But after reading TriBoilermaker's comments, I played with the dividers and sure enough, they slipped right out. 



2012-06-25 1:03 PM
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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
DarkSpeedWorks - 2012-06-25 11:27 AM
GoFaster - 2012-06-25 9:01 AM

Thanks for all the great feedback guys - I was a bit concerned about the dividers, but if they can be removed, then this sounds just right.

Has anyone fit a gel flask inside this or the Dark Works box?  Problem with the Dark Works is I need to get it shipped across the border...

The speed box is a different product than our soft-sided Speedpacks, but if you are considering a 480D or 483D for your Speed Concept, shipping to Canada is not a big issue. We've shipped hundreds of packs to Canada already, typically there are no customs problems as our pack is US-made and we use the US post.

What do you consider makes your product stand out in comparison to the Bontrager version?  In terms of sizing how do they compare?

2012-06-25 1:07 PM
in reply to: #4278495

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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box

TriBoilermaker - 2012-06-25 8:27 AM The dividers in the speed box can be removed. They are just plastic pieces that can be removed and replaced as you need to fit different items in there. I leave the front one (closest to front of bike) in place and have removed the others. Plenty of room for my shot bloks and gels. At first I didn't think you could remove them because they are very tight, but they do come out and go back in.

This is an awesome tip!! Thanks so much. I may have known this had I installed the part myself, but I had the dealer do it when I got the bike and I never saw the packaging.

2012-06-25 2:34 PM
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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box

What do you consider makes your product stand out in comparison to the Bontrager version?  In terms of sizing how do they compare?

Our 480D and 483D Speedpacks are definitely different from the trek offerings. For one, they're not made in China, but in the US. And most people that have used the bontrager speed box and our pack far prefer the Speedpack (we've got some feedback about that here).

But beyond that, we've made many design decisions to make our Speedpacks as smooth, streamlined, and aero as possible (within the limitations of the materials) and yet still make them roomy, stable, and highly functional. Both the 480D (volume = ~480cc) and the 483D (volume = ~483cc) are bigger than the speed box in terms of carrying capacity. We have more detailed feature lists describing both packs on our website. But, if you have more questions, feel free to ask.

thanks,

Greg at DSW


2012-06-25 3:28 PM
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Subject: RE: Bontrager Speed Box
tuwood - 2012-06-22 3:07 PM

Looks like Photobucket is finally back up.  I can take more detailed pictures if you want, but here's the only pictures I have out there with the speed box showing in them.  Looks like its thinner than the top tube and as the others have mentioned I've never had any issues hitting it with my legs.  Now as for having yard sales on the highway with my aero trunk thing, yeah that's another story.

 

 

 

 

Tony: I can't tell from the picture, do you have the newest version of the Draft Box? I know the earlier version had a lot of problems with moving around and the lid coming off. If you do have the earlier one Trek will replace it with a new one. If you already have the new one then please disregard all this!!

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