A bit of a counterpoint on S&S. I've never regretted getting my bike with couplers ...
I've never been charged extra for my S&S coupled bike. No one has ever even asked what's in the box. They ask if there is anything fragile, and the answer is "no". I realize this is a "YMMV" type thing -- I know one person who has had a problem on one flight, though elevating the issue to a supervisor resolved the problem and he didn't have to pay extra. I've taken five trips with my bike, the most recent in August. The first time you pack it, it's a bit of a puzzle, but there are photos on the web of other people's packing jobs, and once you get something that works, take photos of your own packing job. For me, I have to remove the handlebars (which means taking the cable off the front brake and disconnecting the bike computer with a disconnect I installed), unscrew the DaVinci couplers on the three cables running to the back of the bike and disconnect the two sets of wiring (for taillight and cadence), remove pedals, take the fenders off, disconnect the S&S couplers, partially deflate the tires, unscrew the rear derailleur, wrap everything in the S&S packing neoprene, and put it all in the box. It takes about 45 minutes. Putting it all back together takes about the same. I've never even had to adjust the derailleurs afterwards -- the DaVinci couplers do not affect cable length when screwed tightly before and after. Packing stuff in a cardboard box for UPS takes me the same amount of time and requires very nearly the same amount of disassembly -- you don't have to unscrew the DaVinci's, disconnect the wiring, and unscrew the S&S couplers, but that's a savings of only about two minutes. I got the couplers installed when the frame was made, and it cost me $600 extra. At today's prices for taking a bike on the plane -- some airlines charge $200 each way -- it paid for itself a while ago. It's true that the airline rules are a moving target, so there is some risk that a new S&S job won't payoff. But that's true with the folding route as well. The airline person who wants to charge extra for "a bike" even though it is in the legal size limit can do that just as well for a folder as for a disassembled S&S bike. And if the airlines change the legal size limit, it could just as well impact folders as it does the S&S bike. UPS might start charging more for larger-size boxes like bikes, as they did recently in Australia (?) where even bicycle wheels are "oversize" if I recall. I guess life is a crapshoot and there's just no certainty about anything :-) Nick On Nov 14, 9:11 am, EricP <ericpl...@aol.com> wrote: > Another one who would suggest holding off on the S&S couplers. Have > loaned my Brompton folding bike to a friend. He was recently told > $200 each way to fly with the bike. The Brompton bag is within airline > limits. Both size and weight. > > Eric Platt > St. Paul, MN > > On Nov 13, 9:13 pm, doug peterson <dougpn...@cox.net> wrote: > > > Greg: > > > I'd give the S&S route a second & probably a third thought. > > Domestically, you can Fed Ex or UPS a bike for a lot less than the > > airlines charge. I recently sent a 58 cm LHT from Flagstaff, AZ to St > > Paul, MN for around $65. Internationally, you have to figure out > > where you're going, then research the airlines serving that > > destination. There really are no rules you can depend upon. > > > The problem with the airlines is it's a moveing target & subject to > > the whims of the check-in agent. I've traveled with people with S&S > > coupled bikes in the S&S case who've not been charged. I've also > > heard from others who've been hit full retail at the gate. You never > > know. The S&S system is elegant but does require more bike dis- > > assembly than expected. At the other end, it takes just as long to > > get a coupled bike together & re-adjusted as a regular bike. > > > I bought my Atlantis in 03 and fully intended to get a coupled bike. > > Rivendell would have done it but cautioned me on the pros & cons. It > > just wasn't as cool in reality as it seemed. I travel a lot and have > > never regretted just getting the standard model. > > > dougP > > > On Nov 13, 8:40 am, gregb <gbberk...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > I (finally... sheesh I am lazy!!) looked at the serial number on my > > > Riv. AR 25 M if I am reading it correctly. I think that means it was > > > the 25th allrounder made? puts it at about 1994? What else could I > > > learn about this (newish to me) bike. I am considering having it cut > > > in half to put some S&S couplings in it which will necessitate a > > > repaint of the beautiful near mint JB paint job... (I would have this > > > done by the folks at R&E in seattle where we are likely getting > > > another Riv'ish touring bike so we can have his and hers travel tour > > > bikes for an italy trip.) > > > > I would love to hear your collective wisdom on the subject. I have > > > been lurking in this group for a while now- but you all talked me into > > > actually riding this bike when I first got it and was chicken to take > > > the pristine beauty out in the rain.- Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text - -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bu...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
