[ORRando] Shipping bikes

[amanda]

Hello-
I am new to this list serve, but I read this thread and would like to add
that I have used Amtrak to ship my bike numerous times in recent years, and
have always been very pleased.  I pack my bike in a hardcase, but I would
feel confident using Amtrak to ship my bike in cardboard as well.
-Amanda


On 1/5/09 12:49 PM, "John Henry Maurice" <jmaurice at easystreet.net> wrote:

> A very timely posting!
> 
> Joanne and I are traveling to Arizona in March to ride Week 3 of the Arizona
> Pac Tour - Historic Hotels.
> 
> We got one quote to ship the bicycles with Sports Express - $300 each, one
> way.
> 
> I just called Amtrak and their quote is $55 each. each way plus $15 per box.
> This is one third the cost!
> 
> Beth, thank you!
> 
> On Sun, Jan 4, 2009 at 12:17 PM, b hamon <periwinklekog at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> 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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> 
> 


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