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First time flying with my Di2 105 road bike.
I'm wondering if it'd be sensible to remove the shifter batteries just in case the levers get squished in transit. It's a soft case with added protection around the bars (Scicon Aero comfort). Got a spare set of batteries just in case, but was interested in what others have done.
Yes...a total pain to arrive somewhere and discover a flat battery due to a shifter getting activated in transit.
Cheers DB, I thought it was an obvious yes, just wanted to double check.
It is only obvious to me as I've falling victim to it with my axs stuff...would be absolutely fine if the bike wasn't moved, bumped or knocked whilst in transit, but you can't guarantee that.
Having experienced it, I removed the batteries now.
Yes to disconnecting your battery, I also remove rear mech, it takes no time and can save any hassle when you arrive.
Check airline regs - they often want batteries in hand luggage, not the hold.
Never has any issues with it, no-one in security has ever said a word about the wiring and batteries within the bike.
Don't disconnect stuff either, it's usually more of a **** connecting it all back up again than it ever would be just leaving well alone.
The only proviso is on SRAM AXS, take the mech batteries out and put the blanking plate in. Di2, obviously everything is internal so it can stay there! I've never seen it being raised as an issue.
It isn't picked up as an issue because the baggage check staff don't start dismantling your bike box and bike to see if batteries are included. You do self-declare that your bags don't include hazardous items, and batteries are on that list.
So yeah, you should take the batteries out and have them in hand luggage, but chances of getting busted are between slim and none.
I've got the older style and I just unplugged things at the external junction box to prevent accidental shifting in transit.
For the newer stuff I would consider taking the batteries out of the shifter and unplugging mechs.
Never had a problem flying nor known anyone and Di2 is 10 years old now. Any internal battery in the frame is fine. Mine would be a right faff to remove in any case. The little coin cell ones in the shifters I'd take new ones in hand luggage or put the old ones back in with something to insulate them from the circuitry.
Lots of batteries go in hold luggage. Shavers, tooth brushes, torches, lots. The Di2 battery is equally small - it’s basically 2 higher voltage AA batteries.
Well, I thought I'd check the official rules on the CAA website, and it actually looks like you'll be OK. The actual rules are complicated. Warning, the table formats are worse than the ads on here!
Well, I thought I'd check the official rules on the CAA website, and it actually looks like you'll be OK. The actual rules are complicated.
Those rules have an answer to the CO2 cartridge question that occasionally gets asked here: you can take 4 x 28g cartridges in hold or carry on luggage.
I'm not sure I'll present that table at check in!
Thanks for your answers. I'm going to remove the cells from the shifters but leave the main battery in the frame, as I'd originally planned.
If it goes wrong I'll see you in Banged Up Abroad or Aircrash Investigations at some time in the future.
Those rules have an answer to the CO2 cartridge question that occasionally gets asked here: you can take 4 x 28g cartridges in hold or carry on luggage.
Ho ho ho...took two check agents and a twenty minute phone call when I checked my bike in, at Vancouver airport (on Swiss Air) a couple of days ago, to finally get the go-ahead to allow me to carry a single small CO2 cartridge on my recent flight.
And the security agent at the oversize baggage drop told me Vancouver airport have a specific "no CO2" policy unless they get a verbal confirmation from check in agent that the specific airline is ok with CO2.
With all that palaver, I was not a popular person at check in that day...
You could re-program the shifter buttons via the e-tube app to not do anything (possibly no less faff than removing the batteries though).
I took spare shifter batteries with me last year when I flew to the Alps for the Marmotte, they are an odd size and I got them in Halfords.
Didn't need them.
However, I had an almighty faff when I arrived in France. I needed to remove my seat post, and therefore main Di2 battery, in order to get the bike in the bag.
When I put it all back together again the front mech had disappeared from the system, it wasn't showing up on the app.
The wire at the mech end had unplugged itself in transit. It also wouldn't work again until the cable was plugged into the centre port of the battery which normally contained the little plug to hold the wires in place.
Ho ho ho...took two check agents and a twenty minute phone call when I checked my bike in, at Vancouver airport (on Swiss Air) a couple of days ago, to finally get the go-ahead to allow me to carry a single small CO2 cartridge on my recent flight.
Many years ago, my bike bag got pulled up for checking, they rummaged through it (with me asking "what's up, I can help you find whatever it is you're looking for?" only to be met with total refusal) and after a while they unearthed a CO2 canister.
"What's this?"
Oh right, now you want my help... 🙄
Anyway, they called the supervisor who came over, rolled his eyes and said that if it did go bang, it'd put out any small fires. 🤣
To counter that, at Geneva Airport (also years ago), a mate had his CO2 confiscated.
After that I stopped carrying CO2, it's invariably too much hassle and whatever the official policy of the airline in question, you can pretty much assume that security won't know or care, they'll just see a small dot on an X-ray screen that the machine has flagged as suspicious.
Di2 though, I've never even seen it being flagged or mentioned and I've flown with it myself and on group bookings where there's invariably someone with Di2. Never been a problem.
All went stress free. First time I've travelled with a bike in years and was surprisingly easy; think I have a tendency to worry over nothing!
Slight panic after plugging in the rear mech and bolting it on the hanger. Re installed the shifter batteries and I had all of 3 gears working. Connected to E-Tube and all looked ok. Unplugged the mech wire and shoved it back in again and voilà all 12 working fine.
Now just need to ride it after losing today seeing off a miserable summer cold the Mrs kindly passed on to me last week. Should be all systems go for a tour of the villages of the Luberon tomorrow.