Okay,

So after all of my research online and in various forums, I purchased two bikes to add to my Basso. I picked up a Cervelo (after a wonderful LBS names SBR Multisports in midtown let me take the bike for 20 minutes into Central park, answered all of my questions, and did most of what I requested) over the weekend:D :D :D , and as of two days ago, have a BF Pocket Rocket Pro 105 on order(also excellent service):D :D :D .

I'm wondering about people's experiences and any advice about dealing with the TSA in the U.S., and even other overseas authorities. How do you prevent security from taking the BF (or other folders) out of its suitcase, making it difficult for them to repack:eek: ?

I don't think you can prevent TSA from unpacking your bike, but thus far, my experience has been that they don't. I've flown with my Bike Friday about 10 times since 9/11/2001, and have not had a problem. That doesn't mean I don't worry about it when I fly, and maybe I've just been lucky. Bike Friday reported several instances of lost or damaged components when flying, but these were in the months immediately following 9/11. The current procedure seems to be that TSA opens up the suitcase and swabs the inside for certain chemical residues. Assuming your suitcase contents pass the chemical assay, they close it up and send it on its way. It might be helpful to leave a note explaining about the re-packing problem, and a cell phone number to contact you if you are travelling with one, but otherwise, I don't think there's much you can do. Bike Friday was advocating tying all of the components together with toe clip straps so parts weren't lost, but I can't say I'm keen on doing that.

Some US airports (DCA, for example) have the inspection area semi-visible in the terminal, and while you're not allowed to touch your luggage after you hand it over to TSA, you can observe, to some extent, what is happening to your luggage at such an airport.

Several of my flights with my BF were to or from other countries. There, the only baggage security I was aware of took place in my presence, and I never had a problem at all.

There are no guarantees with the TSA, but most times, when I've found one of those slips saying that they had searched the suitcase, things were in there pretty much the way I'd left them. The one exception was a potentially bad one, I found the pedals removed from their storage bag and lying on top of the spokes of one of the wheels. Surprisingly, this hadn't caused any damage.

Things that people have tried to minimize the risk:

Try to pack so that as much as possible is visible when they just open the case. The idea is that they're less likely to start taking things out to look underneath.

Tie the frame together, so that if they lift it out it won't start to unfold.

Include photographs that show how the bike should fit back in the case. Have an explanation that this is a folding bike, and give a cell phone number where they can reach you if they need help putting it back in. ( I wouldn't count on them actually using it, though)

Despite the example given above, I've only had my Friday damaged twice (luckily minor problems). Both times I attribute this more to rough handling than to the inspection process. In one case, I think I aggravated it by not packing it the best way myself.

I have decided that for some train and almost all plane trips that I would leave my folders home and rent or even purchase one at the destination. But that might not mean never. If I absolutely have to, I would do it this way the way I have explained in another thread- http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=194002 (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=194002).

"I have decided that for some train and almost all plane trips that I would leave my folders home and rent or even purchase one at the destination. But that might not mean never. If I absolutely have to, I would do it this way the way I have explained in another thread- http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=194002 ."


But doesn't that defeat the purpose of a folder? The reason I purchased my PRPro was so that I could, in fact, ride at my final destination with a bicycle that fit as well as my standard 700c road bikes.

I pack my full size bikes in boxes, and only declare the box as "sporting equipment" instead of specifying a bike. If they try to charge for an oversize box I usually demand that they look up their oversize dimensions and that they measure the box. I usually come in 4-8cm under. I've never had to pay extra travaling with a bike this way.
The TSA cuts the tape open, pokes around inside, then tapes it back up. No worries.

TSA opened my Bike Friday NWT in its case en route from DC to SFO (and back, too) and everything was fine.

I second the idea of tying everything together. I zip-tied just about the whole bike together, so the inspectors could lift it out and put it back into the suitcase without making a mistake.

Would it be easier to take the wheels as carry on? I believe that this would fall under the size limit for international flights. It seems like this would eliminate part of the problem of stuff getting smooshed around.

I second the idea of tying everything together. I zip-tied just about the whole bike together, so the inspectors could lift it out and put it back into the suitcase without making a mistake.

Zip Ties! Great idea. I've used bungee cords with good luck, but your idea is even better!

But doesn't that defeat the purpose of a folder? The reason I purchased my PRPro was so that I could, in fact, ride at my final destination with a bicycle that fit as well as my standard 700c road bikes. -ICU Doc

Not really. In my case, I try to lessen stress when I go farther than the neighborhood or get tempted to go multi modal transport with any of my bikes-especially the folders. I did enough research on luggage handling on planes and trains to be leery of the potential of my bikes arriving damaged or even permamently lost within the system. For me, I decided the risk was to great when I could exercise some other option of renting, borrowing, or even buying a bike at the destination point if I wanted to. It's simply a choice that works for me but maybe not for others.