Experience with shipping a bike?

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Permalink Reply by Anne on February 23, 2010 at 10:54am

Are you sure about that Fedex rate? That seems to good to be true!
Do take pictures of your bike before, as packed, and in the box; also photo the exterior of the box.

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Permalink Reply by Matt AKA Jimbo/BMXican on February 23, 2010 at 11:08am

First pretty much any shop will give you a box call first because during this time of the year not a whole lot of bikes get built. just remember to ask for the packaging that came with the bike and the same size and type of bike box that matches your bike. Take off the stem with the bars still on,front wheel and the QR, pedals and seat post. Flip the fork around so the front of the fork faces the rear tire. put the front wheel between the non drive side crank arm and the frame. Zip tie the handle bars to the top tube. Put the seat post on top of the rear wheel while in the box. Remember to put the plastic tube looking thing between the fork drop outs. A good thing to do to is ask a shop to look at a bike before they put it together, maybe take a picture so you have something more solid to go by as far as packaging the bike goes. Call Kozy's at 773-282-0202. I'm pretty sure they give away boxes and they move a bunch of bikes so they might have one laying around. I could be wrong though but it worth a shot.

Hope that helps
Matt

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on February 23, 2010 at 11:23am

Today's quote: $72.10. Door-to-door ground (4 business days), 40 lbs, including $2k insurance.
Thanks for reminding me to take pictures.

Anne said:

Are you sure about that Fedex rate? That seems to good to be true!
Do take pictures of your bike before, as packed, and in the box; also photo the exterior of the box.

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Permalink Reply by dan brown on February 23, 2010 at 12:39pm

Duppie - this may seem obvious, but once the bike is in the box; be sure to surrount it with some kind of
(preferably) eco-friendly packing materials. you do not want any heavy box or item to cause any damage
to the box or bike during the shipping process. Remember - it will be handled by several people and probably will come into contact with heavier and harder boxes, etc.

Maybe you could look into borrowing (or renting) a hard-shell bike box. they are a better option
than cardboard if you can get one (I seem to remember Chicago Tri Club has folks that loan them
out. If you end up going with the LBS box; consider investing in a roll of duct tape to make it stronger, etc.
to be able to survive possible rough handling.

Dan

Duppie said:

Today's quote: $72.10. Door-to-door ground (4 business days), 40 lbs, including $2k insurance.
Thanks for reminding me to take pictures.

Anne said:

Are you sure about that Fedex rate? That seems to good to be true!
Do take pictures of your bike before, as packed, and in the box; also photo the exterior of the box.

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Permalink Reply by Nate W on February 23, 2010 at 4:21pm

Open a free account on fedex -- I think if you print the label yourself and drop the box off at a ship center it's a little cheaper than buying the label in a physical store.

Also, remember that most important thing for shipping costs is the size of the box, not weight. I'm pretty sure to avoid oversize penalty for Fedex the box's length plus "girth" has to be less than 130 inches. ("Girth" = the two smallest dimensions added together, doubled).

So for example a 58" x 27" x 11" box weighing 50 pounds has a total dimension
of 134" and would cost around around $115 from Chicago to the west coast.

But if the box was just slightly smaller at 56" x 26" x 11" (still weighing 50 pounds) the total dimension would be 130" and shipping fedex ground would be around $60.

So actually when you ask for a bike box from a bike shop it's often best to get one that was intended for a larger (say, 58cm-60cm bike) because they usually are designed to be just as big as possible but still under the limit (measure to be sure!). I've never packed a bike and wished I had *less* space!

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Permalink Reply by RoadBikeRider on February 23, 2010 at 4:42pm

I've shipped to several places over the last few years:
1) Beg borrow or rent a hard case. Things get thrown around.
2) Too much negative posting about UPS. Don't use 'em if you value your bike.
3) Ship early. The $75 rate is probably the 7-10 day rate.
4) Consider a service such as Sports Express which will pick up where you want them to on both ends of the journey. Don't underestimate how much of a pain it can be to drag your box halfway across town.
5) You'll want someone on the other end who will be there to receive and sign for the box. Could be a bike shop if friends can't do it. If you don't have them reassemble, expect to slip them a few bucks for the favor. It's only fair.

Good luck --- and where in SeaTac?

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Permalink Reply by RoadBikeRider on February 23, 2010 at 4:45pm

OH yeah, check on the max dimensions carefully. Many bike boxes are conveniently just an inch or two over the limit and then go at a much higher rate - as in several 100 bucks.

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Permalink Reply by Dirke on February 23, 2010 at 5:58pm

I've shipped mountain bikes out to Portland for the last several years of vacation trips.

I think everyones' comments above are accurate in using FED-EX Ground to ship, and using a bike box from bike shop (free, but do watch LxWxH).

I would add:

1. if possible, get two boxes. Double-Ply the largest rectangles of the box. I usually set one piece of cardboard on the ground and place my frame on that piece, zip-tie the hell out of it, and then pick up the frame/cardboard and slide it into your box, thusly suspending the bike within the box, sort of like expensive toy packaging, if you've had to buy any expensive toys lately.

2. While at bike shop getting bikebox, ask for all the junk that came with it. This will include foam for tubes, plastic spacers for frame and fork drop-outs, and little plastic "X"s, that you place on the opposite side of the cardboard piece to which you have zip-tied your bike (they prevent the cardboard from ripping), and plastic end caps for wheels (prevents axle or QR from penetrating box).

3. Remove: handlebars, pedals, rear derailleur, possibly seat tube (box dependent). Pack: deflate tires a little and place over frame so that rubber of tires is landing on frame/bike, NOT the rim. Include a little bag of whatever tools you will need to re-assemble bike, usually just a 5 mm hex wrench.

4. You can pay for any FedEx/Kinko's to receive and hold a package for you, usually $5, but you must call ahead to arrange. Bike shops may do this for you as well, assuming you will spend some money at the shop when you pick up the bike. Your hotel may also be willing to accept the bike, assuming of course a hotel stay.

5. I would try to drop off the bike at a FED-EX facility, like the one on Goose Island, instead of a FedEx/Kinkos, and I would try to get stickers for both legs of the journey. Each time I've shipped from the Goose Island FedEx and then re-shipped out of a downtown FedEx/Kinko's in Portland, the Goose Island price was half that of the Portland FedEx/Kinko's price. I've never gotten an answer as to why.

6. Consider renting out there. I've done this the last two years as shipping prices have skyrocketed in accordance with Gas prices. Yes, it's nice to have your own bike, especially on longer rides, but you can generally rent a very nice bike for less than $50 a day, getting cheaper for a weekly rental, and take your own saddle. Your point-to-point situation may not allow this but if so, I would seriously consider it. Maybe you could even rent something from Portland and have it shipped to Seatle, ride it down to Portland and return. There are plenty of bike shops with rental fleets in Portland, all with email and phones. Drink copious amounts of Stumptown coffee and then come back in awe with just how awful Starbucks is and how sad that they are so pervasive in Chicago.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on February 24, 2010 at 10:03am

Awesome information all! Thanks for the tips about the box and leftover packing materials and what parts to remove before packing. I may look into renting/buying a hard case bike luggage case.

Frank

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on February 24, 2010 at 10:05am

RoadBikeRider said:

Good luck --- and where in SeaTac?

I'll be staying with a friend in Bothell, north of Seattle. We will be riding Seattle to Portland, a 2-day 200 mile organized ride. Should be fun.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on February 24, 2010 at 10:09am

Dirke said:

Drink copious amounts of Stumptown coffee and then come back in awe with just how awful Starbucks is and how sad that they are so pervasive in Chicago.

I hadn't heard of Stumptown, thanks for the tip. It will go well with a donut from Voodoo Donuts

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Permalink Reply by Steven on February 24, 2010 at 1:44pm

Yes. Absolutely make sure to make a stop at Voodoo! Pack a few extra maple/bacon ones if you can. Soooo good.



Duppie said:

Dirke said:

Drink copious amounts of Stumptown coffee and then come back in awe with just how awful Starbucks is and how sad that they are so pervasive in Chicago.

I hadn't heard of Stumptown, thanks for the tip. It will go well with a donut from Voodoo Donuts

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