Should I ship my bike?

[velorapture]

I'm going to fly from Calif. to Pennsylvania in May and wonder if anyone has experience with shipping a bike Fed EX or UPS.

[Conniebiker]

While you can ship it via UPS or US Postal reliably, I would just as soon box it and take it as luggage. In domestic flights it will cost extra potentially, but still on par or cheaper than shipping.
For refference, I had US Postal quote me for a 30 lb bike at $85. UPS and Fed are more typically speaking.
To pack it, most bike shops have packing materials and will pack for around $10 sealed. It takes me about 2 hrs normally to do it myself, so that is money well spent for people who do it all the time.

[gpelpel]

I'm going to fly from Calif. to Pennsylvania in May and wonder if anyone has experience with shipping a bike Fed EX or UPS.

Fedex Ground has the cheapest rates for a package such as a bike, usually around $50 for a cross-country trip. The smaller the box the better as the rate will be more dependent on the box size than on the weight. Shipping is 2 boxes is cheaper, one box for the frame and one box for the wheels. It takes about a week.

[bentmiles]

I’d say box it and take it with you, especially if you want it when you get there.



Archie L. Tucker

Publisher www.bentmiles.com

[Hooben]

Yes, ship it UPS and they will play volleyball with your box. I got to recieve my bike in a box that looked like they had run it over with a truck and then bent it in half. Those first few seconds looking in the box were pretty tense, then the guy tells me, "whats in the box" when it was clearly marked bicycle. He dragged the chewed up box to my doorstep and I told him to wait, since it was insured. I bubble wrapped the frame, that's what probably saved me. Don't trust them with you ride.

[biker7]

Bikes are shipped via carrier services all the time. Most, but not all probability of zero damage pertains to how effectively the bike is packaged. I bought my new Bianchi from a shop in Ohio and had a long conversation with the tech who packaged it to ensure it was done properly. Its all in the details of how it is packaged...the best way being a thick/separate cardboard divider inside the bike box with the frame being tie-wrapped to it to ensure complete isolation from the perimeter of the box. That means the frame tubing must be carefully wrapped prior to tie-wrapping. My bike arrived in perfect condition. That said...your best recourse is to rent a bike transport container. Call your LBS and see if they will rent you one. If you plan to fly alot with your bike, consider purchasing a bike container as they are more robust then checking a cardboard container on an airplane....russian roulette as to how the bike is going to look when you remove it from the box. To package a bicycle properly...again to preclude shipment damage...it takes a considerable effort.
HTH,
George

[boudreaux]

While you can ship it via UPS or US Postal reliably, I would just as soon box it and take it as luggage. In domestic flights it will cost extra potentially, but still on par or cheaper than shipping.
For refference, I had US Postal quote me for a 30 lb bike at $85. UPS and Fed are more typically speaking.
To pack it, most bike shops have packing materials and will pack for around $10 sealed. What a load of nonsense. Domestic air for a bike as baggage is typically about $100,unless you have some kind of discount deal.And air handlers are no less abusive than ups of Fed-EX gorillas. UPS and fed-ex are around $50 or less unless oversize. USPS is more than either. You are delusional if you think a LBS will do it for $10.

[boudreaux]

I'm going to fly from Calif. to Pennsylvania in May and wonder if anyone has experience with shipping a bike Fed EX or UPS.I use UPS and Fed-Ex for alot of shipping.No issues with stuff I have shipped. Other people aren't so good at packing,which is the key. Make sure to insure it. Check on package size for oversize,which is alot more expensive,as is air shipping.

[biker7]

Bore-troll...you are my pet. Now fetch me my morning paper and be careful not to slob on it. After that, check my tire pressure and then be gone with you back to the lighthouse.
A perfect day for a ride.
:D
George

[lohsnest]

I'm going to fly from Calif. to Pennsylvania in May and wonder if anyone has experience with shipping a bike Fed EX or UPS.
I shipped via UPS and they initially lost track of my package. After actually finding the package, they shipped it to me, where I discovered the boxing was completely thrashed. Thankfully, the bike inside was still intact.

If you plan on taking your bike cross country frequently, you may want to simply invest in a hard travel case for the bike. You can find a Trico case for about $250, and I'm sure it will last a lifetime if you take care of it..... better than forking out $80 or $100 each time you ship it via a carrier.....UPS, FEDEX, etc.

[daveornee]

I'm going to fly from Calif. to Pennsylvania in May and wonder if anyone has experience with shipping a bike Fed EX or UPS.
You might also want to check AMTRAK.
They have huge bike specific boxes that require much less disassembly and reassembly. Make sure to insure it and allow time at the departure ends as the station staff availability varies.
My experience with AMTRAK has been very good and reasonbly priced if you can easily access the departure and arrival locations. Disassembly requires removing one pedal, lowering the seat, and turning the stem and handlebars.

[Conniebiker]

What a load of nonsense. Domestic air for a bike as baggage is typically about $100,unless you have some kind of discount deal.And air handlers are no less abusive than ups of Fed-EX gorillas. UPS and fed-ex are around $50 or less unless oversize. USPS is more than either. You are delusional if you think a LBS will do it for $10.
Don't talk what you don't know. I grew up doing cross country and international flights. My LBS and SEVERAL local shops will pack for 10 and provide a box. The airport handlers are rough, yes. Worse? Not in my view. If it is going to be handled by anyone I would much rather have a close tab on it, as it would be if it was luggage.
The rental case is a very good option. I have my own hardcase which was not cheap, but it is a lot of peace of mind. Cardboard is remarkably durable unless it is rained on(which may or may not be an issue). One remedy to that is a roll of shipping plastic-wrap.

[Eden]

I would say rent a good hard case and take it with you on the plane as well. My husband and I took our touring bikes to Spain with us and did not have any problems. None of the airlines charged us extra even though all of the web sites said it would be about $70 extra for a bike.
It wasn't totally cheap to rent the cases, but we would have had to use them about 5 times to justify buying them, and then we'd have to store them too, so renting was a good way to go. The cases did get some pretty good dings and scrapes so I was glad that the bikes weren't just in cardboard boxes.

[biker7]

I have flown quite a bit as well on business as well as pleasure. Anybody knows that has that airline handlers are some of the worst although in the sea of mediocrity...likely on a par with UPS ;) I fly with high dollar golf clubs each year. Anybody who has knows that a hard case is the "only" option if you want your clubs to arrive intact. My large hardcase has taken an incredible beating...losing wheels from being dropped large distances and having its aluminum frame bent. Airline handlers drop and throw packages all the time. The only way I would put a $1K or higher price bike on an airplane is in a hard case period.
You may get lucky and be fine but I wouldn't take the chance on a favored bike.
Good Luck,
George