Touring - shipping a bike...to yourself

i'll be heading on a trip to new england this summer and i'd love to take my bike. it will save me a ton of cash to not have to rent a car while i am there. i've looked into flying and taking the bike on the plane, even though the price is kind of steep, the lack of financial responsibilty taken by the airlines should they damage my bike has me very concerned.
i was delighted to see that amtrak transports bicycles so cheaply (around $10) but the train i will need does not offer space for bicycles.
so here is the latest thought. a friend suggested mailing the bike ahead to myself, apparently by writing on the package:

my name
general delivery
town, state
zipcode

while this is still more expensive than amtrak, it is still way less than the airline. and i feel that i can insure the bike much easier through the post office. ($1000 insurance for $10!). plus the usps will hole the package for 30 days!

has anyone ever done this? was it successful? what other methods have you used to get your bike to another state on the cheap?

IF you do that, make sure you talk to the people in the post office about whether they have space to store it. You can also use UPS or FedEx and send it to somewhere you arrange to store it - friend, bike shop, hotel where you are spending your first night. If you are coming back to the same city you might even get them to store the box.

I always just fly with it, though.

i'll be heading on a trip to new england this summer and i'd love to take my bike. it will save me a ton of cash to not have to rent a car while i am there. i've looked into flying and taking the bike on the plane, even though the price is kind of steep, the lack of financial responsibilty taken by the airlines should they damage my bike has me very concerned.
i was delighted to see that amtrak transports bicycles so cheaply (around $10) but the train i will need does not offer space for bicycles.
so here is the latest thought. a friend suggested mailing the bike ahead to myself, apparently by writing on the package:

my name
general delivery
town, state
zipcode

while this is still more expensive than amtrak, it is still way less than the airline. and i feel that i can insure the bike much easier through the post office. ($1000 insurance for $10!). plus the usps will hole the package for 30 days!

has anyone ever done this? was it successful? what other methods have you used to get your bike to another state on the cheap?

You may want to check the size regulations for USPS. I'm not sure they will handle a bike sized box...even broken down. UPS and FedEx will. The key, however, is to make sure the bike is in a box that meets their size requirements. If it goes over a certain size (I don't know what that is;)) you pay more. I believe that the boxes that bikes come to shops in are below the limit...but check.

A shop sized box will require a fair amount of dissassembly. It's more than just turning the bars. You may want to either have a shop box it for you (and arrange the shipping) or ask if you can see how the bikes are packed when you go begging them for a box.

As for shipping it, you can't ship UPS or FedEx to a post office. Find a hotel to stay at the first and last night and arrange to ship to them if you are touring. If you are going to be staying in one place they may be even more accommodating. Many places will accept shipments for a customer if you make the arrangement first.

You didn't say where you are going but if it's in the Burlington, VT area, I know of a place.

I did this last year by having it sent ahead to a B and B and it worked great and like you said, I didn't have to worry about baggage handlers abusing my bike or having to open the box at the airport to be inspected. But you did say on the cheap and B and Bs are not usually cheap but if you can afford them for one night, they are usually great about storing the bike for a few days prior to arrival and giving you place to set it up. But I think you already have the cheapest options by having it sent general delivery. But like valygrl said, I would contact the PO ahead of time to make sure they have a large enough facility to hold it.

Having said that, that was my first time doing it this way. Prior to that, it always flew with me and I never had a problem.

This is more than you asked for but AC has a pretty good article on how to pack a bike. My favorite trick is to cut cardboard the same width as the box and roll it up and tape it. Then place it in as many places in the box as you can find. If your bike happens to be shipped on the flat, it will prevent the box from being compressed.
http://www.adventurecycling.org/features/boxingbike.cfm

I have used Fedex a few times and shipped the bike to a Kinko's. There was no extra charge and it was a bit cheaper in shipping sending the bike to a Kinko's . From NYC to Atlanta was only $40 last year

We shipped stuff to ourselves via general delivery when on tour with great success, but I have never heard of anyone shipping a bike by usps. I suspect that cycocommute is probably right that you better check on their package size requirements.

I have had good luck flying with my bike. It has the advantage of being able to ride out of the airport.

Also check out:
http://www.adventurecycling.org/features/shippingbikecases.cfm

Bikes tend to get beat up in shipping....the airlines, UPS, Greyhound, ect.... Personally I'd just fly with it and take my chances. Shipping it to Kinko's a darn good idea however. I used to own my my own business and I almost lived at Kinko's, drinking free coffee and using their free local telephone.

Check Amtrack again. While they might not have space for unboxed bicycles, bicycles can usually travel as luggage as long as they are boxed or bagged.

Amtrak has two bike policies.
Unfortunately, it often means an awkward way to ship a bicycle, but it is much cheaper than airlines or shipping. Long-distance overnight trains with baggage cars require that bikes be boxed as part of luggage. Even if your specific train does not have baggage service in the northeast, there are other trains that do have baggage service if you are willing to ship your bike on an earlier or later train.

Some trains have bicycle racks where you can hang or strap your bike. These are usually in urban corridor service. The awkward part is that if you have to use both kinds of trains you have to either box or unbox your bike midway thru. Then there are some places with no baggage or bike rack service at all. It all depends where you are starting from and going to.

UPS has gotten real expensive and has near-impossible size limitations for bike shipping. Since UPS gives businesses a commercial rate, I have found that shipping is often cheaper if I ship from my LBS even having them box it. If your LBS will ship something you pack, that makes it even a little cheaper still.

You can ship it through REI. They charge a fee of $75 (I believe) for store to store shipping. You must box it or pay more for REI to do so. They will hold it at the other end until you arrive.

I've shipped my bike to myself via a local bike shop. I called ahead, no problem. As a courtesy, I ask if they can assemble it for me. Then your usually in, they will be glad to help you ship it back also. (Sometimes at no charge for using their tools, tape, and labels!)
It may even sway them to be known as the tourist's friend, much as we pass their names along here on BF.

My two cents..

best, john

You can ship it through REI. They charge a fee of $75 (I believe) for store to store shipping. You must box it or pay more for REI to do so. They will hold it at the other end until you arrive.

That's great to know. Is this for their bikes or for any brand bike?

They will ship any brand. It takes a little longer than UPS as it is shipped through their delivery system... but it's REI so you know you are covered if there is a problem.