An S&S coupler is a kind of connector that’s put in in sure sorts of bicycle frames to permit for the bike to be separated into two halves and packed away for straightforward transportation. With this kind of connector put in, a full measurement street, mountain or touring bicycle can match fully inside a single 26″ x 26″ x 10″ case/cardboard field that travels as common airline baggage.
The Co-Movement Pangea Co-Pilot that I’ve been utilizing on my bicycle tour throughout Europe is one such bicycle that may be outfitted with S&S couplers and transported on this method.
Within the video above I’ll present you the field I flew my bicycle in whereas not too long ago touring from Zurich, Switzerland to Istanbul, Turkey. I will even present you the steps concerned in placing a bicycle with S&S couplers again collectively once more after it has been break up in half. Lastly, I’ll end by displaying you the steps essential to assemble your touring bicycle after flying with it on an airplane.
Reasonably than watching the entire video above, nonetheless, I like to recommend reviewing the time markers under after which skipping to the elements of the video that curiosity you most. The 2 halves of the bicycle coming along with the usage of S&S couplers, for instance, begins on the 17:40 mark.
00:00:00 – Introduction
00:01:50 – Opening the cardboard bike field
00:04:40 – Eradicating the bicycle from the field
00:10:20 – Reattaching the rear derailleur
00:11:20 – Separating the 2 halves of the bicycle
00:13:00 – Reconnecting the handlebars
00:16:20 – Shut-up photographs of the S&S couplers on each halves of the bike
00:17:40 – Reconnecting the 2 halves of the bicycle with the S&S couplers
00:29:50 – Tightening the S&S couplers with the coupler wrench
00:30:50 – Mounting the entrance fender and entrance rack
00:40:20 – Mounting the rear fender
00:42:50 – Reattaching the pedals
00:43:55 – Trying to reattach the brake and shifter cables (learn extra about this under)
00:46:35 – Inserting the seat publish
00:47:30 – Mounting the rear rack and the rear fender
01:04:20 – Trying to reconnect the cables for a second time (once more, make sure you examine this in my notes under)
01:08:50 – Answering questions from viewers
01:11:00 – Pumping air into my tires
01:17:50 – Attaching my handlebar bag mount
There are two main issues I discovered from placing my bicycle again collectively within the video above.
Reconnecting The Derailleur Cables
In the event you watch the video above you will note that I used to be unable to determine how the 2 derailleur cables had been meant to reconnect with one different. What I failed to comprehend on the time, however discovered simply moments after the video recording had stopped, was that to be able to reconnect the cables I merely wanted to shift the gears on each side of the bike to their lowest potential place. Doing this added the size to the cables that I wanted to be able to merely seize each side of the cables with my fingers (no particular instruments had been wanted) and screw the cable connectors again into place.
The Time It Takes To Assemble A Touring Bicycle
Lastly, recording this video has given me a document of simply how lengthy it takes to place a touring bicycle again collectively once more after it has been break up in two and totally dissembled. Whereas I did take some time through the video recording to snap some pictures and collect instruments within the subsequent room, the video is proof that the method of placing a touring bicycle with S&S couplers, fenders, racks and a handlebar bag again collectively once more will be accomplished in about sixty to ninety minutes.