On the air tag note my buddy has a great suggestion if you have an extra one or a broken one. Put it on your bike in a more “normal” spot so if a thief knows what to look for they find it quickly and dispose of it while the actual AirTag in a better hiding spot does it’s job.
When I last flew with my bike, I used a cardboard bike box to protect my bike. I had a full frame bag, and I put ALL of of the small parts (pedals, chain, etc) in a freezer bag inside of the frame bag. Helped to insure that the small parts wouldn't fall out when the box was opened by TSA. I also took my bike apart with my multitool to make sure I could put it back together with the same tools at the destination.
Good point about the pedals, you can always take off the crank arm, make a triangle with a long pedal wrench and the ground and stomp on the top of the triangle, but might look a little awkward in the middle of an airport, lol!
My tip if you use a bike bag: Zip ties. Lots of them. TSA is somewhat reluctant to cut them, and they can really keep things in place. Especially small stuff.
agree on value of airtags, my bike made first but not second connection and airline was wrong about where it was-woman at counter seemed happy we could locate it so she could call and straighten it out
Having traveled abroad a handful of times with bikes I would also like to add put your tools and accessories in a clear plastic bag...I've had TSA empty out my tools and such into the case to do an inspection and they put zero effort in packing everything back up
I had the same issue upon arriving in Frankfurt. They have two areas for oversize luggage, and I was looking at the wrong one! I could see my bike had arrived thanks to the Air Tag, but I did not expect there to be two different spots for oversize luggage to appear.
This is super advice and matches our experiences with our CoMotion tandem with S&S couplers. On virtually every occasion when checking the two airline-legal bike suitcases, we have been asked "Is that a bicycle?" We've learned to (1) place our helmet bag and panniers out of sight of the baggage agent; (2) tell them variously that it is a "personal mobility device" or "sporting goods parts"; and (3) keep a printed copy of the airline baggage policy ready at hand to deal with arguments. Baggage agents must be on commission and many are not aware of changes in airline policies. We've had several near misses when they have tried to charge us extra fees but have avoided them each time. One other tip: instead of bringing chain pliers, install a Wippermann Connex Link which can be removed and installed by hand through a simple twist.
I had my customer bike made with S & S couplers so the bag is under the size limit. Only when leaving Belgium has check-in staff asked if it's a bike! I choose my airlines from a list of ones that let bikes travel for free anyway, support the good ones!
I usually say camping gear and bicycle parts. So my sleeping bag and bivy are padding. And my fork goes into Coleman camp chair bag. And my saddle goes in my carry-on
Excellent tips! My wife and I took our bikes to the EU on British Airways in bike boxes. They counted as one piece of luggage for free. Regarding the TSA, if you are adding any gear like sleeping bag or tent to the bike box make sure you Zip Tie all loose items to the bike frame. TSA pulls the bike out sometimes, we arrived to find someones beach umbrella in the bottom of my bike box! TSA had pulled my bike out, but only opened and retaped my wife's bike. I gave the beach umbrella to a hotel employee in Switzerland. Happy trails!
High value content! Looking forward to you Iberian adventure! Are you considering returning to the Brompton for travel? I would love to see the return of that type of content.
I like the scicon aerocomfort road bike bag because you don't have to take your bars off, there are other drop bar bags like this i'm sure. just take the wheels and pedals off and mount it on the rail, zip it up and roll it to oversized dropoff.
Just want to put it out there: common pedal torque spec is between 30 and 40 nm depending on crank manufacturer. That's about as tight as most cassette lockrings should be installed aka pretty dang tight. I personally travel with a long 6mm or 8mm allen wrench depending on the pedal so I can apply the proper torque, rather than install it undertorqued with a multi-tool.
Personally I don't even understand why pedals need high torque specs. Pedals are self-tightening! I never tighten my pedals to more than 5-10 nm but I still need loads of force and a really long tool when it's time to remove my pedals.
2021 I flew Lufthansa to Europe from LAX and I had to call in to tell them im bringing a bike, they added the bike to my reservation. No extra fees under 50lbs. Very easy.
Great tips! You could get reusable zip ties for the headset bearings and spacers. Also not a bad idea to attach the fork, bars, and seatpost to the frame (rubber-coated gear ties or voile straps might be better for this), so if the TSA dumps everything out they’ll stay where they’re supposed to be.
Anyone traveling in Europe and planning to take a bike on a train should carefully check what the policies are about bicycles. Folding bikes are generally OK on the TGV high speed trains, but you might need to carry it in a bag or soft case. Full-sized bikes can be more challenging on TGV. Regional trains are somewhat bike-friendly, but some won't accept bikes (when riders in this year's PBP abandoned in Loudeac, some 400 Km from the finish, they had to arrange separate transport for their bikes because they could not take them on the train.) And no, you will not get any help from railroad staff lugging your bags and bike onto the train.
True. And if you have anything out of the ordinary (tandem, recumbent, trailer) be prepared to be denied a spot. Our tandem comes apart with couplers and on a couple of occasions (mostly French TER trains) I have had to break it in two parts. If we take TGV, we'll have a similar problem. Read the bike policies carefully and get to the station as early as you can to inspect the carriages and plan how you will get your bike aboard.
@@campyonlyguy Glad to know you’re fine. I still have the CampyOnly jersey yet too bad it doesn’t fit me anymore😃 I grew 5 kgs since then. Stay safe mate💪
United Airlines says they don't charge an oversize fee, but what they don't tell you unless you read the fine print is that they *do* charge an overweight fee.
Thanks for the AirTag info. I’m leaving next week for Chile. I am planning to tape one in the inside of my top tube bag. Good to know about potential delayed location. Might have just saved me from freaking out!
What case do you use? Is that a Pika? how do you like it? I'm thinking of going with that a Orucase Ninja or Post Carry. It's worth noting that airlines consider anything above 62 linear inches to be oversized and incur additional charges unless the airline allows bikes to travel free. I have used an AirTag when travelling and had to alert the boarding gate staff that it's on the other side of the aerodrome as we boarded! Top tip, use a Whipperman Connex reusable link. The Whippermann links are strong and reusable especially the 8 and 9 speed ones, so one less tool to pack.
If you can get away with it, don't ever tell the staff at the airline counter that you have a bicycle. When we flew recently on Hawaiian Airlines, they asked about my Brompton case, which is within the size and weight limits for standard checked baggage. When I honestly told them there was a bicycle inside, they immediately wanted to charge me an extra $100 (on top of the standard checked baggage fee) simply because it was a bicycle. I pushed back, and they eventually relented. On the way home, the HA staff at the airport in Hawaii didn't ask what was in the case and I didn't offer. As you note, many airlines have moved away from bicycle fees, but if you're flying with one that hasn't, it helps to avoid the "what's inside" discussion. Pro tip: My stepson, a professional cyclist who flies often, responds to this question that the case has "expo equipment" inside. He says he's never had a problem.
This is only true if you’re flying on an airline with a less generous bike policy-reinforcing Russ’s point that it’s important to check the bike policy before choosing an airline. On airlines like Delta or Alaska which specifically allow bikes with no extra fee (besides the checked bag fee), for a non-folding bike in a larger case, it’s better to tell them to avoid oversize fees.
Did you cycle the freeway out of Barcelona airport, or is there an alternative now? Car centric planning at it's worst, but thankfully balanced by the quality and beauty of cycling everywhere else in Spain.
Hola, Rus! Tu hablas Español ahora? I’ve been learning because it might come useful in my travels in the future. Hoping both of you are doing just fine there in Spain. ❤️
Good tips for everyday as well as traveling. So I have reservations about reusing quick links that have many miles on them. Has anyone ever had one worn enough to cause noise or miss shifting in a new chain? (For a trail repair to get yourself home I would not be as concerned)
When I moved countries I had two bikes in boxes on a pallet. Neither arrived in my destination and each bike ended up in different countries! 😂. This was before AirTags.
Air Tag - Never used before & was hesitant because Apple now requires using 2 Factor authentication, which I could not figure out (last minute) how that would work once I hit a foreign country where my home SIM would not work. How did You work around that? or if anyone else has solved I'd appreciate the answer. Thanks in advance😊
Can I please ask what bike bag you are using here? I'm looking to fly with my minivelo and my current case is overkill, the one you were packing in the video looked more compact.
Some chain lubes may not be legal for airplane travel. However, I did not get busted for a BLUE BOTTLE OF ROCK AND ROLL LUBE. I can only imagine the traumatized TSA agent gently returning the assumed personal product. 50% of the time I travel with "charity shop one way luggage." Splitting the XL fork and wheels to a separate box makes packing easier when conforming to the 62in std. Splitting the bike also gives me a truthful answer to the dreaded "is this a bike?" ..."Naw just parts in both boxes." PS: Take the rear derailleur off.
Pedals are self-tightening--this is why the left side pedal has left-hand threading. When I assemble my bikes, I make the pedals snug. No need to go tighter than that, and it makes disassembly much easier.
Shimano specs 35-55Nm for theirs, which is going to pretty hard to undo with a multitool. I wouldn't recommend going outside of this range, you wouldn't want to damage your threads from a pedal coming loose mid-ride.
On the air tag note my buddy has a great suggestion if you have an extra one or a broken one. Put it on your bike in a more “normal” spot so if a thief knows what to look for they find it quickly and dispose of it while the actual AirTag in a better hiding spot does it’s job.
Just be aware that it's pretty easy to scan for air tags with pretty much any Android or Apple phone
Next level. Thinking. I travel with a dummy wallet and phone. Never thought of a dummy airtag
When I last flew with my bike, I used a cardboard bike box to protect my bike. I had a full frame bag, and I put ALL of of the small parts (pedals, chain, etc) in a freezer bag inside of the frame bag. Helped to insure that the small parts wouldn't fall out when the box was opened by TSA. I also took my bike apart with my multitool to make sure I could put it back together with the same tools at the destination.
Good point about the pedals, you can always take off the crank arm, make a triangle with a long pedal wrench and the ground and stomp on the top of the triangle, but might look a little awkward in the middle of an airport, lol!
My tip if you use a bike bag: Zip ties. Lots of them. TSA is somewhat reluctant to cut them, and they can really keep things in place. Especially small stuff.
Small hex ratchet and long hex bits is the best. No space, lightweight, take only needed sizes.
agree on value of airtags, my bike made first but not second connection and airline was wrong about where it was-woman at counter seemed happy we could locate it so she could call and straighten it out
Really good info for travelers. But i was astounded to see you already making a video so soon. Best of luck getting settled and acclimated.
Having traveled abroad a handful of times with bikes I would also like to add put your tools and accessories in a clear plastic bag...I've had TSA empty out my tools and such into the case to do an inspection and they put zero effort in packing everything back up
I had the same issue upon arriving in Frankfurt. They have two areas for oversize luggage, and I was looking at the wrong one! I could see my bike had arrived thanks to the Air Tag, but I did not expect there to be two different spots for oversize luggage to appear.
I use a Simworks pedal model with the Ezy attachments on a Crust LB breakaway bike I travel with. One less thing to worry about.
This is super advice and matches our experiences with our CoMotion tandem with S&S couplers. On virtually every occasion when checking the two airline-legal bike suitcases, we have been asked "Is that a bicycle?" We've learned to (1) place our helmet bag and panniers out of sight of the baggage agent; (2) tell them variously that it is a "personal mobility device" or "sporting goods parts"; and (3) keep a printed copy of the airline baggage policy ready at hand to deal with arguments. Baggage agents must be on commission and many are not aware of changes in airline policies. We've had several near misses when they have tried to charge us extra fees but have avoided them each time.
One other tip: instead of bringing chain pliers, install a Wippermann Connex Link which can be removed and installed by hand through a simple twist.
I had my customer bike made with S & S couplers so the bag is under the size limit. Only when leaving Belgium has check-in staff asked if it's a bike! I choose my airlines from a list of ones that let bikes travel for free anyway, support the good ones!
@@julianallen515can you please share the list of airlines that let bikes travel for free? Thanks!✌️
@@tomanderson9497 For a comprehensive and up to date list try Google
I usually say camping gear and bicycle parts. So my sleeping bag and bivy are padding. And my fork goes into Coleman camp chair bag. And my saddle goes in my carry-on
such great info ! I've flown with my bike a few times and knowing this stuff is invaluable, especially the airline policy
Excellent tips! My wife and I took our bikes to the EU on British Airways in bike boxes. They counted as one piece of luggage for free. Regarding the TSA, if you are adding any gear like sleeping bag or tent to the bike box make sure you Zip Tie all loose items to the bike frame. TSA pulls the bike out sometimes, we arrived to find someones beach umbrella in the bottom of my bike box! TSA had pulled my bike out, but only opened and retaped my wife's bike. I gave the beach umbrella to a hotel employee in Switzerland. Happy trails!
Welcome to Europe! I hope you two are going to have a good time
I like the Terske Travel Disc Brake Rotor Lockring Tool for Shimano lockrings with external splines.
+1 on the loosen pedals tip!
Teflon plumber tape helps with pedals.
As does anti-size grease
Glad ya made it safe!
High value content! Looking forward to you Iberian adventure! Are you considering returning to the Brompton for travel? I would love to see the return of that type of content.
I like the scicon aerocomfort road bike bag because you don't have to take your bars off, there are other drop bar bags like this i'm sure. just take the wheels and pedals off and mount it on the rail, zip it up and roll it to oversized dropoff.
Just want to put it out there: common pedal torque spec is between 30 and 40 nm depending on crank manufacturer. That's about as tight as most cassette lockrings should be installed aka pretty dang tight. I personally travel with a long 6mm or 8mm allen wrench depending on the pedal so I can apply the proper torque, rather than install it undertorqued with a multi-tool.
I had a long 6mm wrench and couldn’t get it off. It was torqued excessively.
Personally I don't even understand why pedals need high torque specs. Pedals are self-tightening! I never tighten my pedals to more than 5-10 nm but I still need loads of force and a really long tool when it's time to remove my pedals.
Try a bit of grease and tighten loosely. They won't work undone thanks to precession.
2021 I flew Lufthansa to Europe from LAX and I had to call in to tell them im bringing a bike, they added the bike to my reservation. No extra fees under 50lbs. Very easy.
Great tips! You could get reusable zip ties for the headset bearings and spacers. Also not a bad idea to attach the fork, bars, and seatpost to the frame (rubber-coated gear ties or voile straps might be better for this), so if the TSA dumps everything out they’ll stay where they’re supposed to be.
Welcome to Europe! After you two get settled and start making trips make sure to keep Sardegna in mind.
Glad you and Laura landed! Waxed chain gang!
Thanks for the advice.
Anyone traveling in Europe and planning to take a bike on a train should carefully check what the policies are about bicycles. Folding bikes are generally OK on the TGV high speed trains, but you might need to carry it in a bag or soft case. Full-sized bikes can be more challenging on TGV. Regional trains are somewhat bike-friendly, but some won't accept bikes (when riders in this year's PBP abandoned in Loudeac, some 400 Km from the finish, they had to arrange separate transport for their bikes because they could not take them on the train.) And no, you will not get any help from railroad staff lugging your bags and bike onto the train.
True. And if you have anything out of the ordinary (tandem, recumbent, trailer) be prepared to be denied a spot. Our tandem comes apart with couplers and on a couple of occasions (mostly French TER trains) I have had to break it in two parts. If we take TGV, we'll have a similar problem. Read the bike policies carefully and get to the station as early as you can to inspect the carriages and plan how you will get your bike aboard.
Are you the real Campy Only guy? I mean the founder of the late Campy Only website?
The very same! Glad there are people who still remember it!@@calcagnolibero
@@campyonlyguy Glad to know you’re fine. I still have the CampyOnly jersey yet too bad it doesn’t fit me anymore😃 I grew 5 kgs since then. Stay safe mate💪
United Airlines says they don't charge an oversize fee, but what they don't tell you unless you read the fine print is that they *do* charge an overweight fee.
That’s true for most airlines that don’t charge oversized sports equipment fees - it’s oversized only, not overweight.
Thanks for the AirTag info. I’m leaving next week for Chile. I am planning to tape one in the inside of my top tube bag. Good to know about potential delayed location. Might have just saved me from freaking out!
My bike had n AirTag and it showed up at BCN and was waiting for us at the oversized bagage area when we had walked there from the gate.
Buenas Dias! Glad you and your bikes made it! We just returned from Andalucia with our Bike Fridays. We already miss the olive oil!
Great tips. So excited for you guys!
What case do you use? Is that a Pika? how do you like it? I'm thinking of going with that a Orucase Ninja or Post Carry. It's worth noting that airlines consider anything above 62 linear inches to be oversized and incur additional charges unless the airline allows bikes to travel free. I have used an AirTag when travelling and had to alert the boarding gate staff that it's on the other side of the aerodrome as we boarded! Top tip, use a Whipperman Connex reusable link. The Whippermann links are strong and reusable especially the 8 and 9 speed ones, so one less tool to pack.
If you can get away with it, don't ever tell the staff at the airline counter that you have a bicycle. When we flew recently on Hawaiian Airlines, they asked about my Brompton case, which is within the size and weight limits for standard checked baggage. When I honestly told them there was a bicycle inside, they immediately wanted to charge me an extra $100 (on top of the standard checked baggage fee) simply because it was a bicycle. I pushed back, and they eventually relented. On the way home, the HA staff at the airport in Hawaii didn't ask what was in the case and I didn't offer. As you note, many airlines have moved away from bicycle fees, but if you're flying with one that hasn't, it helps to avoid the "what's inside" discussion. Pro tip: My stepson, a professional cyclist who flies often, responds to this question that the case has "expo equipment" inside. He says he's never had a problem.
We used to do the same thing for bike polo by using old hockey bags and saying “sports equipment”
This is only true if you’re flying on an airline with a less generous bike policy-reinforcing Russ’s point that it’s important to check the bike policy before choosing an airline. On airlines like Delta or Alaska which specifically allow bikes with no extra fee (besides the checked bag fee), for a non-folding bike in a larger case, it’s better to tell them to avoid oversize fees.
I'd just tell them it's travel camp stuff. Never specify what kind.
Did you cycle the freeway out of Barcelona airport, or is there an alternative now? Car centric planning at it's worst, but thankfully balanced by the quality and beauty of cycling everywhere else in Spain.
Hola, Rus! Tu hablas Español ahora? I’ve been learning because it might come useful in my travels in the future. Hoping both of you are doing just fine there in Spain. ❤️
Good tips for everyday as well as traveling.
So I have reservations about reusing quick links that have many miles on them.
Has anyone ever had one worn enough to cause noise or miss shifting in a new chain? (For a trail repair to get yourself home I would not be as concerned)
Glad to see you're up and running already!
Are Crock Pots even a thing in Spain?
Yay for Delta Airlines!
When I moved countries I had two bikes in boxes on a pallet. Neither arrived in my destination and each bike ended up in different countries! 😂. This was before AirTags.
Air Tag - Never used before & was hesitant because Apple now requires using 2 Factor authentication, which I could not figure out (last minute) how that would work once I hit a foreign country where my home SIM would not work. How did You work around that? or if anyone else has solved I'd appreciate the answer. Thanks in advance😊
Can I please ask what bike bag you are using here? I'm looking to fly with my minivelo and my current case is overkill, the one you were packing in the video looked more compact.
Post Carry Transfer Case.
thanks very much@@PathLessPedaledTV
not sure why people over torque the pedals on bike. The threads are such that they are self tightening.
Some chain lubes may not be legal for airplane travel. However, I did not get busted for a BLUE BOTTLE OF ROCK AND ROLL LUBE. I can only imagine the traumatized TSA agent gently returning the assumed personal product.
50% of the time I travel with "charity shop one way luggage." Splitting the XL fork and wheels to a separate box makes packing easier when conforming to the 62in std. Splitting the bike also gives me a truthful answer to the dreaded "is this a bike?" ..."Naw just parts in both boxes." PS: Take the rear derailleur off.
vaya con dios, hermano
🎉
I prayed for you today that your adjustment would be swift and you would have what you need.
it's not a trip if you are moving there!
I would never break down my bike to this extent. It's unnecessary.
If you want to get it in a bike case without paying oversize it’s necessary.
I have always got away with not breaking my bike down. I just rock up and take off the bags; good to go. No excess to pay ever.@@PathLessPedaledTV
Top tip.
Don't travel with a bike.
Good pedals in a decent crank don't need much torque.
Pedals are self-tightening--this is why the left side pedal has left-hand threading. When I assemble my bikes, I make the pedals snug. No need to go tighter than that, and it makes disassembly much easier.
All pedals self-tighten from riding.
@@ltu42 I found out the hard way that this isn't true when you're riding fixed gear
Shimano specs 35-55Nm for theirs, which is going to pretty hard to undo with a multitool. I wouldn't recommend going outside of this range, you wouldn't want to damage your threads from a pedal coming loose mid-ride.
@@ltu42
i am not sure i agree with this, i would say that they are more so not self-loosening rather than selt-tightening