S&S Couplers
 

An thinking of having my Serotta CSI chopped in half and a set of S&S stainless couplers installed to make the breakdown and transport of the bike much less painless (am leading a tour in the Loire Valley and to watch LA win his sixth TdF this next summer). Am wondering if anyone has had the S&S couplers installed and what they think of them. I read good reports, but are all second-hand.

Thanks. And thank you to the cycling gods for this past ten days of 65+ degree weather to keep us on the roads in south Jersey.

We have sold quit e few tandems with the couplers(including one that can be converted double/triple) and the boss has a Comotion single with the couplers that I have ridden. Very nice, they aren't to hard on the bikes lines and you can't even tell the bike comes apart when riding, no squiggly feel. If I needed an easily transportable bike this is the route I would go, the Comotion fits in what looks like a standard size suitcase.

I have a friend with the couplings but now refuses to fly with it. In order to fit the bike into the travel box it has to be packed in a precise way or wheels get bent, scratches occur and other assorted damage by the luggage inspectors at the airports.
They unpack every bag, every box looking for terrorist artillery, bombs or finger nail files that may become lethal weapons. When they repack the stuff, they are less than careful and if you offer to help they become very authoritarian and treat you as though you are an evil terrorist bent on destroying the American Way Of Life.
I would not advise you not to get the couplings, but if you want to travel with it, you may be better off shipping it UPS to your destination. If you have no friends that would receive it there, you might contact the local bike shops and ask if they would be willing to accept it. I have been able to do this for several travelers with no ill effects to my self, them or their bikes.

They cost a few bucks (don't forget to factor in the cost of a case), they add a few grams to your frame, and they make tandems a bit more stiff (which ain't a bad thing), but that's about it as far as their impact.

Properly packed, S&S coupled bikes and tandems will come through travel no worse for wear than any other properly packed full-size bike or UPS shipment. As for airport hassles, very few folks who travel with their tandems -- and there are a lot of couples who do -- have encountered any trouble or undue attention when checking in their bike cases on domestic or international trips.

Our last trip was to California via ATL to SFI and then San Diego back to ATL without so much as a raised eyebrow. Just about everyone we ride with now owns a tandem fitted with S&S couplings and several have travelled to Europe every year for the past four or five years to take summer tours. No problems for them, but others who have taken full-size bikes via aircraft or who have shipped them ahead have almost all had problems; damaged cases, mis-routed cases, and the like. This was probably more a string of bad luck, but it's interesting to note that the take-a-part bikes do travel with a lot less drama.

More info on our travel tandem is here:
http://home.att.net/~mark.livingood/Ericksonpack.html

Airport security...

Hey S&S or no S&S doesn't matter. We went to France this year to watch the last 10 days of the tour and when we got to the airport they opened the case. I had a very easy going inspector who kept the case near me and I helped her to identify how to close the case.

My friend had an iron-case (non-S&S bike) and a guy opened the case, pulled stuff out, put it back in and let my firend look before he closed it. My friend said "looks OK" and then the guy slammed the lid down and proceed to put his body weight on the case to close it. Bent some spokes on the rear wheel.

So you ain't gonna escape this by avoiding S&S. One thing about the HARD CASE for S&S is that it closes like a suit case whereas the iron-case overlaps as two large platic boxes... This means you get a large volume of air trapped and this is what the guy was trying to squeeze out but he squeezed too long and bent the spokes (against the seat stay). The S&S in the hard case is easier to see if it is getting pinched.

Also: you could pack the frame in one case and the wheels in another. We did this for the tandem as you cannot get the frame and wheels into one case anyway. The nice thing about a second hard case for the wheels is there is plenty of room for helmets and cycling clothing and such (light stuff that won't bend spokes). For either way of shipping I would insist you LOCK the case with a PADLOCK and when they ask you to unlock it you take your time and explain in LOTS OF LONG DRAWN OUT DETAIL that this is a bicycle and it is packed in a special way and it cost several thousands of dollars and if they close it wrong they WILL be responsible for the damage. If they ignore or pretend to listen to you, simply insist on a supervisor. Take charge.


P.S. A guy on our trip shipped his bike FedX/UPS not sure which, did it TWO WEEKS before the trip and it was still sitting in customs when the ride started.

He took it is stride and bought a $4000 bike (don't remember the brand) from JAJA's bike shop in Toulouse where we started our trip.

So finally to S&S or not to S&S... Well I can certanly tell you it is much nicer to carry a suitcase sized piece of luggage... You don't have to check it special (if you keep the box under 70lbs)... You don't have to go to the SPECIAL baggage pickup to get it. and you don't have to pay extra (Delta charges $90 per leg for oversize/special luggage <esp bicycle>).

I'm thinking of getting a custom bike w/ S&S couplers as well.

It looks like a bunch of reputable frame makers are now including it in their service. Check out this website: http://www.sandsmachine.com/

There is a comment from Greg Lemond and Richard Sachs in their if you browse through enough.

My problem is which bike to get for this (sigh). Steel or Ti---but that's another subject altogether.

The savings you make from avoiding airline surcharges will make up for the cost of the couplers in about 3 or 4 roundtrips.

After looking into it I have decided that I do not want to spend $350 (the best price I have found) to cut my bike in two and then have it repainted to match (maybe). If I were to do it, I would want a single color bike or Ti with no paint. I will be buying a travel case as all my travel by plane is overseas and they bike simply goes in place of one piece of luggage. At least at the moment. If that changes, so may my current thinking.

Yea it is something better suited to a new bike.

As for recoupe of cost... Not only does it pay for airline trips... But on some car trips it is nice to be able to stuff the bike into a case and stuff it in the trunk... Takes up less space than a non-S&S bike.

Second hand comment here. Re-building a bike takes some time, so it is indeed suited to bike tours and other journeys where you want your "real bike" with you. Another interesting option would be to keep your bike as is and get a Bike Friday or a Brompton.

Bike Fridays are quickly foldable in a pack that's easy to carry on planes... or inside the office. Not as good a ride as your traditional bike, but some people tour on them, so...

Bromptons use smaller wheels -- a bit too small for a comfortable tour -- and are truly foldable to the point you will sneak in the bus.

Regards,