Reminder please, Taking my my bike on a plane

So, next week I’m taking my bike on a plane. First time for some 20 years. It’s an experiment in making more trips with my bike and riding when I’m there.

I have a bike bag  a scicon

Just wondering about air pressures in the shock, forks and tyres. Should i lower them? empty them?

and if so what about the seat post? The bag holds it’s shape better if the seat post is up. Does this mean that the pressure is lower in this position and therefore less affected by the altitude or should I delate it as well or will none of the above be affected and I’m over thinking it.

Advice welcome

I’ve never come to a conclusion if it makes any difference, but I usually:

– let the tires down (I usually have to now with 29″ and chunky rubber else they dont fit in my bag)

– let some air out of the suspension

I have previously forgotten to deflate forks and they were ok, and I’ve never considered my seatpost although the same logic certainly applies there. On that note though I’d slam your post down if you can, if its extended its more likely to get hit, and the longer length = more likely to bend.

thats my 2p anyway

Passenger airliners have pressurised cargo holds so deflating things doesn’t make any difference. Even an unpressurised hold would only add a maximum of 1.013 Bar which is within the safety margin of your tyres (with the possible exception of hookless rim / road tyre combos). Likewise the fork and shock can take much higher internal pressure than the marginal loss of external pressure causes.

However

Most airlines seem to want you to deflate the tyres. I don’t let them fully down in the hope that the tyres will remain seated on the beads. I’ve never even been asked about fork/shock/dropper.

I don’t ever deflate anything. There’s no need.

But if asked whether I have deflated the tyres. I just say yes.

And when asked if I have any CO2. I say No.

Passenger airliners have pressurised cargo holds so deflating things doesn’t make any difference.

Airlines typically want you to deflate the tyres. It doesn’t matter whether it makes any difference or not, if you argue with them, you won’t be getting on the plane. Do you want to enjoy your trip or prove that you’re right about some technical pedantry? I would release the pressure from the suspension too, it’s a 2-minute job to pump them back up again. I wouldn’t worry about the seatpost.

As Thols2 suggests, it’s about compliance, not any really technical need.  Just obey or say you’ve obeyed and it’s fine. I normally drop them down to about  15psi.  You don’t want them to release tyre jizz everywhere.  I don’t bother with shocks or the fork and the seat post remains fitted and down. The whole aircraft remains pressurised to about 9000’, I’ve ridden higher than that.

Other things to do: mech off but not off its cable and hung in between the swing arm. Bit of cut up kitchen waste pipe in between the dropouts with the axles back in to stop them being crushed. Pedals off. I also remove the discs, which get put in a rigid cardboard envelope also placed  inside the swing arm.  An old credit card folded in two makes a great brake pad retainer. Take a spare hanger. Carry it always. 

‘Have you deflated the tyres?’

’I have. Has the pilot deflated the tyres on the aircraft?’

hehehe.