Check out this bad boy:
I rolled up to the Austin airport with a fully-assembled bike. It’s my mom’s Gary Fisher Nirvana circa at least 7 years ago and while she put up quite the fight saying she MIGHT ride it SOMEDAY, I eventually convinced her to relent with tales of how CONVENIENT it would make my life in Aspen. Anyway, the Frontier check-in lady shook her head ‘no’ at me from a mile away. I walked up and patiently explained to her that it is allowable per their rules … “Bicycles must have the handlebars fixed sideways and the pedals removed and encased in a protective, durable case or box. Pedals do not need to be removed if wrapped in plastic foam or similar material.” Indeed, you yourself can see that my handlebars are fixed sideways and my pedals are wrapped in “similar material,” that is, towels and masking tape.
After no less than four consultations with other clerks and two manager calls, the check-in lady finally relented. I was indeed following all the rules. I took off the front wheel just for good measure, because it made her feel better, but it was totally unnecessary. $50 and my bike was getting to Aspen!
The man at “oversized luggage” laughed so hard his supervisor came over when I dropped off my bike. But through his laughter, he added extra tape where the wheel once was, so that worked out well for me. The bike arrived securely, in one piece, no worse for the wear. Even the water bottle remained in its holster (where it has probably sat for the last seven years … did I mention whose bike this is?)
That Ripped Guy of Mine(TM) and I went for a lovely 45-minute bike ride today! YAY BIKE!