[ORRando] Shipping bikes

[cecilanne at comcast.net]

Beth's e-mail reminded me - I shipped bikes via Greyhound all the time back in the 80s, with no problems  . . . but that was 20-plus years ago  - I can't speak for the present state of affairs

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: b hamon <periwinklekog at yahoo.com>
> Here's some additional info about shipping bikes, from one who gets asked to do 
> it a LOT at work:
> 
> 1. UPS has gotten more expensive, and more picky. Bikes packed in carbard boxes 
> settle during transport, and the box's measurements change as a result. UPS now 
> re-measures large boxes at their regional depots, and if the new measurements 
> don't match what was figured at the point of origin, UPS now slaps a "Fuel 
> Surcharge" onto the cost of the shipment. For a bike, that surcharge ranges 
> anywhere from 60 to 125 bucks. If you're already paying 75 to ship a bike 
> cross-country this can be quite a jolt, since there's no way of predicting that 
> surcharge in advance.
>  
> 2. Lately our shop has had better success shipping bikes via Amtrak. For a flat 
> rate of 60 bucks or thereabouts, Amtrak will transport your bike to one of 135 
> freight depots in the US. Downside: your destination may not be a designated 
> freight depot, in which case, you'd have to ship it to the closest one and 
> schlep by car to go and get it. Still, it's a pretty good option and just about 
> every large US city's Amtrak station is also a freight depot. (Milwaukee? Sure. 
> Oconomowoc? Not so much.) Another nice thing is that Amtrak sells the nicest 
> bike boxes -- they're big and you almost never have to remove the handlebars 
> (just loosen and turn sideways and down). Some stations will hold the box for 
> you (for a fee) while you do your ride in that city, then give it back to you 
> for the trip home. Call ahead to make sure.
> 
> 3. Greyhound Package Express is also an affordable way to ship bikes 
> cross-country (again, less than 70 bucks in most cases) but I haven't used it 
> myself. 
> 
> 4. In addition to isolating and stabilizing dropouts, you'll also want to make 
> sure the cranks cannot move (tiedowns through one of the pedal-holes to a 
> well-padded frame usually do the trick here); and wrap those chainrings too (I 
> make a sort of bash guard out of layers of cardboard and a little foam padding). 
> Also make sure that any loose parts (pedals, saddle, quick release skewers et 
> al) are securely wrapped so they don't bump or clatter against the bike, and 
> deflate your tires about halfway to avoid the risk of bursting in an overheated 
> compartment or back room.
> 
> 5. Last note, and not necessarily a shameless plug: If you don't work on your 
> own bike much at all, you may want to hire a shop to pack your bike for 
> shipping. Most shops in Portland charge between 40 and 60 bucks for the labor. 
> If you don't know what you're doing, paying a shop is worth the cost. Another 
> approach is to lern how to work on your bike more at one of several D-I-Y shops 
> in town (the CCC, Bike Farm and Bike Repair Collective come to mind).
> 
> Hope this helps.
> Happy riding --Beth Hamon
> 
> http://bikelovejones.livejournal.com
> http://veloquent.blogspot.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>       
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