Hand luggage

phippss

Is it OK to carry cycling shoes and pedals in hand luggage. Pedals are time xpresso shoes have carbon sole. Thanks for thoughts

fenix

I can't see any issue with that. Pedal spanner would be a no no I think.

Bobbinogs

Shoes will be fine, IME, which is ironic given the shoe bomber episode was when a lot of the new checks came in. The problem with security, though, is that the strict rules rely on a lot of discretion and interpretation. If the security chap/chappette doesn't know one carbon pedal from another then it may be deemed reasonable to err on the side of caution and refuse to permit them...very unlikely but turning up for a ride with no pedals could seriously affect one's performance.

Is there no way of sticking it in the hold luggage just to make sure? Failing that, most airports have a contact page so you should be able to check on the current operating practices.

mercia_man

I once had SPD cycling shoes with cleats refused when flying back from Nice a few years ago. I was wearing them as I walked through the X ray machine which was set off. They wouldn't let me put them in my hand baggage. I had to put them in a plastic carrier bag and jump the queue for checked in luggage with them. After then dashing onto the plane in my socks I was relieved and surprised to see them emerge on the conveyor belt in Liverpool on return. There had been no problems with them flying out. I guess it all depends on the operative.

ManOfKent

I've taken shoes, pedals and helmet in hand luggage six times. The only difficulty I've had was on my most recent trip back from Italy when I had to turn out my bag after something showed up as suspicious in the scanner. I immediately suggested to the security officer that it was the pedals but she took quite a while to decide that this was indeed the case and let me continue.

term1te

I took a new bike chain on a BA flight where I only had hand lugage. I wasn't sure, so asked at the information desk at Heathrow. The lady also wasn't sure either, so took me to her colleague at the x-ray machine, who x-rayed it, agreed it was a chain and let me thorough. Best bit was that I'd jumped a very long queue at security.

whoof

I will be taking my shoes and pedals to Majorca in my hand luggage for the nth time next month. The only trouble I've had is once with SPD pedals in my hold luggage. On the x-ray the security guy thought they might be hand grenades and I was call to security to unpack my suitcase.

jasonbrim

I have only had trouble with taking my Garmin Vector pedals with me. If they are packed in my hand luggage, they can't tell what they are when scanning the bag, so they usually want to check them. So I take them out of my bag (still in their box though) and put them separately on the scanner (like with a laptop).

Like Fenix said, pedal spanners are usually a no no. I have take one with me several times, but have been refused to take it once. Allen keys are usually OK though, so if you have non-Garmin-Vector pedals, you could take a long-handled allen key with you in your hand luggage.