Bicycle Mechanics - flying back home..can i "carry-on" my tools/parts?

..this is probably the wrong forum to ask...

Anyone know if I can carry-on my parts like seat, seat post, derailleurs, brake levers, cables, allen wrenches, wire cutters? Or will I have to check them in?

I'd check them in. Actually, I'd FedEx them home rather than have them disappear as onboard. They won't let so much as a replaceable bit screwdriver as carry-on any more.

What he said ^^. I thought about trying to bring my crankset on carry-on but decided against it. I also figured that small wrenches and drivers could raise suspicion too.

According to the TSA website, you can carry tools like screwdrivers that are 7 inches or less in length. However...even with this list printed out from their website, a TSA agent prevented me from doing so last summer. You never know who you're gonna get at the gate to wreck your trip, so check it.

If you want to avoid any hassle. Don't bring any tools on your carry-on.

When the guy with the scanner said he saw something in my carry-on bag that I couldn't take onboard, I was all "OH. Heh, it's this, isn't it?" and pulled out my Progressive tone-tracer, with a lethal-looking steel tip, similar to this:

http://www.pimall.com/nais/images/tone.gif

He was all, "actually nope, it's this," and pulled out my 4-inch adjustable wrench.

http://s.sears.com/is/image/Sears/00904450000-1?hei=248&wid=248&op_sharpen=1&resMode=sharp&op_usm=0.9,0.5,0,0

Yeah, my tiny 4-inch adjustable wrench is a major threat to your jumbo jet. Whatever, I'm not missing my flight over a $10 wrench.

Check it in.

Buy a starter pistol and keep it in your toolbox and declare it as a "firearm" to make sure everything gets there.

http://lifehacker.com/5448014/pack-a-gun-to-protect-valuables-from-airline-theft-or-loss

good stuff guys.. thanks!

I know you can't take a pedal wrench on! I used to do that for when I'd rent a bike and wanted to put on my own pedals. Got turned back once recently and won't do it again. That particular inspection point had a gift shop nearby and the guy let me go and buy a padded envelope and postage to mail it to myself.

If its a tool, they won't let you on the plane with it as carry on.

if it's a bike part, like a greasy freewheel, or a bunch of sample parts, they usually do.