International Travel with Unicycles?

Dennis,
When I'm in Washington this coming weekend I'll show you what travel
bags I'll be using to get my unicycles to Switzerland. This year I'm
planning on bringing my freestyle (20"😉, my racing (24"😉, and my MUni
(24"x3"😉. This will be 3 frames, 3 wheels/cranks, 2 sets of pedals, 1
seat (but 2 seatposts). I'll have my custom-made bag for the 3 wheels,
then another duffle bag on wheels for the rest of the parts and
clothes. I take the unis apart into 4 pieces: wheel, frame, pedals,
seat. Some of my clothes are the padding between the wheels.

A box isn't really recommended - carrying it is really a pain and
storing it while at your destination is often difficult. Then there is
the problem of what to do if the box falls apart on the way to your
destination - you'll have to find a new box to get home.

One big thing to remember: never ever say the word "cycle" when the
airlines ask you what is in your odd-shaped luggage. If they ask me, I
always say something like "my equipment". Usually they don't ask any
more questions. The reason to avoid the "c" word is that (bi)cycles are
something that the airlines can and will charge money to transport - up
to $100 each way.

Tools to assemble - work with your team and bring ONE set of tools for
all of Panther Pride. You are lucky in that you have a fair amount of
parents travelling, so weight wont be that big of an issue. Don't bring
the odd tools that you sometimes need (crank pullers, etc) - count on
someone who drove to Unicon to have them. Most airlines are having
weight restrictions of 50 pounds/bag for travel departing from the US -
and we have it easy compared to many from Europe who have to deal with
20 or 30 pounds/bag for travel within Europe. (Sorry for not converting
to kg for the majority of the world)

A final note: There has been a few threads on this subject. A good
primer that John Foss wrote:
http://tinyurl.com/rkvx6

See you on Friday!

Connie

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constance.cotter
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Thanks Connie

Great Link! Thanks John

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scorpio
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Hey!
I used to be heavily into BMX. 'This'
(http://www.gsportbmx.co.uk/support/rideuktech/flying.html) article was
written by the leading (in my opinion) engineer in BMX today. It is a
very good article and the same sort of thing could be used for
unicycles. Hope this helps!

Ride on!
Edd

--
Eddbmxdude

Its like England here....Iv never seen so much sun!

Its all fun and games until someone gets hurt (then its just
hilarious!)

THOU SHALL employ a "deadmans switch" which shall render the beast
inoperable in the event that the pilot is launched.
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Good advice above, especially from Connie. I think there is also a hard
copy version of my "ultimate unicycle luggage for conventions" solution
in On One Wheel from about two years back.

One area where I'll differ from Connie: Tools.
Coming with a big group, you can assign the "main" tools to a single
person. But I'd hate to be in one hotel and find out the pedal wrench
is at a different hotel. Certain tools will be convenient for everyone
to have. I always bring a crank puller, pedal wrench, and the tools
needed to completely disassemble/reassemble all the cycles with me. You
never know when your custom builder is going to throw in an annoying
bolt that needs a 5/16" allen wrench. This is the one for getting the
wheel off my Wilder! Don't expect to find a 5/16" anything in Europe. I
also bring my own pump, a tiny one. Sometimes you just can't find the
right kind of pump when you need one.

BEFORE PACKING:
Go to your airline's web site(s) and find out exactly how much weight
you're allowed, and how many bags you can check. Weight is definitely
the big issue these days, though some airlines only charge $25 if
you're between 50-75 lbs, for instance. Over 70 and they start getting
real curious as to what's in there.

LUGGAGE, NOT WHEELS:
As Connie said, never say the C word. Well-packed unicycles should look
like luggage, not something to ask questions about. The big bags I use
look like luggage, and then I pad the cycles. Not only to protect them,
but to obscure what they are. The padding I use weighs less than a
pound for the whole thing. Plus, using regular luggage leaves room for
extra stuff with the _ycles.

GARBAGE BAGS:
It took me years to figure this one out. Put each wheel in a garbage
back, and they'll slide in and out of the luggage 100 times easier!
Plus it'll keep things cleaner in there. Always travel with some extra
garbage bags and several ziplock bags. They weigh nothing and they're
always handy!

I don't know which cycles I'm bringing to Switzerland yet. Coker sounds
tempting, but is a separate hassle for air travel (recommend packing
that wheel separately). Probably the 29er then...

--
johnfoss

John Foss
"jfoss" at "unicycling.com" -- www.unicycling.com
-----------------------------------------------

"Idiot America—where fact is merely that which enough people believe,
and truth is measured only by how fervently they believe it." --
Charles Pierce, in Esquire Magazine
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just a note about the "cycle" thing. they charge you more because
they'll handle it more gently. if your uni or bi cycle gets damaged and
you didn't claim it as such, you are out of luck on claiming any damage
to the airline. not so much an issue with a properly packed unicycle
but can be a problem with bicycles. just fyi.

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markf

stuck in iowa and gainfully employed.
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They may claim that they "handle it more carefully" but they also charge
you and then make you sign a responsibility waiver that says if
anything happens to your bike, they take zero responsibility.

That doesn't sound like any way to encourage delicate handling to me.

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bmemike
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