Folding Bikes - folding bike in the cabin of an aircraft?

Are there any folding bikes that will fit in the cabin of an aircraft? I keep getting sent out of town on business, and being without a bike just sucks. Yesterday, I was really missing my bike because I had to go to San Francisco to deliver a presentation at a hotel near Fisherman's Wharf and ground logistics were terrible. I know there are folders that will fit in cargo, but I like to avoid carrying luggage to speed things up.

The experience reminded me of why I like using bicycles for transportation. I had to come in from the airport during rush hour, so I figured a car service would just get stuck in traffic. I had to wait quite a bit for BART, and the buses downtown are so slow and infrequent, you may as well walk even if you have miles to go.

I'd be more concerned if you can get it by the whims of security and the max-size allowable size carry restriction (that test box they have) - if it doesn't it might not even fit thru xray.

If it does and security lets you could at least gate check it.

Al

I don't know about commercial, but it'll certainly go on a Gulfstream.

Out riding one time, I ran into a guy on a Bike Friday. He was a charter business jet pilot. He carried his Bike Friday everywhere for something to do while the clients were at their meeting or whatever. Said the only place he hadn't ridden was Antarctica.

Some of the "A frame" bikes might fold up into small enough of a package to be able to be checked in the cabin.

Even the Brompton is problematic under a lot of new carry on regulations. Some are more lax than others but in most cases you have to check in even the most compact folders. That would certainly be the case in the UK. However the Brompton or its clone, the Merc is probably your best bet in terms of overall dimensions. Perhaps I'm wrong but folders like the A-bike or Strida are too long for overhead lockers on aircraft.

Also there is a big difference between flying domestically and flying internationally. The domestic flights are usually more lenient...airlines also differ greatly. In my experience Japan Airlines and China airlines are both relatively relaxed about size and weight but are still very strict about safety issues.

I doubt if security would allow all those potential clubs and potiential pointed things. Snowshoers and hikers have to check their collapsible poles, we probably will always have to check our sporting goods too.

It's too risky. What happens if they don't allow you inside the cabin? Put the bike on the belt and hope the handlers teat it with care?

First, I doubt you'd get a bicycle past security in the US. (I think they'd just order you to check it, though.)

Second, cycling out of most major airports in the US is dangerous and, in some circumstances, possibly illegal. Many airports (e.g. Newark, JFK) have highway access only, so not a good plan. If you were going to Dublin every other week, that's a different story. ;)

Third, it would likely still take you two hours to cycle from SFO to the Wharf. So, I don't think you'd save a lot of time.... Unless there is a problem with the line, SFO to Embarcadero is a 30 minute trip, and runs every 15-20 minutes.

If you want a bike for the exercise, a Brompton will pack small and fast. But I wouldn't recommend either carrying it on, or riding it out of the airport.

I have ridden my bike from JFK it is not impossible. Newark might be. ..Airport Service roads usually get you there but these are some of the worst places to ride in the world. As far as carrying it on you would need to put it in two bags, I think to get even a small folder in the overhead.

You have GOT to be kidding!:eek: I can't even fit my small "carryon" in most overheads anymore :rolleyes: ;)

Please, I get so frustrated watching those passengers holding up the flight because they're trying to jam all their oversized cr*p into the storage bin and it never fits, and then they freak out when the flight attendent tells them they'll need to check it.

G*d I hate air travel...........