S&S couplings
06-15-07, 05:37 PM
#1
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S&S couplings
anyone use these or have ideas about them as far as pros and cons go?
is it cheaper to travel with a bike thats been disassembled at the couplings and put in a case as apposed to loading it into a box?
thanks for the time
is it cheaper to travel with a bike thats been disassembled at the couplings and put in a case as apposed to loading it into a box?
thanks for the time
06-15-07, 06:54 PM
#2
Bike touring webrarian
I had Waterford put S&S couplers on my Adventure Cycle when I bought it. I also got the (plastic) hard case.
As far as I can tell, the bike is the same as if there weren't any couplers. The only problem I've ever had with them is that if you don't tighten them every once in a while, they can come a wee bit loose and mess with the derailuer settings (this has happened to me once). There is no danger if this happens, it just messes with gear shifting.
As for packing my bike, it takes me 1+ hours to disassemble the bike in order to get it into the box. It takes the same amount of time on the other end to put it together. I have to take the fork off the front half of the bike and the handlebars off the fork, which also requires removing the front break calipers (so I don't have to remove the cables). I also have to take the tires off the wheels (just letting the air out isn't enough). When the bike is all in the box, I have to use moderate force to close and latch the box.
When I do all this, I have to add lots of padding to prevent the paint job from getting dinged up. I still worry about this, eventhough, the paint job is pretty dinged up by now just from "normal" touring usage. In addition, the racks and panniers will not fit into the bike box, so I have to pack a second suitcase to hold my racks, panniers, biking clothes, etc. Usually, when I fly with my bike, I travel with my wife and the 4 pieces of luggage includes my two cases for bike stuff, one for her clothes and one for mine. I don't know if travelling solo would require a third case.
When the bike is in the box, it has flown as luggage for no extra charge. The security people open the box, which worries me, but they have always managed to close the box without any *noticeable* damage. I have put the bike in the box maybe 6 times. I'm getting better at it but I can't ever see it taking less than 1 hour.
I've flown to England with it (2005). I flew back from Phoenix with it (2006). I've also put it in the box a few times for rides I've driven to.
For what it is worth, I uncouple the bike fairly often in order to easily put it in the trunk of my car. This is, by far, my most common need to uncouple the bike. Since this only requires removing the wheels and uncoupling the couplers, this operation takes maybe 5 minutes.
One last thing. If you are going to get the couplers, get the cable splitters: (https://www.sandsmachine.com/ac_cable.htm).
I hope this helps.
Ray
As far as I can tell, the bike is the same as if there weren't any couplers. The only problem I've ever had with them is that if you don't tighten them every once in a while, they can come a wee bit loose and mess with the derailuer settings (this has happened to me once). There is no danger if this happens, it just messes with gear shifting.
As for packing my bike, it takes me 1+ hours to disassemble the bike in order to get it into the box. It takes the same amount of time on the other end to put it together. I have to take the fork off the front half of the bike and the handlebars off the fork, which also requires removing the front break calipers (so I don't have to remove the cables). I also have to take the tires off the wheels (just letting the air out isn't enough). When the bike is all in the box, I have to use moderate force to close and latch the box.
When I do all this, I have to add lots of padding to prevent the paint job from getting dinged up. I still worry about this, eventhough, the paint job is pretty dinged up by now just from "normal" touring usage. In addition, the racks and panniers will not fit into the bike box, so I have to pack a second suitcase to hold my racks, panniers, biking clothes, etc. Usually, when I fly with my bike, I travel with my wife and the 4 pieces of luggage includes my two cases for bike stuff, one for her clothes and one for mine. I don't know if travelling solo would require a third case.
When the bike is in the box, it has flown as luggage for no extra charge. The security people open the box, which worries me, but they have always managed to close the box without any *noticeable* damage. I have put the bike in the box maybe 6 times. I'm getting better at it but I can't ever see it taking less than 1 hour.
I've flown to England with it (2005). I flew back from Phoenix with it (2006). I've also put it in the box a few times for rides I've driven to.
For what it is worth, I uncouple the bike fairly often in order to easily put it in the trunk of my car. This is, by far, my most common need to uncouple the bike. Since this only requires removing the wheels and uncoupling the couplers, this operation takes maybe 5 minutes.
One last thing. If you are going to get the couplers, get the cable splitters: (https://www.sandsmachine.com/ac_cable.htm).
I hope this helps.
Ray
06-15-07, 07:51 PM
#3
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The main advantage of S&S couplers on a touring bike is that you can pack your bike in a 26"x26"x10" piece of luggage and avoid the surcharge that airlines normally charge for a boxed bicycle. The time and effort of disassembling and packing an S&S coupled bike is not significantly different than that for normally boxing a bike.
Equipping a bike with S&S couplers is fairly expensive, so if you only intend to fly with it once or twice a year, it may be more cost effective to simply box your bike normally and pay the airline surcharges.
However, as raybo mentioned, if you do have a bike equipped with S&S couplers, you will find that you decouple your bike far more often to stash in the trunk of a car than to pack it for a flight.
A bike equipped with S&S couplers rides and feels almost identical to a normal bike. I had my Trek 520 retrofitted with couplers, and I honestly could not tell the difference before and after.
Equipping a bike with S&S couplers is fairly expensive, so if you only intend to fly with it once or twice a year, it may be more cost effective to simply box your bike normally and pay the airline surcharges.
However, as raybo mentioned, if you do have a bike equipped with S&S couplers, you will find that you decouple your bike far more often to stash in the trunk of a car than to pack it for a flight.
A bike equipped with S&S couplers rides and feels almost identical to a normal bike. I had my Trek 520 retrofitted with couplers, and I honestly could not tell the difference before and after.
06-16-07, 07:10 AM
#4
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I also love being able to transport my CoMotion in a suitcase because of the S&S couplers. It has helped me avoid all the hassles of travelling with a bike box that my friends experience: like nob being able to get cabs in Europe that was big enough for a bike box!
Ray, what I do with mine, in case the airlines open the (soft sided) case, is that I use those plasic zip ties to hold all the pieces together. That way, they can pretty much pull the whole thing out in one piece to look at it, if they want. And all the pieces are there at the end of the trip! Once, they'd clipped the zip ties that held the front wheel to the assemblage, which was on the top. Every other time, the bike came through with everything still zip-tied.
Cheryl
Ray, what I do with mine, in case the airlines open the (soft sided) case, is that I use those plasic zip ties to hold all the pieces together. That way, they can pretty much pull the whole thing out in one piece to look at it, if they want. And all the pieces are there at the end of the trip! Once, they'd clipped the zip ties that held the front wheel to the assemblage, which was on the top. Every other time, the bike came through with everything still zip-tied.
Cheryl
06-16-07, 07:38 AM
#5
Professional Fuss-Budget
"Cheaper" depends on how often you travel.
Most airlines officially charge $100 each way to transport a bike; in practice, though, it appears to be about a 50% chance that you will have to pay. So between the added cost of the couplings ($500+) and the case ($200?), you'd have to fly an awful lot to make it cost-effective.
Also, you cannot retrofit aluminum; not a huge deal for a touring bike.
Personally, I prefer to go with a folding bike than S&S. Packing time is shorter, 30-45 minutes. It is much, much faster, easier and smoother to do a "quick fold" (typically 30-60 seconds) than to take apart the S&S couplers, and folders are very good for touring, recreational and general-use cycling. Quite a few good folders are in the $500 - $700 range -- notably the Xootr Swift, which has a very stiff frame and a ride that is similar to a 700c road bike.
Most airlines officially charge $100 each way to transport a bike; in practice, though, it appears to be about a 50% chance that you will have to pay. So between the added cost of the couplings ($500+) and the case ($200?), you'd have to fly an awful lot to make it cost-effective.
Also, you cannot retrofit aluminum; not a huge deal for a touring bike.
Personally, I prefer to go with a folding bike than S&S. Packing time is shorter, 30-45 minutes. It is much, much faster, easier and smoother to do a "quick fold" (typically 30-60 seconds) than to take apart the S&S couplers, and folders are very good for touring, recreational and general-use cycling. Quite a few good folders are in the $500 - $700 range -- notably the Xootr Swift, which has a very stiff frame and a ride that is similar to a 700c road bike.
06-16-07, 08:52 AM
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The real question is....is $800 or so a lot of money to you? S&S couplers and a hard case aren't cheap and you really don't need them. But then again, they are really nice! I've seen a lot of crazy upgrades made to bikes-- disc brakes, carbon parts, ect....and most of these were money tossed down a hole.
A nice break away bike is something you will use-- if money isn't holding you back, go for it!
Think about having a custom frame made with the couplers-- it doesn't add a lot ot the price and you'll get a bike you'll love.
A nice break away bike is something you will use-- if money isn't holding you back, go for it!
Think about having a custom frame made with the couplers-- it doesn't add a lot ot the price and you'll get a bike you'll love.
06-16-07, 08:50 PM
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Sounds like you could get a bike friday frame for that price. S&S is a very nice product, but there are lots of other ways of separating a bike into two parts that leave the pieces less vulnerable. Retro fitting it sounds a little dubious since it isn't to be inserted into the thinner section of a butted tube, and exactly how the ends where trimmed is open to question. It's also not transferable if you go to a new bike unless you want to trash the first frame and the second frame ahs udentical internals.
They also just increased 56% and we are certainly being told that anything in Stainless Steel is going to be going stupid high this year, so it can get worse.
They also just increased 56% and we are certainly being told that anything in Stainless Steel is going to be going stupid high this year, so it can get worse.
06-17-07, 11:09 PM
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I have a Thorn Nomad w/ BTCs and as far as the ride goes, there is no difference. Not that I have ridden one w/out. I am 500 miles into this tour and no problem. Check them daily and they haven't loosened up.
However, I don't think I would do it again. For this tour, I planned on getting my bike into a 26x26x10 box but gave up. I am tall so the steerer tube is long. The front half of the bike wouldn't fit in the box without removing the fork. I would have also had to remove the crank. Plus having to remove the fenders and rear rack, I opted just to ship my bike ahead in a regular bike box using purolator. For me, it just seemed like too much of a hastle. I hope they might come in handy sometime if I need a lift but thats as fas as I can see using them. If I start flying alot, I will probably get a bike friday.
However, I don't think I would do it again. For this tour, I planned on getting my bike into a 26x26x10 box but gave up. I am tall so the steerer tube is long. The front half of the bike wouldn't fit in the box without removing the fork. I would have also had to remove the crank. Plus having to remove the fenders and rear rack, I opted just to ship my bike ahead in a regular bike box using purolator. For me, it just seemed like too much of a hastle. I hope they might come in handy sometime if I need a lift but thats as fas as I can see using them. If I start flying alot, I will probably get a bike friday.
