Traveling with non-electric bike on airplane that has hub dynamo in front wheel.

[Akrotiri]

Hello folks,

I’m traveling with my bicycle from Belgium to Greece. The airline I’m taking only is charging 50€ for bringing the bike with me in a box as checked luggage obviously.

My question is the front wheel of my bicycle has a hub dynamo (Busch&Muller) IQs-70lux. Are hub dynamos allowed/not safe? It definitely does not have lithium batteries but I’m not an electrical engineer and I’m not sure if it has any parts that would be prohibited from flying in the cargo hold. In the FAQ section of the airline webpage it makes no mention of hub dynamos in the prohibited/dangerous items.

Any advice/ help much appreciated including what a hub dynamo is built with components wise. That would help tremendously to figure out if it would be ok to pack with.

 

[Mike_V]

Hi,
I believe you will research your airline passenger rules to find a specific list of items that are not allowed , to export or transport, as ' checked ' baggage
( termed freight )
The hub is a detail sub assembly of the bicycle assembly, it's a bike & probably not restricted.
A bicycle Dynamo is made of various metals, as you know to generate low voltage only when it is rotated, dynamically.
Good Luck
Mike

 

[Mike TowpathTraveler]

I can't imagine any kind of prohibition for a dyno hub. All it is, is a stator made with copper wiring, a rotor with magnets, a couple of axle bearings and some wiring all encased in a water tight aluminum shell.

Think of it this way, my 2 Schmidt SON28 dynohubs for my two fatbikes arrived in normal shipping boxes (as did yours); no hazardous packing, no UN classification number, no hazardous materials paperwork chain of custody.

You'll be fine. Enjoy your flight!

 

[Akrotiri]

Thank for the responses guys. Based on what I read here, the components used to manufacture the dynamo I think it should be good.

The prohibited items on the airline website made no mention of hub dynamos either.

 

[theemartymac]

Yup, no 'stored energy' in a hub dynamo so you should be just fine.

Think of things with pressure (CO inflators/aerosol cans/high pressure air or gas shocks), or things that burn (like airbags, vests, flammable liquids or gases), and stored electricity (like large batteries or capacitors).

 

[Akrotiri]

Yup, no 'stored energy' in a hub dynamo so you should be just fine.

Think of things with pressure (CO inflators/aerosol cans/high pressure air or gas shocks), or things that burn (like airbags, vests, flammable liquids or gases), and stored electricity (like large batteries or capacitors).

Duly noted thank you Marty.

And what about bicycle tire pumps?

I purchased a Lezyne floor stand tire pump and don’t want to leave that behind since it’s so much easier and quicker to inflate the tires than the hand tire pump. Not crazy about leaving that out either this time around.

 

[RunForTheHills]

Here is a fairly comprehensive list for the US:

https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all

 

[theemartymac]

Duly noted thank you Marty.

And what about bicycle tire pumps?

I purchased a Lezyne floor stand tire pump and don’t want to leave that behind since it’s so much easier and quicker to inflate the tires than the hand tire pump. Not crazy about leaving that out either this time around.

Hand pumps are no problem, but CO cartridge inflators are often a no-no.

Just remember that the cargo hold on a plane is generally pressurized and minimally heated, but in the event of a sudden depressurization anything with stored pressure will increase significantly and could burst. In addition to the hazard to the aircraft, that $1,000+ gas fork/shock on your bike could be finished instantly in that event. The airline will not cover that loss.

 

[Comfortably Numb]

Hand pumps are no problem, but CO cartridge inflators are often a no-no.

.... but in the event of a sudden depressurization anything with stored pressure will increase significantly and could burst.

Nope. The pressure inside the inflator cartridge would not increase at all. They are sealed units. The volume of the gas doesn't change, the volume inside the cartridge doesn't change and the air temperature wouldn't change much to be a concern. It is the pressure in the cargo hold that would decrease. There's no way the inflator cartridges are manufactured so weakly they would burst from internal pressure due to a depressurization in the cargo hold. It isn't like you can crush them when they are empty. They are real tough. There has to be massive structural integrity built in them as a safety factor to avoid bursting under extreme conditions. Maybe if they were dropped into a fire where in time, the heat damages their integrity.
I'm not even sure CO2 cartridges are a no-no at all. Aerosol containers are allowed on flights and they are nowhere near as sound structurally even though they have lower internal pressures in thinner, larger containers.
CN

 

[theemartymac]

Nope. The pressure inside the inflator cartridge would not increase at all. They are sealed units. The volume of the gas doesn't change, the volume inside the cartridge doesn't change and the air temperature wouldn't change much to be a concern. It is the pressure in the cargo hold that would decrease. There's no way the inflator cartridges are manufactured so weakly they would burst from internal pressure due to a depressurization in the cargo hold. It isn't like you can crush them when they are empty. They are real tough. There has to be massive structural integrity built in them as a safety factor to avoid bursting under extreme conditions. Maybe if they were dropped into a fire where in time, the heat damages their integrity.
I'm not even sure CO2 cartridges are a no-no at all. Aerosol containers are allowed on flights and they are nowhere near as sound structurally even though they have lower internal pressures in thinner, larger containers.
CN

You're not wrong in your explanation, I was oversimplifying of course. But CO2 is a definite no-no. From the TSA:

The point is that there are many reasons there could be a problem, from pressure changes, to fires, to physical handling by staff and equipment, but that is semantics. And I have had liquid and aerosol products leak in my luggage on flights in the past, so even when allowed, I bag them in a ziplock for leak containment.

 

[Akrotiri]

Nope. The pressure inside the inflator cartridge would not increase at all. They are sealed units. The volume of the gas doesn't change, the volume inside the cartridge doesn't change and the air temperature wouldn't change much to be a concern. It is the pressure in the cargo hold that would decrease. There's no way the inflator cartridges are manufactured so weakly they would burst from internal pressure due to a depressurization in the cargo hold. It isn't like you can crush them when they are empty. They are real tough. There has to be massive structural integrity built in them as a safety factor to avoid bursting under extreme conditions. Maybe if they were dropped into a fire where in time, the heat damages their integrity.
I'm not even sure CO2 cartridges are a no-no at all. Aerosol containers are allowed on flights and they are nowhere near as sound structurally even though they have lower internal pressures in thinner, larger containers.
CN

I actually checked and martymac is right. It lists CO2 cartridges on prohibited items on the airline’s website. Says nothing about regular bicycle pumps so I guess I can bring it.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

I actually checked and he’s right. It lists CO2 cartridges on prohibited items on the airline’s website. Says nothing about regular bicycle pumps so I guess I can bring it.

Once, I had a small wrench in my travel bag. Just forgot I had it there. My brand new adjustable wrench got thrown into the wastebasket by the security guard. "No tools allowed on the flight".

 

[Comfortably Numb]

I actually checked and martymac is right. It lists CO2 cartridges on prohibited items on the airline’s website. Says nothing about regular bicycle pumps so I guess I can bring it.

You're sure that's underneath in cargo, or only in carry-on? Prohibited altogether?
I can see CO2 is a no-no in carry on bags, just like any aerosols.
My thinking is CO2 cartridges would be far more durable than regular aerosol containers, although the CO2 would be at much higher pressure, so that could explain it.
I'll go out on a limb and say they are prohibited because they can get away with it, since they are not in widespread use.
Personal aerosols being prohibited would spark massive pushback. It wouldn't happen.
CN

 

[Comfortably Numb]

Once, I had a small wrench in my travel bag. Just forgot I had it there. My brand new adjustable wrench got thrown into the wastebasket by the security guard. "No tools allowed on the flight".

That had to be in your carry on bag, was it not? A wrench in a carry on bag could be used as a weapon inside the passenger seating area.
C'mon....workers can't check in tool bags into cargo for trips home? Ridiculous.

CN

 

[Comfortably Numb]

I just looked at the TSA site. What a joke.
You can carry CO2 cartridges if they are for inflating a life vest, AND you have to have the vest with you.
Carry on AND in cargo is OK.
So.....They'll bend the rules as they seem fit.
Either CO2 cartridges are dangerous or they aren't.
Apparently not. CN

 

[Akrotiri]

You're sure that's underneath in cargo, or only in carry-on? Prohibited altogether?
I can see CO2 is a no-no in carry on bags, just like any aerosols.
My thinking is CO2 cartridges would be far more durable than regular aerosol containers, although the CO2 would be at much higher pressure, so that could explain it.
I'll go out on a limb and say they are prohibited because they can get away with it, since they are not in widespread use.
Personal aerosols being prohibited would spark massive pushback. It wouldn't happen.
CN

Yes it says prohibited for carry-on and checked luggage. All airlines are different so maybe others allow it on carry-ons but the one I’m taking has it banned completely.

 

[Comfortably Numb]

Yes it says prohibited for carry-on and checked luggage. All airlines are different so maybe others allow it on carry-ons but the one I’m taking has it banned completely.

I think that was the point I was attempting to make.
The TSA site says they are OK if they are for a life vest in carry on luggage or in the cargo hold and you have the vest with you. Otherwise they are prohibited, which begs the question.....are they, are are they not OK?
Having a vest with them makes them safe all of a sudden???
CN

 

[Akrotiri]

I think that was the point I was attempting to make.
The TSA site says they are OK if they are for a life vest in carry on luggage or in the cargo hold and you have the vest with you. Otherwise they are prohibited, which begs the question.....are they, are are they not OK?
Having a vest with them makes them safe all of a sudden???
CN

Good point. They don’t make it clear on some items but the airline I’m taking does. In any case I’m not bringing any.