We have ridden our new Brompton folding bikes several times around Warrensburg since we purchased them in August. The plan is to check them as a piece of luggage and take them with us when we travel by air in the U.S. A recent visit to Arizona becomes the maiden voyage to test out our new bike travel system.
The logistics
Off the shelf, each bike weighs about 27 pounds. With a couple of modifications we’ve made—the addition of water bottle cages, mirrors, pop-off pedals, phone mounts, and a heavier seat for Kelly—they total a bit over 30. The rolling carry cases we bought for them are about 18, so by the time we pack the bikes and stuff a few toiletries around them, they hit the 50-pound airline luggage limit.
The voyage
We fly from Kansas City International, schlepping the bike cases, backpacks, and a small under-seat bag each onto the long-term parking shuttle for the short ride to the airport where we check the bikes at the airline counter. Then it’s a walk through security to our flight with the backpacks and bags. Our destination is Phoenix Sky Harbor where we do the schlep in reverse. We walk through the airport with our backpacks and small bags to baggage claim for our bikes and then onto the airport tram to the rental car facility. For it being our inaugural journey with bulky, heavy gear, it goes surprisingly smoothly, with first-time fumbling kept to a minimum. We hit all our marks with no delays or disasters and are off to visit family in Scottsdale and enjoy the spectacular riding that is Arizona in the fall. The weather is gorgeous and you really have to go out of your way to ride many hills (which we don’t).
The verdict
Our first trip with the Bromptons is an unqualified success. Both coming and going, we’re able to manage bike suitcases, backpacks, and under-seat bags through shuttles, airports, and rental car facilities with no damage to our bikes or arguments from airline personnel about bicycle luggage rules. And we get in 62 miles of perfect Arizona riding (minus the flooding detours) while we’re there. A big win all round.
Krause Travels 
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