|   Shipping bikes | Tennessee Jed
Feb 26, 2003 6:20 AM | | Folks,
I know this is a re-tread topic but I have to ask.
I am considering a mtn. bike trip to Utah/Colorado this spring, and I have to get my bike out there. I am leaning toward shipping (aka UPS) rather than checking it on the airline because of the high price the airline charges (supposedly $80 each way, but I haven't called to confirm this).
So, I want to ship my beautiful bike to an area where I don't know anybody. I have heard that in this situation one can ship to local bike shops for a small fee. This makes me nervous. I love my bike, and I wonder if it's wise to ship it off to an unknown person at an unknown bike shop. What if it is damaged or stolen? Do bike shops have insurance against such things? I know if it gets lost or stolen during transport, UPS would cover it, but what about after it arrives at the chosen bike shop?
Does anyone have any experience or insight on this topic?
Jed |
| Just put stamps all over the frame and | JimC.
Feb 26, 2003 6:28 AM | | j/k
go to Fedex.com, they have a shipping/rates calculator on line. Do that math.
Or, check with local shops to rent a Trico Hardcase for a week, it's gorillaproof, and take it with you. I know of several MTBR'ers that have gotten to their destination and UPS has shipped to *somewhere else*, thereby leaving them bikeless.
Lastly, get carboard bikebox from LBS and dismantle your bike. Wrap frame and parts in cardboard and tape them shut, stick whole ile in Bike box and either ship it or drag it on a plane. Make sure you put a bolt thru your fork tabs so the ariline gorillas can't crush the stanchions (sp?)
Really lastly, rent a bike at destination.
REally really lastly, Trico cases from colorado cyclist or performance bike are around $250, I'll let you do the shopping/pricing.
Have a good trip you lucky &^#@$@(%)!!
Jim |
| re: Shipping bikes | uzzi'srus
Feb 26, 2003 9:22 AM | | I shipped mine from NC to AZ last month using Fedex Ground. I double boxed it with boxes from my LBS. Fedex ground was about $15 cheaper than UPS each way. Shipping and 5K insurance was around $55.
Had no problems with Fedex except that the bike arrived a day later than their schedule said so ship early if you use them.
I shipped my bike to the hotel I was staying at. I called and talked to the hotel manager before hand to explain what I was doing and he said no problem they would hold it at the front desk for me. If you ship it to the hotel ask if they charge for receiving packages. The Hilton wanted $15 just for signing for my box. Like most things in life that fee was negotialble and went away.
If you use the cardboard box method put dropout savers in the fork and rear just in case someone steps on the box. Also require an adult signature just in case it comes up missing from the front desk.
Take plenty of tape with you so you can repack the box for the trip home. Using two boxes even if the outside box gets torn up the inside box will still protect your bike. |
| re: Shipping bikes | GregR
Feb 26, 2003 10:20 AM | | I am shipping my bike out to Tucson next week. Taking a bike with you on the airplane is a hassle, and it costs a lot of money ($80 each way). Shipping a bike can get expensive also, so this is what I am doing:
First, I shipping everything but the wheels. For the wheels I got a PC monitor box and cut it down to 26x26x10. The wheels fit nicely (with a little air let out of the tires, and is under the size limit imposed by the airlines (62" L+W+H). I will take my camebak as carryon, my one bag for my clothes and the wheel box as my 2nd allotted peice of luggage.
For the rest of the frame/fork/parts, I took a LBS bike box and cut it down to a size of 40"L x 26"H x 8"W. This get the size down to 108" girth+legnth, which is cheaper to ship by UPS ($23 compared to $45) There is enough room in the box for the frame with the seat/pedals/handlebars removed. I put some styrofoam under the BBshell to keep it off the bottom of the box, and put droput spacers in the fork and in the rear. I took some rags and padded a few other places also.
If you find someplace that will accept your bike, it might be better if they charge you a small fee (that way they are reponsible if it get lost or stolen). If they do it for free, there is no contract and if something happens you might be SOL.
You can also have your bike held at the local UPS customer counter for you to pick up when you arrive, but depending on where you are going and when you are arriving this may not be feasable.
G |
| cheaper to ship two separate boxes? | norcalrider
Feb 26, 2003 10:04 PM | | So, would it also be cheaper to ship two separate boxes?
One with frame, one with wheels?
I need to ship out two bikes soon...so would i be better off
with 3 boxes? One with 4 wheels, and two for the frames?
Thanks! |
| Imba travel agency | Oceansize
Feb 26, 2003 11:56 AM | | Dont know how it is but on the back of my imba membership card it says if you use the travel agency listed for airline tickets, your bike goes free |
| OK. What's the name and number of the travel agency? (nm) | Tennessee Jed
Feb 26, 2003 12:32 PM | | nm |
| www.Imba.com | JimC.
Feb 26, 2003 1:36 PM | | http://www.imba.com/membership/bikes_fly_free.html |
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