Bring My Own Wheels For a Fondo?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Bring My Own Wheels For a Fondo?
I'm doing Phil's Fondo on the 27th in Malibu CA. I've rented a bike for the occasion and was considering bringing my wheels to put on the rental. The Fondo itself is is 110mi with 12k feet of climbing, the bike I've been able to rent is a Tarmac Disc Sport. It's an alright bike, but I have some nice new Aeolus pro 5s with gp5000 tubeless tires and Dura-Ace rotors just lying around. I'm flying Delta Air Lines and was wondering if it was feasible to put my wheels in a wheel bag and simply bring them as luggage.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Am I likely to get charged crazy fees? I don't own a wheel bag and would need a suggestion on a cheap 2 wheel capacity suggestion.
As a side note, the shop I'm renting from has no problem with me using these wheels on their bike and has offered to calibrate the calipers so there wouldn't be any rub.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Am I likely to get charged crazy fees? I don't own a wheel bag and would need a suggestion on a cheap 2 wheel capacity suggestion.
As a side note, the shop I'm renting from has no problem with me using these wheels on their bike and has offered to calibrate the calipers so there wouldn't be any rub.
#2
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I'd be more worried about them being damaged in a soft wheel bag but probably ok. I'd pull the rotors at the very least and make sure the tires aren't too high on pressure
#3
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Thread Starter
If you have any chaaaeeep recommendations for a hard wheel box that would work I'm all ears, that is a solid point about the rotors though.
#5
Full Member
Maybe just mail them to yourself.
Tubeless? De-goo them. Deflate them. Have about 4 CO2 & 2 Stans singles sent to the hotel to reinflate reset them.
Make sure the Tarmac doesn't have an SCS hub. Bring basic tools so you can adjust the rear brake caliper and discs. Take the discs off the wheels.
Tubeless? De-goo them. Deflate them. Have about 4 CO2 & 2 Stans singles sent to the hotel to reinflate reset them.
Make sure the Tarmac doesn't have an SCS hub. Bring basic tools so you can adjust the rear brake caliper and discs. Take the discs off the wheels.
#6
Senior Member
Enjoy it, don’t make it a chore. Ride the wheels that are on the rental bike.
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#7
Senior Member
It's not a race, just enjoy the rental.
Unless you are up front at the start, you will be slowed down by the volume of people.
Unless you are up front at the start, you will be slowed down by the volume of people.
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#9
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I'd be worried about them being damaged on the flight. It's not like they'll be the only luggage on the plane.
LBS has plenty of cardboard wheel boxes. Any LBS. They're free, they were just going to put them in the recycling.
But I'd still leave them behind of it were me.
LBS has plenty of cardboard wheel boxes. Any LBS. They're free, they were just going to put them in the recycling.
But I'd still leave them behind of it were me.
#11
Senior Member
I did this year's Seattle to Portland ride on a rental. I brought my own seat but not my Vision 40 wheels. I didn't really miss the wheels - I don't think it would have been worth the hassle.
One thing I did hit: I brought my saddle bag with tools, flat repair, etc. No problems on the way out, TSA in Portland on the way back took my CO2 cartridges, as apparently they are verboten. So, either bring a mini-pump or plan on donating a few CO2 cartridges in one or more airports...
One thing I did hit: I brought my saddle bag with tools, flat repair, etc. No problems on the way out, TSA in Portland on the way back took my CO2 cartridges, as apparently they are verboten. So, either bring a mini-pump or plan on donating a few CO2 cartridges in one or more airports...
#12
Jedi Master
I would either bring my own bike or just ride the rental. Bringing my own wheels is almost as much hassle as bringing my own bike with all the extra hassle of dealing with a rental.
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#13
Senior Member
I have a hard bike box and the only damage I've ever had in shipping is to the wheels. I just think the wheelset is the weak point of a bike when shipping.
Point is, like Kingston said, it'd be as much hassle (and likely same risk of damage) just to ship the wheels as to ship the entire bike.
Point is, like Kingston said, it'd be as much hassle (and likely same risk of damage) just to ship the wheels as to ship the entire bike.
#14
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Thread Starter
I'd probably just have the bike store I'm renting the bike from re-inflate the tires, I do have tubeless, will I have to take the tires completely off? Or just deflate them down to like 30 psi? I am running 120mm rotors front and back which is a little different (normally there's at least one 160mm in there), but they said they'd "calibrate the calipers", do you think this might cause some issues? Also, I know it's not a race, but why have nice wheels if I don't use them?
#15
Senior Member
Since you are flying Delta, you should just save the rental fee and bring your bike. Delta just recently dropped the extra bike fee. buy or rent a hard sided bike box, and enjoy! my experience (one trip) is that TSA is the biggest problem/issue, they dont handle the bikes properly, and they have no liability!
#16
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This. Just use the rental and save yourself the headaches/hassles.
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I'd probably just have the bike store I'm renting the bike from re-inflate the tires, I do have tubeless, will I have to take the tires completely off? Or just deflate them down to like 30 psi? I am running 120mm rotors front and back which is a little different (normally there's at least one 160mm in there), but they said they'd "calibrate the calipers", do you think this might cause some issues? Also, I know it's not a race, but why have nice wheels if I don't use them?
#19
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Too many ways for this to go wrong. If you can't make your bike work (try hard) use the rental as is.
#20
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I'd probably just have the bike store I'm renting the bike from re-inflate the tires, I do have tubeless, will I have to take the tires completely off? Or just deflate them down to like 30 psi? I am running 120mm rotors front and back which is a little different (normally there's at least one 160mm in there), but they said they'd "calibrate the calipers", do you think this might cause some issues? Also, I know it's not a race, but why have nice wheels if I don't use them?
If you really want to use your wheels, bring the bike that goes with it. Most bikes nowadays use 140 to 160mm rotors.
#21
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Thread Starter
Since you are flying Delta, you should just save the rental fee and bring your bike. Delta just recently dropped the extra bike fee. buy or rent a hard sided bike box, and enjoy! my experience (one trip) is that TSA is the biggest problem/issue, they dont handle the bikes properly, and they have no liability!
#22
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Bicycles, non-motorized touring or single seat racing, are allowed as checked baggage on most flights, with the exception of certain Delta Connection® carriers.
- Standard baggage allowance and fees based on cabin and travel region apply
- Bicycles weighing over 50 lbs. will be charged the applicable excess weight fee
- If the outside linear dimensions (length + width + height) exceed 115 linear inches (292 cm) or exceeds 100 lbs, the item will not be accepted
- Items in excess of baggage allowance will be subject to additional or overweight baggage fees
- A limited liability release form must be signed by the passenger in the case that the bike is not properly packed
- If the bicycle is packaged in a hard shell case specifically designed for transporting bicycles, then a limited release form is not required
- If the bicycle is packaged in a soft sided travel bag or anything other than a hard shell case, a limited release form will need to be signed
Note that you have to keep bike+box under 50 lbs. for there to be no additional charge above the normal checked bag fee. I could never to that with my touring bike so I have shipped using bikeflights.
#23
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Thread Starter
"Bicycles
Bicycles, non-motorized touring or single seat racing, are allowed as checked baggage on most flights, with the exception of certain Delta Connection® carriers.
Note that you have to keep bike+box under 50 lbs. for there to be no additional charge above the normal checked bag fee. I could never to that with my touring bike so I have shipped using bikeflights.
Bicycles, non-motorized touring or single seat racing, are allowed as checked baggage on most flights, with the exception of certain Delta Connection® carriers.
- Standard baggage allowance and fees based on cabin and travel region apply
- Bicycles weighing over 50 lbs. will be charged the applicable excess weight fee
- If the outside linear dimensions (length + width + height) exceed 115 linear inches (292 cm) or exceeds 100 lbs, the item will not be accepted
- Items in excess of baggage allowance will be subject to additional or overweight baggage fees
- A limited liability release form must be signed by the passenger in the case that the bike is not properly packed
- If the bicycle is packaged in a hard shell case specifically designed for transporting bicycles, then a limited release form is not required
- If the bicycle is packaged in a soft sided travel bag or anything other than a hard shell case, a limited release form will need to be signed
Note that you have to keep bike+box under 50 lbs. for there to be no additional charge above the normal checked bag fee. I could never to that with my touring bike so I have shipped using bikeflights.
This is great though! Any good bike box recommendations for, say....... around $150?
#24
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I wouldn't bring the wheels.
To install, you have to have the right cassette. Adjust the rear derailleur. Perhaps adjust the brakes.
If the cassette and chain aren't evenly worn, you could have issues. And, now you're using an unknown chain on your cassette. (or are you swapping cassettes?)
Your rental includes the whole bike. Perhaps toss in a couple of spare tubes, and you're set.
Do the tires match your expected road conditions?
To install, you have to have the right cassette. Adjust the rear derailleur. Perhaps adjust the brakes.
If the cassette and chain aren't evenly worn, you could have issues. And, now you're using an unknown chain on your cassette. (or are you swapping cassettes?)
Your rental includes the whole bike. Perhaps toss in a couple of spare tubes, and you're set.
Do the tires match your expected road conditions?
#25
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@gugie found a bike box on Craigslist here in Eugene. He sent a note to me, and I went and picked it up. I don't remember, but about $100 or so. I shipped it across the country to another BF member, and it still came out less than buying new.
I think the box was then shipped back to Portland with a bike for a mini tour this spring, perhaps bouncing around the country a bit more.
I've occasionally seen cheaper boxes, but haven't paid a lot of attention to them.
Of course, that is a bike box. Wheel boxes may be less common, but probably are used by the Triathlon and Racing crowd.
An S&S box may work for both wheels and luggage, but they tend to be expensive (of course, also good for a coupled bike too).
An S&S Soft Case is a little less expensive, and might be affordable for use as a dual suitcase and wheels, and would provide reasonable protection if the tire is left mounted and partly inflated, and the bag is stuffed with clothes.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/S-S-Backpac...k/401842599283
Hmm, this is on E-Bay now:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Try-All-3-s...l/143398883718
Shipping is pretty outrageous, but perhaps someone could pick it up locally.