fietsbob

condensation will always happen ..

manapua_man

Stories like this and the places I tend to live are why I'd probably pay a lot more and go the Ti frame route if I ever get a coupled bike.

Even if the bag is overweight, a lot of the airlines I fly are still cheaper than paying their actual bike/oversized fee.

Tourist in MSN

Water often gets in bottom bracket shells of bikes that are exposed to the rain, can come in through the seatpost to seattube area if that is not greased, can come in to the head tube and then flow down the side of the head tube until it finds the hole where it goes into the down tube. A friend of mine that works as a bike mechanic says that it can come in at the water bottle cage mounting holes in downtubes from capillary action.

S&S provides little discs that some manufacturers use to seal off the tube ends where the couplers are. Some manufacturers use them, some don't. My frame, the discs are in the ends of the tubing, if water got in at the coupler it will not flow down into the bottom bracket shell. But if any water got in at the head tube, it could fill the down tube. I sealed off that hole in the head tube with tape, hopefully the tape is still there. (The manufacturer had actually put the tape in there, but I removed it to frame saver the frame, so I put new tape back later.)

It took me a day to get a bottom bracket out of an old Bridgestone that had been stored outside. A lot of water had gotten into the frame, it was not a coupled bike.

outashape

My bike was a steel bike. I think I stopped riding for several years (Maybe 5-6 rides a year) so was not paying attention to maintenance. So the rust could have been caused by condensation or seatpost. But the rusted steel was where the coupling was installed. I did not put frame saver in that bike. I did put it in my Trek 520 touring bike.

I did not have any problem taking the bike apart and putting it together. I am a female who usually strips anything I work on. My husband and brother helped me with breaker bars and all kinds of stuff when I stripped the 520 down to bare frame. I wanted to be able to repair anything that broke if I was on a bike tour by myself.

I cycled Ride the Rockies in 2004, coming down mountain passes at 35-45 mph. I used to weigh 225 pounds. The bike did not wobble or have any flex in the frame with the couplers.

Philly Tandem

Very cool! I'm always amazed how many people are out on a bike tour without even the most rudimentary repair skills. Bike repair is not that hard to learn, assuming you put some time into it. Being able to at least adjust gears and brakes, do emergency repairs, etc., is really important.

Weird about the rusting at the couplers, though. Did Bilenky do the couplers? If so, did you ask them what might have happened? I've never seen that problem, and Bilenky is usually top-notch (their shop isn't too far from where I live). It's not uncommon for bikes to get rust from sweat dripping on the tubes, especially bikes that are used on stationary trainers. But I assume that's not the case here.

CliffordK

A lot would depend on the "tour".

I just got back from a relatively short 4-day solo ride. I was just thinking, much of my ride was in the middle of nowhere with very poor cell reception. The nearest bike shop was probably 70 to 100 miles away at times. And no sag wagon. If anything broke, it would be up to me to figure out how to get back on the road. LBS? I'd probably be better off overnighting any critical parts if there was a place to ship them.

On the other hand, I met a couple of guys who had been on the CycleOregon tour. It was a huge, highly organized event. I'd be surprised if they didn't have a couple of full-time bike mechanics on duty, and loaner bikes for things that couldn't be fixed on the spot.

Jarrett2

Subscribing so I can revisit.

Rob_E

I feel like the "con" is mainly cost, plus an extra part to maintain. Strength is not compromised. I consider the weight negligible when talking about a touring bike.
I've had my bike for a year now, and my one, planned flight with the bike got canceled, but there was still at least one time that I could not get my bike into someone's car without uncoupling it. I wouldn't say that one time justified the cost. I'd just say that was a fringe benefit that has nothing to do with the air travel aspect that makes the couplers more appealing.
If I never fly with the bike (which is unlikely. There are already a couple of trips in the works), then I guess I would consider them a waste of money. But because the couplers can help transport the bike beyond air travel applications, I don't think I'd have to save the total cost of the couplers before I considered them worthwhile. Still, I expect I will make that money back, so to speak, because I have a pattern of flying one round trip at least once a year, and I generally either find a way to bring a bike, or I rent a car. The last two times I flew with a bike, it was a Raleigh Twenty, disassembled to avoid oversize fees, so assembling a bike at the airport is not new. Having a bike that's made to carry my camping gear will be, though.

outashape

I was planning on a San Diego to Jacksonville, Fl. When I am biking, I usually go on 3-4 state-wide bike tours. This year I cycled Bike Florida (for back to back days after getting base miles on various trails) I then cycled the Blue Ridge Parkway. I parked my car and would ride 20 miles each way and then move my car. This was my hill training. Next I drove to Colorado about 10 days early and cycled all the passes for Ride the Rockies to get used to the elevation. I am leaving in a couple of days for Cycle North Carolina. I love this ride as it extends the riding season and I like that the route changes every year but does a couple of mountain days, a couple of rolling hill days and along the ocean. Nice variety.

Bilenky installed the couplers. I highly recommend the shop. My lbs tried to remove the bottom bracket and could not do so. I mailed the frame to Bilenky and they called and told me the frame was not safe and could not be fixed. They trashed it. I sold the case to someone on CrazyGuyonaBike who was looking for a case in the classifieds.

teacherlady

Packing the bike will never be easy, and between wired lights and fenders, reassembly will never be trivial. However, being able to split the bike in 30 seconds and toss it under a bus that doesn't take busses, or in the trunk of a passing car has been invaluable!

escii_35

<i>Do the breakaway or S&S coupled bikes have any handling issues when loaded? Are the load weights restricted?</i>
1.No to handling issues.
2.I think the folks at R&E muttered something about 325-350. I'm sure if you called comotion, rodreguiz or bilenky they could give you an answer quickly.

My two coppers on Breakaway/S&S bikes vs True folders.

If you are below 6ft look long and hard at a quality True Folder.
If you are over 6'3 go breakaway/S&S.

Squeezebox

I was reading an article by a frame builder, Co-motion maybe. He said he greatly preferred doing S&S from original build rather than retrofitting. He stated then he can take into account the placement of the S&S along with the length of butt and taper.

Inpd

So are you saying regardless if your bike meets the maximum dimensions and weight, the airlines will charge you the fee because it's a bike?

So the $150 fee each way United, AA charge is because of the type of luggage?

Dream Cyclery

As soon as they find out you have a bike, they will charge you.

saddlesores

depends on the airline.

i usually fly jetstar or tiger.
budget airline with no included baggage allowance
other than a 7kg carry on.
you select your baggage weight when you book online,
from 15-45 kg, pay per leg.
no restriction on size (within reason): max 32kg/item, max height 190cm.

Inpd

Is this because they offer some sort of damage protection since its a bike and fragile?

I know when I took my golf clubs on air planes I don't pay extra, but I sign a damage waiver saying its a fragile item. Same thing with strollers.

pdlamb

I've told Delta and American ticket agents the case contained bicycle parts, and not been charged the bike fee. Stay relaxed and polite, and those who aren't real a$$holes often try to cut you a break.

Inpd

So they are cutting you a break? [Edit] Did you have to sign a damage waiver?

pdlamb

I think they're following their own rules (unfortunately, it's not always that clear). Delta, IIRC, specifically says bikes that fit in a 62" case doesn't pay extra. I think United doesn't have that in their baggage rules, and American's not really clear.


Insured?? You do know that airline liability is capped at $400 per bag, unless you pay extra (and most ticket agents won't know how to do that!)?

Inpd

Sure, I travel a lot. But with items such as golf clubs, strollers, you explicitly sign a waiver saying you'll make no claim if damaged.

Also if your airline falls under the Warsaw convention its $9.07 per pound upto $640. But if your a frequent flyer (i.e have status) I've gotten far more than that in one extreme case.

Dream Cyclery

I had a customer with a damaged bike from air travel. He had $2500 cap.

I don't know which airline and what level of flyer he was.

Inpd

If this is true, then what's the benefit of a coupled/breakaway frameset? You get stuck with the luggage fees and the hassle of putting it together!

BigAura

When I traveled with my S&S bike and gear in two regulation-compliant boxes I correctly stated the contents as bicycle parts & camping gear.

Inpd

and ... what happened? Did they charge you a fee? Or you inherently saying if you had said it was a "bicycle" not "bicycle parts" you would have been charge the fee despite it fitting in regulation-compliant boxes.

Tourist in MSN

I was wearing my bike helmet when I checked my luggage, thus I did not attempt to hide anything. Delta did not ask.

But, if I was asked what was in the 26X26X10 case, I would have said bike parts but not a complete bike. That would have been an honest answer, as some of my bike parts were in my other bag.

I have heard that Delta will be fee happy whenever they can be, but I think the greater danger is exceeding the 50 pound limit. I carry a luggage scale with me to make sure I keep the weight low enough.