I’m about to go on a trip involving air travel, and I want to take my unicycle.
However, I’m having trouble figuring out how to get it safely on to the
airplane. Does anyone have any ideas?
Aaron Rider
Re: transport troubles
I have found the best way (without actually having a hard road case built) is to
leave the unicycle unwrapped so that it can be seen as a unicycle by the air
transport people. This way it is identifiable as something that might break. I
wrapped a giraffe once and was shocked to see suitcases piled on top of it
despite the fragile stickers.
Also…
put a fragile sticker on it
if it is a giraffe you might want to (or be required to) wrap the chain to avoid
getting grease on other people’s stuff.
deflate the tyre as airplane luggage holds are unpressurised (you don’t want
exploding tyres mid flight).
tie the wheel to the frame to stop the wheel rotating… this should deter any
airline staff trying to ride your uni whilst it is in their evil clutches.
removing the pedals will also stop unwanted learn how to unicycle classes taking
place by baggage staff. the unicycle will also pack flatter.
put the seat down as far as it will go - less packing space
unless you are sure that your destination can service you with well stocked bike
shops it is a good idea to bring along spare tubes and a tube replacement kit (I
got caught out here once).
Have fun
Wayne van Wijk wvanwijk@gil.com.au
A real desire to believe all the good you can of others and to make others as
comfortable as you can will solve most of the problems.
- C.S. Lewis
> From: Steve and Cheryl Rider <srider@erols.com> To: UNICYCLING@winternet.com
> Subject: transport troubles Date: Wednesday, November 05, 1997 6:03 AM
>
> I’m about to go on a trip involving air travel, and I want to take my
> unicycle. However, I’m having trouble figuring out how to get it safely on to
> the airplane. Does anyone have any ideas?
>
> Aaron Rider
Re: transport troubles
ride it down the isle
Kevin ___________ ___ // / / / / ====================================== / _
'/ / / '_ / mailto:unipsyco@spacestar.net _ ///,/ /
http://www.spacestar.net/users/unipsyco/ // /______/ IUF Webmaster:
http://unicycling.org/iuf/ _/ Gilbertson
Re: transport troubles
In article <345F7195.5668@erols.com>, Steve and Cheryl Rider
<srider@erols.com> writes:
> I’m about to go on a trip involving air travel, and I want to take my
> unicycle. However, I’m having trouble figuring out how to get it safely on to
> the airplane. Does anyone have any ideas? Aaron Rider
Salut,
two years ago I went to Russia by plane. We had 4 unicycles and 2 giraffes with
us. The only precaution we took was deflating (?) the tires. Later I learned
that in the luggage compartment of modern airplanes the pressure is also normal.
But with the russian airplanes I wouldn’t have trusted (neither do I with
others, I prefere inflating my tire instead of repairing it or buying a new
one). Even if russian service personal isn’t world-famous for its kindness and
caution, there were no damages.
But I recommend that you remove the cranks. Unicycles are much more pleasant to
handle without the cranks. If you don’t believe, try to put 4 unicycles in the
trunk of a small car (or one between your legs inside the car).
Conclusion: take care of your tires (and remove the cranks).
lars
–
Lars Burgstahler Institute of Communication Networks and Computer Engineering
University of Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 47, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany Tel: (+49)
711 685 7966 Fax: (+49) 711 685 7983 E-Mail: burgstahler@ind.uni-stuttgart.de
When was the last time you were flabbergasted? CIRCOMIQUE
Re: transport troubles
I toured Europe with my unicyles in wood boxes. They were way too heavy and
akward. Tried cardboard boxes and that got a Girrafe squished when they stacked
something on it! Now I use a clear plastic bag, deflate the tire(Sometimes they
require this if the baggege area sould lose preasure. . .BOOM! Also to thwart
off those unicycle rider/ baggage handlers.), and duct tape the peddals and bag
real well. This works great, they haven’t broken anything since I started to do
it this way. Its simple and I do it at the airport a lot because sometimes I
don’t have a bag handy but the ticket counter or janatorial staff does. Its
cheap unlike the boxes I had. And they even stack it on top! Its usually the
first thing out and they bring it right to me because they are afraid to put it
on the luggage belt! I feel safe doing this but the more I travel the more I
worry, any other ideas?
Tyler Bechtel
Re: transport troubles
I haven’t followed the discussion in details, but have you forgotten about the
unicycle bags made in Japan. Many people asked for those at Unicon
VIII. Unfortunately, JUA is not interested in exporting, and I have been
arranging shipments personally to individuals.
The bags are convenient, and it is easy to insert and the unicyleand take it
out. Beware, this is not an ad and I am not in the business of selling them.
It’s just for your information.
Personally, I just check the unicycle through as it is and I rarely had any
trouble. There is usu. a smile and a comment “Can you really ride that thing”,
“why don’t you show us” etc.
Several times going through customs and borders was made considerably easier
thank to the naked Unicycle. Nice term? So my recommendation to unicycle
travelers – go naked!
At 02:45 97/11/05 GMT, TaterAPeal wrote:
> I toured Europe with my unicyles in wood boxes. They were way too heavy and
> akward. Tried cardboard boxes and that got a Girrafe squished when they
> stacked something on it! Now I use a clear plastic bag, deflate the
> tire(Sometimes they require this if the baggege area sould lose preasure. .
> .BOOM! Also to thwart off those unicycle rider/ baggage handlers.), and
duct
> tape the peddals and bag real well. This works great, they haven’t broken
> anything since I started to do it this way. Its simple and I do it at the
> airport a lot because sometimes I don’t have a bag handy but the ticket
> counter or janatorial staff does. Its cheap unlike the boxes I had.
And they
> even stack it on top! Its usually the first thing out and they bring it
right
> to me because they are afraid to put it on the luggage belt! I feel safe
> doing this but the more I travel the more I worry, any other ideas?
>
> Tyler Bechtel
>
Stay on top, Jack Halpern, IUF Vice President
Kanji Dictionary Publishing Society, http://www.win.or.jp/~jhalpern
1-3-502 3-Chome Niiza, Niiza-shi, Saitama 352 JAPAN Voice: +81-048-481-3103 Fax:
+81-048-479-1323
========
Hiroshima '45 Chernobyl '86 Windows '95 =============
RE: transport troubles (fwd)
>> Date: Tue, 04 Nov 1997 11:03:49 -0800 From: Steve and Cheryl Rider
>> <srider@erols.com> Subject: transport troubles
>
>> I’m about to go on a trip involving air travel, and I want to take my
>> unicycle. However, I’m having trouble figuring out how to get it safely on to
>> the airplane. Does anyone have any ideas?
>
And while you’re at it, how would you bring a GIRAFFE unicycle on a plane?
Re: transport troubles (fwd)
We one time checked out shipping the unicycle like a bicycle. The airline wanted
to charge $90.00 apiece. So we took the pedals off, and removed the seat and
seat post. Then four standard (Semcycle) unis fit into a cardboard box, which
the airline accepted as free luggage.
One problem, though. I never got them put together again as tight as they were
originally. Also, someone recommended putting lithium grease on the pedal
threads to keep them from rusting and to make it easier to get them off again.
Later, a “bikie” friend told me that there is grease specially made for pedal
threads, and lithium wasn’t it. So I guess next time I’ll visit a bike shop.
Dave Matthews GoatLover@aol.com