adacas

usually the law says that its ok to carry weapons for training so long as you are going to and from your place of training and nowhere else. So stopping by Starbucks to show off your skills is not a good idea. Also its a good idea to have a bright colored label or marking like a red flag or cloth hanging from it so its noticeable to the po po.

electrik

Strap it to the side of your top-tube, that is how people carry their rifles... just make sure it doesn't interfere with your control cables.

jputnam

I don't carry a sword, but I do carry a telescoping fiberglass monopod for pole aerial photography, and when it's collapsed it's in the same neighborhood as a sword. Back-sheath is the way to go, slung diagonally, hung off your shoulder with the lower end restrained as well so it doesn't slip around. Just like carrying a rifle on a bike

Sixty Fiver

Most Japanese swords should be slingable so you can carry it across your back, even if the sheath was not designed for such use. I would check with local ordinances concerning things like this as in some places edged weapons of this length are prohibited weapons.

Now...if you were carrying a claymore (Scottish broadsword) it might be a little more difficult...

Abneycat

I agree with the commenters suggesting to sling it across your back. This is my personal method of transport for when I am transporting my 62" longbow. Get or make a 3 point harness that you can place under your arm or at the waist to have control over your case / sling to keep it from moving, and to give you some adjustment on how diagonal it is. I keep my bow nearly upright, just diagonal enough to get past the side of the bicycle. For safety and privacy, I would personally consider fashioning a case of leather, nylon or canvas that simply covered the whole of the katana, and fastened at the top to ensure the sword stayed in its sheath.

I made my holster simply by taking a nylon bow sheath and attaching some nylon straps with buckles to it. Sheath from the archery centre, straps from MEC, easy make. These nylon covers are wide enough to fit recurve bows with thicker pistol grips as well, they would likely hold the katana.

Hm, I suppose I should say that the suggestion to make a sheath bag for your sword is dependant on whether such things will get you in trouble with your regional laws or not. I have personally never been harassed or bothered for transporting a bow in this manner, but bows are covered / encased by standard.

TurbineBlade

My first reponse to this post is wtf?

My second is that you should carry it in your right hand and when you pull up to traffic lights next to open car windows shout: "Hey, I'm Vladimir -- the insects are really loud today, huh?"

BarracksSi

The more I'm thinking about it, the more I'd say that strapping it to the top tube like dynaryder described would be best.

Unless you have a rigid case that can protect it if the s**t hits the fan, a bent and broken sword/scabbard is a little bigger problem than, say, a pool cue. If it's mounted to the frame, the bike itself should do a decent job of protecting it.

BarracksSi

Ah -- how curved is it? Got any pics?

Dannihilator

Now THAT would be considered loaded touring.

Cyclaholic

The only way to carry a sword on a bike.....

Bekologist

practical is to create a vertical carrier off a back rack using suitable, foam lined PVC tubing of a suitable length and diameter and create a scabbard. also, like some have suggested too, strapping long items along the top tube.

you can usually just SHOVE things between panniers and racks, or simply strap an item vertically to a rack with stout strapping methods like a few toe straps.

I don't have a picture of a PVC 'ski bucket' on a bicycle , but here's some skis strapped horizontally to a top tube,

then vertically to a touring bike. stable up to 40 MPH, you can do the same w a training sword.skicarry2.jpgskisgoingup.jpg

Luddite

No one would cut you off if you were carryone one of those.

Halkon

Didn't they used to ride horses with them? I'm sure you can figure a bike out.

BarracksSi

Yeah, but they were worn in a manner that allowed drawing while riding in order to vanquish opponents -- which is usually not a legal cycling activity.

Grillparzer

And here I was, worried about carrying florescent light bulbs home.

arej00dazed

one of the things to consider is impalement(sp?) when/if crashing. so with that being said, I think a sling would be your best bet.

Littleaurora

Sorry to resurrect this thread but it came up in my Google search. I need to figure out how to carry my long sword on the bike. I'm thinking the diagonal shoulder sling but has anyone actually done it and can tell me how it feels when riding?

Sangetsu

Get the proper bag to carry your sword. Here in Japan people attend various types of sword classes, and kendo supply stores sell bags for shinai, bokken, and genuine swords. You are not allowed to carry any of these in public unless they are zipped or tied up in one of these bags. They are not expensive, $20 will buy a decent one. A case for a golf driving club will also work. The cases are meant to be carried slung over your shoulder. They are comfortable enough, but if the case moves around, you can add a second strap which goes around your waist, that will keep it steady.

Milton Keynes

Carry a sword on a bike? Why not just carry pepper spray like other people?

CliffordK

A lot of long stuff can be safely strapped to the top tube of the bike, and isn't much of a bother. Especially if you have a vintage bike with a level top tube

If you're doing it a lot, you might also be able to find a gun case the sword would fit inside of, and lash the gun case to the bike. Thus, all you would have to do is unzip and remove the sword.

indyfabz

Swallow the sword and ride to your destination.

Ballenxj

My suggestion? Get a front or rear bike rack that also attaches down low on the fork or stay with attachment points for panniers. Next, get one of those tactical shotgun scabbard and attach it to the points where the pannier normally would.
Last, simply slide the sword with scabbard in from the top. Easy.
Those scabbards usually come in Black, Olive Drab, Coyote, or Multi cam.

CliffordK

Affix the sword like a bayonet? Is the scabbard really necessary?

Ballenxj

Negative! Slide the sword in it's sheath straight into the vertically mounted scabbard. You wouldn't want the wooden sheath contacting metal bits that would chew it up while rattling against each other while riding, would you?

corrado33

I don't understand why this question comes up so much.

Just attach it to your top tube with straps. I've done it for everything from 6 foot long piping to piano wire. If the sword is curved then put the curved bit pointing down.