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We'll be out each wednesday - leaving custom house square at 6pm. Gears are grand.

Hey guys, I apologise for the ridiculous 25% gradient in that ride.. Fra - you're lucky you missed it!

Possible route for Wednesday. Start Custom House Square - end Boojum.
http://tinyurl.com/ybqovc9

and don't forget critical mass this friday...

Another week, another new face and another great ride.
Critical Mass this friday; 18:30 Custom House Square.

Kev, I'll look the skid comp video out and try to get it online.

Critical Mask video!
CriticalMass on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Another good ride - strong numbers and no texting!
Same again next wednesday... and then we have 'critical mask' on the 30th.

Sorry seems to be the word they just won't use!
But, I'm happy that they refunded the money. It took a lot of effort and put me in a pretty awful mood for the past couple of days; I wonder just how many people would have given up after the original check in refusal, two visits to American Airlines service desks in LA and London and then that first email.

Update! - I got a refund!

Dear Mr. Donald:
Thank you for contacting us again.

I have checked the link you provided with regards to the transportation of your bicycle. As our agency website states that one bicycle will be accepted in place of one checked bag within the baggage allowance regardless of the actual dimensions of the bicycle, we are happy to offer you a refund of the baggage fee.

We will issue an adjustment to the credit card account used to pay the baggage charge. A credit in the amount of $150.00 should appear on one of your next two billing statements. In the interim, we appreciate your patience.

Mr. Donald, I regret any misunderstanding with regards to this charge and will forward your feedback to the appropriate supervisory staff for review. We hope this has now been settled to your satisfaction and look forward to welcoming you onboard again soon.

Sincerely,

Arjanne Suierveld
Customer Relations
American Airlines

Hi guys.
I got hit by an excessive baggage fee by American Airlines on Monday.

Flew Honolulu to Belfast.
Checked in 1 box 95 x 72 x 20cms, 17kg.
Charged $150 but http://www.americanairlines.co.uk/i18n/agency/travelExperience/baggageAllowance.jsp?locale=en_GB says

Bicycle*

• One non-motorised touring or racing bike.
  
• Handlebars must be fixed sideways and pedals removed or pedals and handlebars must be enclosed in plastic foam or similiar material.
  
• Restriction for travel to/from/through Zurich (Switzerland): Due to limitations of the X-ray machines in Zurich (ZRH), bicycle boxes cannot be larger than the dimensions of the X-ray machines, which are 31 inches wide by 39 inches high by 157 inches long and cannot weigh more than 70 lbs.
  **- One bicycle will be accepted in place of one checked bag within the baggage allowance regardless of the actual dimensions of the bicycle. **
  
• Carry-on: No
  
• Checked: Yes
  
  

So, the website says Free I get charged $150.

So I email American Airlines the website link and all the flight information. They reply with the following...excerpt, the full is below...

Moreover, we depend on our agents to assess the items and collect the applicable charge. We do not countermand our airport agents' decisions regarding excess or overweight baggage. Accordingly, we must respectfully decline to refund the baggage charge you paid.

They also include a completely different website link stating the bike charge is $100 not $150

I have once again emailed and asked why 1. the website says free regardless of size and 2. why the other page says $100 and not the $150 I was charged.

Any ideas of who I can copy this too? OFT? Trading Standards?

Cheers
Alex

---

Thank you for contacting Customer Relations.

I can appreciate your dismay at having to pay an additional charge for transporting a bicycle as checked baggage. Thank you for this opportunity to address your inquiry.

While all sports equipment counts towards your bag allowance, there is an additional charge for some sports items that exceed our size and weight restrictions (bicycles, surfboards, hang gliders, and javelins, for example). While it may not be readily apparent, there are additional costs associated with handling these items. For example, such items generally cannot be placed on standard baggage conveyor systems and may have to be transported by other means to and from bag rooms and aircraft. In addition, the cubic space required to secure such items in aircraft cargo compartments is space that may displace other cargo and reduce our revenue. To recover some of these costs, we believe it is reasonable to charge those customers who choose to travel with these items. For more information, please click on the following link:

http://www.americanairlines.co.uk/i18n/travelInformation/baggage/baggageAllowance.jsp#Sports%20Equipment

Moreover, we depend on our agents to assess the items and collect the applicable charge. We do not countermand our airport agents' decisions regarding excess or overweight baggage. Accordingly, we must respectfully decline to refund the baggage charge you paid. I am sorry.

Again, thank you for allowing me to explain why we charged to check your bicycle. Please travel with us soon. We look forward to welcoming you onboard again in the near future.

Sincerely,

Arjanne Suierveld
Customer Relations
American Airlines

@mmccarthy

we're leaving at 6pm custom house square on wednesday - join us

I was going to do a duathlon over here (Northern Ireland) on the fixed the other day - in the end I didn't manage to get there on time but it was discussed when I was there... I had fitted a front and it was generally agreed with a front brake (on closed road) that they would let me compete. Next time!

This is a pretty cool video :-)
http://www.kottke.org/09/06/19th-century-bike-tricks

Sorry El Diablo - now sold.

Hello,
I am selling a Polar CS200cad (Heart Rate, Speed and Cadence) as I've recently replaced it with a Garmin 705. The unit has seen 1300 miles (75 hours*) in good weather on my 'sunday bike'.

New, the CS200cad is currently going for £100 on wiggle (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Polar_CS200cad_Wireless_HRM_Cycle_Computer/5360027225/) and £100 on Pro Bike Kit (http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=O2070)

I'm looking £60 (postage, within uk via Royal Mail special delivery, is included)
Any questions give me a message or email to alex (at) weloverecords.co.uk

Cheers for looking.
Alex

@jersey - It's a paul flatbed front rack

surly 58 cm cross check frame (decals removed)
deep v wheelset to coaster brake (into it!)
nitto b-617 promenade bars
selle san marco regal ti saddle (in white lorica... vegan!)
mks touring pedals
civia aluminum fenders (which match the frame really well)
stem/seatpost/crankset are kinda no namers.

This appeared in my flickr photostream ("http://www.flickr.com/photos/swade/3474625214/"]getter. on Flickr - Photo Sharing!) from a contact - I want!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3615/3474625214_e381ef7c06_b.jpg

Have a look at this:
http://www.dtswiss.com/SpokesCalc/Welcome.aspx?language=en
Put in your hub, rims and it'll calculate the spoke length.

I'm heading out on the 12th April and was hoping to catch a few races. keirintherealdeal doesn't seem to work for me :-(

Ah - I'm having this very problem - heading out to Japan in 3 weeks - It'll be 20-30 degrees I've a 30k ride to and from tokyo each day. What to wear!?

I'm also wrestling with buying some RX-1's and toe clips just so I don't have to wear clipless pedals (I got a pair of six six one shoes with spd but they're really not very good).

That was some finish :-D

If you find any new spots please post them up as I head out again in three weeks - can't wait!

Last year, when I was over in London I bought a Cannondale Supersix in Evans.
I'd been watching it for a while on their website as it had £500 off and they had it listed with Mavic Ksyrium SL wheel instead of the standard Ksyrium Elite.
So, when in London I took one (with Elite wheels) for a test ride - it was amazing, perfect size and like no bike I'd ridden. On returning to the shop I asked them to check stock as I wanted to order online to get the free shipping back to Belfast. There were 2 left - the one I had ridden and one other. I then pointed out the wheel set difference... both bikes had Elite wheels - they said that it was an error on the website - BUT, if I wanted to buy it there and then they would swap the wheels and ship it to Belfast at no extra charge.

Three days later I was riding my lovely Supersix. Bargain! and for that reason I've had fantastic experience with Evans cycles :-)

I'm heading out in April with the bike and I can't wait. I just wish the pound yen rate was as good as this time last year when I was there. I'd be doing some serious shopping if that was the case.

Thanks for the tip on locking up!