Shipping/Travel Containers?



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Jude T. McGloin

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I have carried, shipped, sent a bike all over the world, Usually a mid priced DF that could easily
be stashed on a military cargo flight or packed up a fed-exed. I would like some feedback from those
that have used commercially available bike specific shipping containers. I want "easy". I can pack
and ship my AERO in a regular bike box, but I would rather not have a full assembelly project at my
destination. Any ideas of what would work for a Bacchetta AERO?? or a STRADA Tour?

Jude....///Bacchetta AERO St. Michaels and Tilghman Island.. Maryland Wheel Doctor Cycle and Sports,
Inc 1-800-586-6645
 
In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
[q1]> I have carried, shipped, sent a bike all over the world, Usually a mid priced DF that could[/q1]
[q1]> easily be stashed on a military cargo flight or packed up a fed-exed. I would like some[/q1]
[q1]> feedback from those that have used commercially available bike specific shipping containers. I[/q1]
[q1]> want "easy". I can pack and ship my AERO in a regular bike box, but I would rather not have a[/q1]
[q1]> full assembelly project at my destination. Any ideas of what would work for a Bacchetta AERO??[/q1]
[q1]> or a STRADA Tour?[/q1]

I don't think it can get any easier than having to remove the pedals, seat, handlebar and riser
and one or more wheels. The secret to success on assembly is to not loosen any cables that will
need to be readjusted on the assembly end. The bike should be disassembled with a common 'on the
bike' tool kit. Other wise, fancy tools such as a pedal wrench and other tools will have to be
shipped with the bike. Small parts such as pedals can and will get lost during inspection which
may not happen in your view or control. Pack everything securely and have no loose parts bouncing
around inside the case.

My Experiences:

Stratus - BikePro Tandem case. Required the removal of the front wheel, the 'T' Bar and riser
(Getting a Flip-it made it a trivial task.) and RANS Seat. All fit into the BikePro Tandem case.
Disassembly= 1 hr. Assembly= 45 min.

Stratus - UPS Shipping (130" size Limit) Required the removal of the both wheels, the 'T' Bar and
riser and RANS Seat. The frame and 'T'-Bar and riser fit into one box, Seat and wheels into a
second. Note: If flown as luggage, two oversize baggage charges are incurred each way. UPS is far
cheaper. Assembly and disassembly times are about 2 hours.

Lightning Voyager - Fits into its own suitcase. Flys free. Disassembly= 1 hr. Assembly= 45 min.

My recommendation for the Strada: Look into the BikePro travel cases for overall length. Possibly
consider the BMX race case. If a Strada will fit inside with the wheels removed, 'Armor' (not just
pad) the Chainrings since it will likely get damaged otherwise. The fork mount will need to be moved
inside instead of at the front end. (this may not be trivial). The seat, H/B and stem riser and
wheels will fit inside. You will of course need to remove the pedals, stem riser and seat. Use cable
ties to strap the H/B-riser along side the frame. Pad everything with pipe foam insulation.

http://www.bikeprousa.com/

--

Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager http://www.clee.org
- Bellaire, TX USA -
 
Jude

Spent 2 hours packing up my Aerocycle last night to ship it down to Florida hope you find a
better solution.

I use the crateworks recumbent box recomended by Rich Pinto but you have to really take the bike
apart to fit it in the box.

I don't know if it is easier on the Aero to take the seat off but on my bike the M5 seat is a pain
to take on and off. A friend of mine who has the Aero told me he can pack it in an hour. I have to
take the front brake off to be able to remove the handle bars for packing.

Larry

"Cletus D. Lee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
[q1]> In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...[/q1]
[q2]> > I have carried, shipped, sent a bike all over the world, Usually a[/q2]
mid
[q2]> > priced DF that could easily be stashed on a military cargo flight or[/q2]
packed
[q2]> > up a fed-exed. I would like some feedback from those that have used commercially available bike[/q2]
[q2]> > specific shipping containers. I want "easy". I can pack[/q2]
and
[q2]> > ship my AERO in a regular bike box, but I would rather not have a full assembelly project at my[/q2]
[q2]> > destination. Any ideas of what would work for a Bacchetta AERO?? or a STRADA Tour?[/q2]
[q1]>[/q1]
[q1]> I don't think it can get any easier than having to remove the pedals,[/q1]
seat,
[q1]> handlebar and riser and one or more wheels. The secret to success on[/q1]
assembly
[q1]> is to not loosen any cables that will need to be readjusted on the[/q1]
assembly
[q1]> end. The bike should be disassembled with a common 'on the bike' tool[/q1]
kit.
[q1]> Other wise, fancy tools such as a pedal wrench and other tools will have[/q1]
to be
[q1]> shipped with the bike. Small parts such as pedals can and will get lost[/q1]
during
[q1]> inspection which may not happen in your view or control. Pack everything securely and have no[/q1]
[q1]> loose parts bouncing around inside the case.[/q1]
[q1]>[/q1]
[q1]> My Experiences:[/q1]
[q1]>[/q1]
[q1]> Stratus - BikePro Tandem case. Required the removal of the front wheel,[/q1]
the
[q1]> 'T' Bar and riser (Getting a Flip-it made it a trivial task.) and RANS[/q1]
Seat.
[q1]> All fit into the BikePro Tandem case. Disassembly= 1 hr. Assembly= 45 min.[/q1]
[q1]>[/q1]
[q1]> Stratus - UPS Shipping (130" size Limit) Required the removal of the both wheels, the 'T' Bar and[/q1]
[q1]> riser and RANS Seat. The frame and 'T'-Bar and[/q1]
riser
[q1]> fit into one box, Seat and wheels into a second. Note: If flown as[/q1]
luggage,
[q1]> two oversize baggage charges are incurred each way. UPS is far cheaper. Assembly and disassembly[/q1]
[q1]> times are about 2 hours.[/q1]
[q1]>[/q1]
[q1]> Lightning Voyager - Fits into its own suitcase. Flys free. Disassembly= 1[/q1]
hr.
[q1]> Assembly= 45 min.[/q1]
[q1]>[/q1]
[q1]> My recommendation for the Strada: Look into the BikePro travel cases for overall length. Possibly[/q1]
[q1]> consider the BMX race case. If a Strada will fit inside with the wheels removed, 'Armor' (not just[/q1]
[q1]> pad) the Chainrings[/q1]
since it
[q1]> will likely get damaged otherwise. The fork mount will need to be moved[/q1]
inside
[q1]> instead of at the front end. (this may not be trivial). The seat, H/B and[/q1]
stem
[q1]> riser and wheels will fit inside. You will of course need to remove the pedals, stem riser and[/q1]
[q1]> seat. Use cable ties to strap the H/B-riser along[/q1]
side
[q1]> the frame. Pad everything with pipe foam insulation.[/q1]
[q1]>[/q1]
[q1]> http://www.bikeprousa.com/[/q1]
[q1]>[/q1]
[q1]>[/q1]
[q1]> --[/q1]
[q1]>[/q1]
[q1]> Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager http://www.clee.org[/q1]
[q1]> - Bellaire, TX USA -[/q1]
 
Larry, I'm an expert packer...I was hoping not to have to take my bents down to far. I never throw
away the originial bent boxes so I have an ample supply of RANS and Bacchetta boxes. Should I fly
down to FL I will probably break it down and send it UPS insured to Bacchetta and build back up. I
do enough of this in my shop! I hate to have to do it on vacation. If I drive its another story.
Plenty of room to sleep next to my AERO with just the wheels removed.

Jude....///Bacchetta AERO St. Michaels and Tilghman Island.. Maryland Wheel Doctor Cycle and Sports,
Inc 1-800-586-6645 "Larry Shwartz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Jude
>
> Spent 2 hours packing up my Aerocycle last night to ship it down to
Florida
> hope you find a better solution.
>
> I use the crateworks recumbent box recomended by Rich Pinto but you have
to
> really take the bike apart to fit it in the box.
>
> I don't know if it is easier on the Aero to take the seat off but on my
bike
> the M5 seat is a pain to take on and off. A friend of mine who has the
Aero
> told me he can pack it in an hour. I have to take the front brake off to
be
> able to remove the handle bars for packing.
>
> Larry
>
>
> "Cletus D. Lee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] says...
> > > I have carried, shipped, sent a bike all over the world, Usually a
> mid
> > > priced DF that could easily be stashed on a military cargo flight or
> packed
> > > up a fed-exed. I would like some feedback from those that have used commercially available
> > > bike specific shipping containers. I want "easy". I can pack
> and
> > > ship my AERO in a regular bike box, but I would rather not have a full assembelly project at
> > > my destination. Any ideas of what would work for
a
> > > Bacchetta AERO?? or a STRADA Tour?
> >
> > I don't think it can get any easier than having to remove the pedals,
> seat,
> > handlebar and riser and one or more wheels. The secret to success on
> assembly
> > is to not loosen any cables that will need to be readjusted on the
> assembly
> > end. The bike should be disassembled with a common 'on the bike' tool
> kit.
> > Other wise, fancy tools such as a pedal wrench and other tools will have
> to be
> > shipped with the bike. Small parts such as pedals can and will get lost
> during
> > inspection which may not happen in your view or control. Pack
everything
> > securely and have no loose parts bouncing around inside the case.
> >
> > My Experiences:
> >
> > Stratus - BikePro Tandem case. Required the removal of the front wheel,
> the
> > 'T' Bar and riser (Getting a Flip-it made it a trivial task.) and RANS
> Seat.
> > All fit into the BikePro Tandem case. Disassembly= 1 hr. Assembly= 45
min.
> >
> > Stratus - UPS Shipping (130" size Limit) Required the removal of the
both
> > wheels, the 'T' Bar and riser and RANS Seat. The frame and 'T'-Bar and
> riser
> > fit into one box, Seat and wheels into a second. Note: If flown as
> luggage,
> > two oversize baggage charges are incurred each way. UPS is far cheaper. Assembly and disassembly
> > times are about 2 hours.
> >
> > Lightning Voyager - Fits into its own suitcase. Flys free. Disassembly=
1
> hr.
> > Assembly= 45 min.
> >
> > My recommendation for the Strada: Look into the BikePro travel cases for overall length.
> > Possibly consider the BMX race case. If a Strada will
fit
> > inside with the wheels removed, 'Armor' (not just pad) the Chainrings
> since it
> > will likely get damaged otherwise. The fork mount will need to be moved
> inside
> > instead of at the front end. (this may not be trivial). The seat, H/B
and
> stem
> > riser and wheels will fit inside. You will of course need to remove the pedals, stem riser and
> > seat. Use cable ties to strap the H/B-riser along
> side
> > the frame. Pad everything with pipe foam insulation.
> >
> > http://www.bikeprousa.com/
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager http://www.clee.org
> > - Bellaire, TX USA -
 
Jude

My bike was picked up yesterday by FedEx booked thru http://www.sportsexpress.com/Sports

Hopefully when I arrive on Fri my bike will be at the hotel in 1 piece. I flew with it once using
the fly free benefit from League of American Bicyclist, but in December when I was planning this
trip LAB did not have the 2003 program in place.

Economics are $45 service fee with the fly free program vs $100 for round trip on FedEx. I used 3
day service since I am not riding much up hear in the New England with ice on the roads.

Larry

"Jude T. McGloin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Larry, I'm an expert packer...I was hoping not to have to take my bents
down
> to far. I never throw away the originial bent boxes so I have an ample supply of RANS and
> Bacchetta boxes. Should I fly down to FL I will
probably
> break it down and send it UPS insured to Bacchetta and build back up. I do enough of this in my
> shop! I hate to have to do it on vacation. If I drive its another story. Plenty of room to sleep
> next to my AERO with just the wheels removed.
>
> Jude....///Bacchetta AERO St. Michaels and Tilghman Island.. Maryland Wheel Doctor Cycle and
> Sports, Inc 1-800-586-6645 "Larry Shwartz" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Jude
> >
> > Spent 2 hours packing up my Aerocycle last night to ship it down to
> Florida
> > hope you find a better solution.
> >
> > I use the crateworks recumbent box recomended by Rich Pinto but you have
> to
> > really take the bike apart to fit it in the box.
> >
> > I don't know if it is easier on the Aero to take the seat off but on my
> bike
> > the M5 seat is a pain to take on and off. A friend of mine who has the
> Aero
> > told me he can pack it in an hour. I have to take the front brake off to
> be
> > able to remove the handle bars for packing.
> >
> > Larry
> >
> >
> > "Cletus D. Lee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected]
> > > says...
> > > > I have carried, shipped, sent a bike all over the world, Usually
a
> > mid
> > > > priced DF that could easily be stashed on a military cargo flight or
> > packed
> > > > up a fed-exed. I would like some feedback from those that have used
commercially
> > > > available bike specific shipping containers. I want "easy". I can
pack
> > and
> > > > ship my AERO in a regular bike box, but I would rather not have a
full
> > > > assembelly project at my destination. Any ideas of what would work
for
> a
> > > > Bacchetta AERO?? or a STRADA Tour?
> > >
> > > I don't think it can get any easier than having to remove the pedals,
> > seat,
> > > handlebar and riser and one or more wheels. The secret to success on
> > assembly
> > > is to not loosen any cables that will need to be readjusted on the
> > assembly
> > > end. The bike should be disassembled with a common 'on the bike' tool
> > kit.
> > > Other wise, fancy tools such as a pedal wrench and other tools will
have
> > to be
> > > shipped with the bike. Small parts such as pedals can and will get
lost
> > during
> > > inspection which may not happen in your view or control. Pack
> everything
> > > securely and have no loose parts bouncing around inside the case.
> > >
> > > My Experiences:
> > >
> > > Stratus - BikePro Tandem case. Required the removal of the front
wheel,
> > the
> > > 'T' Bar and riser (Getting a Flip-it made it a trivial task.) and RANS
> > Seat.
> > > All fit into the BikePro Tandem case. Disassembly= 1 hr. Assembly= 45
> min.
> > >
> > > Stratus - UPS Shipping (130" size Limit) Required the removal of the
> both
> > > wheels, the 'T' Bar and riser and RANS Seat. The frame and 'T'-Bar
and
> > riser
> > > fit into one box, Seat and wheels into a second. Note: If flown as
> > luggage,
> > > two oversize baggage charges are incurred each way. UPS is far
cheaper.
> > > Assembly and disassembly times are about 2 hours.
> > >
> > > Lightning Voyager - Fits into its own suitcase. Flys free.
Disassembly=
> 1
> > hr.
> > > Assembly= 45 min.
> > >
> > > My recommendation for the Strada: Look into the BikePro travel cases
for
> > > overall length. Possibly consider the BMX race case. If a Strada will
> fit
> > > inside with the wheels removed, 'Armor' (not just pad) the Chainrings
> > since it
> > > will likely get damaged otherwise. The fork mount will need to be
moved
> > inside
> > > instead of at the front end. (this may not be trivial). The seat, H/B
> and
> > stem
> > > riser and wheels will fit inside. You will of course need to remove
the
> > > pedals, stem riser and seat. Use cable ties to strap the H/B-riser
along
> > side
> > > the frame. Pad everything with pipe foam insulation.
> > >
> > > http://www.bikeprousa.com/
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > Cletus D. Lee Bacchetta Giro Lightning Voyager http://www.clee.org
> > > - Bellaire, TX USA -
> >
>
 
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