Hard cases from Bike Box Alan are some of the toughest boxes available – they’re moulded to a shape that’s efficient, and light considering the protection they provide. The real selling point on these hard plastic cases is that they have a metal pole in the centre, giving absolute assurance that the box can never be crushed, even if chucked onto a plane, or crushed by other boxes inside the hold.

Laura Trott herself calls the Bike Box Alan “so safe, easy and fast to pack” – and the claimed packing time is as little as 10 minutes.

Packing requires simply removing the pedals, deflating the wheels (which sit in the lid of the box, secured via the skewers), removing the seat post and the handlebar stem to allow rotation of the bars. The bike is secured in the case and then the ‘anti crush pole’ sits between top and bottom.

All boxes have wheels, though they do weigh 11.2 kg making them a little more difficult to load into a taxi than some lightweight bags, and the cost between £415 and £428. At this weight you can fit some extra accessories, but you won’t be able to get away with packing your entire kit bag. If you’re looking to a one off use, you can hire one, from £60-£80 for 7 days. Not cheap, not light – but bomb proof.

Now you’re on the way to having you bike transportation ticked off, check out our ultimate guide on what to take on a road cycling holiday, and make sure you’re all sorted with our guide to cycling holiday travel insurance.