Bicycle Mechanics - Packing problems w/my coupled bike

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jjciiijs
04-01-09, 09:04 AM
First I should mention that I am using a quill stem that I do not wnat to get rid of. It is a flex Garvin and I find it nice and flexable on my long tours. And you should know that it fits a standard Alu road bar.

Now, the issue is that I can not get it all into my S & S case when I pack my bike. Additionally, at this time w/o the bars and stem I am already at 49 lbs, just 1 lb. away from the airline limit. So I am thinking of a way to keep my stem and go with a flat bar for easier packing.

HOWEVER, I like bar end shifters for long trips since they can be fixed on the road. MY thought, eliminate all potential problems as possible and that means Rapid Fire.

I have looked at Mustash bars but they do not have the relaxing 'ride on top' of the bar hand position that I like. Does this mean that I have to go to Thumbies? Or is there another alternative? Remember, my stem fits a standard dia road bar.

HillRider
04-01-09, 10:27 AM
Do you remove the bar-stem assembly from the fork when packing the bike? If you do, I don't see why you have a packing problem. If all you do is turn the bars sideways, that will never work. My S&S Co-Motion had a quill stem when I traveled with it and I never had a problem packing it caused by the stem.

If you don't have them, you need cable splitters to let you remove the bar-stem assembly completely.
jjciiijs
04-01-09, 10:55 AM
Yes, I remove the quill and bars from the frame and I have cable splitters. But with the 58cm frame & wheels, the bars are not going in.
The bike is a Trek 520 frame.

Note:
Without the bars and stem in the box I am at 49 lbs. With them, I would be over.

HillRider
04-01-09, 11:06 AM
Yes, I remove the quill and bars from the frame and I have cable splitters. But with the 58cm frame & wheels, the bars are not going in.
The bike is a Trek 520 frame.

Note:
Without the bars and stem in the box I am at 49 lbs. With them, I would be over.
Hmmm, that's interesting. Have you looked at the S&S web site? They have a well illustrated set of instructions on packing techniques. My bike is a 56 but they claim even a 60 or 62 cm frame will fit.

Given the weight problem can you pack some of the other components, or even the bars and stem, in another suitcase?
jjciiijs
04-01-09, 11:58 AM
Yes, I have looked at the S & S site. In fact i keep a color copy of the packing ints on top of the bike , in the case, so the inspecters will not mess with the stuff after looking at he complexity of the packing.
My last trip I carried the bars and stem on board.
No issues at the securety line.