[DirtMcGirk]

I really want to go see some of the TFK faithful on the east coast this summer. I think another Hooters where all the wait staff wears black, strange strip club, girls on the team doing strip teases together, riding our ears off trip to Diablo is in order.

However, I am over this getting raped by baggage fees routine that the airlines like to do for fun.

I was thinking for Diablo I can get my Intense SS down to the frame and fork in a hockey or big duffel bag. I might have to take the rear triangle off, but that can be arranged.

My bigger stress is the wheels. I don't trust the baggage chuckers with my wheel set. Can I carry them on? Do I need to box them up and pray?

Further, any of you east coasters up for what could be termed a "deeply pornographic and disturbing" weekend at Diablo?

 

[blue]

My road bike made it in a bike box via JetBlue fairly unmolested (aside from some kinked brake cables - thanks TSA!), your wheels should be fine.

If your bag is under oversized dimensions they don't charge the bike fee for it on JetBlue, FYI (and one free checked bag anyway).

 

[DirtMcGirk]

Since I am either in PHX or RNO I am going to fly South West since it doesn't appear that JetBlue goes to either of those spots.

 

[HAB]

If you're going to all the bother to fly out here, don't waste your time with Diablow. Come ride Platty or Whiteface or something.


I like debauchery.

 

[Mike B.]

You could try bikeflights.com if you'd consider shipping the bike ahead of time. Dakine soft sided bag and the claim of "trade show exhibit" or "sculpture" has worked in the past too.

 

[DirtMcGirk]

You could try bikeflights.com if you'd consider shipping the bike ahead of time. Dakine soft sided bag and the claim of "trade show exhibit" or "sculpture" has worked in the past too.

That website is rad. How didn't I know about this before?

 

[C.P.]

Too bad you cant fly JetBlue, they have a promotion for the month of July, "Bikes Fly Free"...not bad...

 

[johnbryanpeters]

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=195045&highlight=hawaii

 

[LOOnatic]

Southwest has the best bike policy. $50 for a bike box.
Oh yeah, guns and golf clubs fly free

 

[TN]

I am pretty sure you need a hoodie and an extra terestrial.

 

[Dogboy]

Southwest has the best bike policy. $50 for a bike box.
Oh yeah, guns and golf clubs fly free

Hey LOO. Do you know if the under 62" rule applies for that $50 charge? Or can it be up to 80" and still pass for the $50 - assuming it's under 50lbs. Thanks!

 

[LOOnatic]

Hey LOO. Do you know if the under 62" rule applies for that $50 charge? Or can it be up to 80" and still pass for the $50 - assuming it's under 50lbs. Thanks!

Well, usually its only 50 but once in vegas they hit me for the bike fee AND the oversize fee. Now i print out the bike policy of southwest and carry it with me to pre-empt the double charge.
A dh bike with some gear in a plastic bike box is usually right at 90lbs. I dont think u can be over 90 lbs at all.

 

[DirtMcGirk]

I got bored last night and took apart the SS just to see what I could do.

I can get it in an old hockey bag if I take off the der, stoppers, fork and if I take off the rear triangle. Weighed that bag with the fork in it, 30lb straight up. I'm thinking I could go lighter in a sea bag, but I dunno if the front triangle would clear that.

Now I just gotta work out what to do with the wheels.

 

[LOOnatic]

I got bored last night and took apart the SS just to see what I could do.

I can get it in an old hockey bag if I take off the der, stoppers, fork and if I take off the rear triangle. Weighed that bag with the fork in it, 30lb straight up. I'm thinking I could go lighter in a sea bag, but I dunno if the front triangle would clear that.

Now I just gotta work out what to do with the wheels.

The best bet is to find a really nice cardboard wheel box like the I9 box. It has a divider and it is stout.

 

[IH8Rice]

Further, any of you east coasters up for what could be termed a "deeply pornographic and disturbing" weekend at Diablo?

hit me up if you come out this way guy.
as HAB said, you should try and hit up Platty too. if you want, we can hit Platty Saturday and Diablow Sunday.

 

[Bicyclist]

Just get a cardboard wheel box. That's how I got my Morewood to Canada for free. Stuff the wheel box w/ your tubes/tires/riding gear, and put frame/fork/components in another suitcase.

 

[mandown]

dig up the old BCD technique with the search feature. that guy had it dialed. i think it was posted up in the dh forum.

 

[Pesqueeb]

FedEx. I've said it before, but as an airline employee, I will never trust ramp monkeys with my isht. You should see what they do to the planes.

 

[LOOnatic]

FedEx. I've said it before, but as an airline employee, I will never trust ramp monkeys with my isht. You should see what they do to the planes.

Good call. As a reminder: The TSA opens and rumages through all bike boxes now b/c the boxes are too big for the xray machine. That awesome job you did packing your bike that took an hour?
well, some hack just took it all out and *maybe* it went in the way it should.
With fed x, you'll pay 80-100 versus 50-200 that airlines charge but it will not be jacked up.
TSA will let you watch them do it but you can not repack it.

Oh, and you guys who take apart the bike to stuff in a suitcase, you are begging for a damaged bike. I had an airline mess up my rear triangle going through denver but in a padded bike box it would of been ok.
Saving a few bucks by not using a padded box or case is not worth it in the long run if your bike gets damaged and then you might have to rent a bike anyway.

 

[IH8Rice]

Good call. As a reminder: The TSA opens and rumages through all bike boxes now b/c the boxes are too big for the xray machine.

they dont do every bike it seems. when our group went to France, only two of the 8 bike boxes got searched. they did a awesome job of re-taping it too

 

[Pesqueeb]

they dont do every bike it seems. when our group went to France, only two of the 8 bike boxes got searched. they did a awesome job of re-taping it too

Well thats fvcking scary. They are supposed to search every box if it doesn't fit through the machines.

 

[IH8Rice]

Well thats fvcking scary. They are supposed to search every box if it doesn't fit through the machines.

damn. i new i should have put the drugs in my box

in Europe, they had machines large enough to fit our boxes, so maybe they had the same at JFK and they just randomly searched some of the boxes.