Bike forks and air travel

[Spokey]

Morning All.

 

Perhaps you guys in the know can help me here. I bought a set of air forks in the UK, new and boxed. In that condition I believe that they are safe to fly in the hold of a passenger aeroplane.

I do not believe that any air has been added to them as they are still plastic wrapped.

 

The reason I ask is that I have packaged them up carefully (before I checked the valve) and do not want to unwrap every thing again if possible!!

 

Thanks in advance

[David Marshall]

I would say safe to travel.  Even with air the worst that would happen is a seal would pop but the air volume is so small it would not pose a problem.

[Erroli8a8]

As long as the pressure in the forks is not at max then it will be alright. you need to have some pressure to keep the seals in order but not full.

[droo]

The hold in a plane is pressurised, so it'll make about as much difference as driving from CT to JHB with the fork inflated. Same goes for tyres, despite what baggage handlers will tell you.

 

Even if it was at max pressure, still no problem. When the fork's compressed the pressure in the air chamber is up to 3x static pressure and it still won't explode.

[Spokey]

The hold in a plane is pressurised, so it'll make about as much difference as driving from CT to JHB with the fork inflated. Same goes for tyres, despite what baggage handlers will tell you.

 

Even if it was at max pressure, still no problem. When the fork's compressed the pressure in the air chamber is up to 3x static pressure and it still won't explode.

[Spokey]

Thanks droo, that figures, was a daft question really!

 

Edited....errrrr, this was supposed to be with the post above.

[Two-Stroke]

Maybe something worth noting, but "pressurised" doesn't mean constant pressure as at take off altitude.  If my flight performance & planning theory memory doesn't fail me, I recall that most airliners will pressurise the cabin to the equivalent of 8000 feet during the climb.  This is why your ears block and some people feel sleepy.

 

I doubt this pressure gradient will affect something like a fork's air chamber.  It has far higher tolerance than a human or animal - and I haven't seen any of these pop during a flight.