On my way home from PressCamp last week, I mistakenly offered to gate check my roll-on suitcase to ease overcrowding of the overhead storage bins. I was already on the plane, so I figured I was safe…silly me. Nevermind the hellish delays and flight swaps in Atlanta (suffice to say I had to literally bum rush the overcrowded secondary flight just to get home…at 3am!), the real trouble is in the woefully inadequate reimbursement limit set by Delta (and others). Here’s what was in my suitcase, none of which I’m ever likely to see again:
- 4 pair of cycling shorts: (2 Gore Bike Wear, 1 Specialized, 1 Sugoi – each valued $90 to $130)
- 3 cycling jerseys (2 Gore Bike Wear, 1 Sugoi – each valued $90 to $110)
- Club Ride knickers ($110) and jersey shirt ($75)
- The Stick massage roller ($45)
- 9 pair cycling socks (3 Swiftwick , 3 Defeet, 3 other – valued $10 – $15 each)
- 2 pair compression socks (1 DeFeet, 1 Hincapie – each valued at $50 – $60)
- Zoic riding shorts with padded liner ($80)
- Panaracer road bike tires ($90)
- Camelbak Octane LR hydration pack ($120)
- 3 pair Under Armor underwear ($20 each)
- Camelbak podium bottle ($9)
- Shimano XTR mountain bike pedals ($190 – prototypes, irreplaceable!)
- 6 random T-shirts ($??)
- 3 technical baselayers (1 Underarmor, 1 Defeet Wool, 1 Craft Apparel – each valued $50 to $90)
- Eddie Bauer V-Neck sweater ($60)
- Outlier Supermarine Cotton cycling cap ($75)
- Roller Suitcase (80)
- 2 pair Tifosi Sunglasses (each $40 to $50)
- Miscellaneous: Parlee beanie cap, hydration tablets, black leather belt with my Breck Epic finishers buckle (irreplaceable!), Clif bars.
ESTIMATED TOTAL RETAIL VALUE OF LOST LUGGAGE: $2,134
My advice: Don’t ever check your cycling gear, it’s just too expensive.
