Bicycle Mechanics - Prepping to pack

I am going to be shipping my Softride via UPS to San Diego in a month or so. I run the shipping department for a large marine wholesaler so I have a ton of resources at my disposal to accomplish this task. What I do not know is how to properly break down the bike in order to ship it. I take it I must loosen the head set so I can turn the handle bars to make it flatter and remove the wheels of course. Is there anything else I should do? I am going to ship it to my brothers LBS to assemble it so it will be ready to go when I get there. Thanx in advance for any suggestions.

David

I ordered my bike online and had it shipped to me. Handlebars were not attached, but all the cables were still intact. Front brake was not screwed into the fork (maybe something to do with it being CF). Front wheel was off. Pedals were off. I believe everything else was intact. Tons of zip ties were used and all the tubes were wrapped in cardboard and then taped. The fork had a plastic holder thing on it too.

I would take off the pedals, loosen the screws for the rear derailleur and take a bread tie or rubber band and secure it to the bike, keep the cables attached, but loosen the handlebars, take off the seat post and wheels, and possibly take off the freewheel, if it doesn't fit after you put the wheels in.

I've had to take my bike apart more times than I've cared to in the past for air travel. *sigh*

Koffee

You might consider taking the stem out of the steerer comepletely (I believe you have a quill stem) as this will give you more flexibility in arranging the handlebars in a more compact position... like inside the main triangle. You'll also need to remove pedals and since you have a whole shipping dept. at your disposal, I would consider hot-knifing a large block of foam to make a nice custom "mold" to lay everything in. Another thing you will definately want to do is get something to space the dropouts. Go to an LBS and ask them for some plastic shipping spacers. They should have a few laying around from forks that were shipped to them. BTW, I personally would be reluctant to take the "seatpost" off... perhaps just the saddle only. Then again, I haven't really worked on cantilever beam posts so maybe it's no big deal.

You might consider taking the stem out of the steerer comepletely (I believe you have a quill stem) as this will give you more flexibility in arranging the handlebars in a more compact position... like inside the main triangle. You'll also need to remove pedals and since you have a whole shipping dept. at your disposal, I would consider hot-knifing a large block of foam to make a nice custom "mold" to lay everything in. Another thing you will definately want to do is get something to space the dropouts. Go to an LBS and ask them for some plastic shipping spacers. They should have a few laying around from forks that were shipped to them. BTW, I personally would be reluctant to take the "seatpost" off... perhaps just the saddle only. Then again, I haven't really worked on cantilever beam posts so maybe it's no big deal.

Yeah, my box guy is going to make me a box as soon as I give him the dims I want and I am going to cut out a custom mold for the bike. I thought about removing the seat beam but it really won't make that big of a difference, the saddle itself will come with me. Mike's LBS has already agreed to put it together for me and then take it apart and ship it back when I am done down there. I might also just leave it there and have Mike and Bill bring it up here when they come for the STP. Have fun in Korea :)

Have fun in Korea :)

Hmm... maybe I should have you ship my bike to Korea for me. :) Then again, I understand traffic is murderous there... literally. Think we got it bad here? :( I asked my Korean friend about taxis and he told me that sometimes they can be slow because they end up having to stop and wait after they've hit someone. :eek: Two of our salesguys were in Sweden the other week... one of them had to delay his return because he was in a hospital recovering from a collapsed lung after getting thrown around in the back of a taxi when it was rear-ended by a truck. Always wear your seatbelts folks... even in taxis!

Have fun on the Chilly Hilly. I'm really bummed I won't be joining you.

"I am going to be shipping my Softride via UPS to San Diego in a month or so."

You might want to check UPS insurance policies. My bike arrived last Monday. When I picked it up at the UPS depot they had a big sign up saying they will no longer insure bikes being shipped.

I shipped my frame on Thursday, 2/19 via UPS. Insurance for $1000 was about $10. After they hack the frame and put couplings on, the LBS in PA is going to ship by USPS priority mail.

I shipped my frame on Thursday, 2/19 via UPS. Insurance for $1000 was about $10. After they hack the frame and put couplings on, the LBS in PA is going to ship by USPS priority mail.

I will insure it through PIP our small package insurance company. By the way if you paid $10 for $1000 coverage you got robbed.

[QUOTE=pyze-guyYou might want to check UPS insurance policies. My bike arrived last Monday. When I picked it up at the UPS depot they had a big sign up saying they will no longer insure bikes being shipped.[/QUOTE]

I just got off the phone with UPS and they do still insure bikes in fact they would like to know which depot has the sign posted. You see they ship thousands of bikes they don't want to lose the business

After they hack the frame and put couplings on, the LBS in PA is going to ship by USPS priority mail.

My problem with USPS is they do not guarantee delivery times and even with a tracking number they are impossible to trace. UPS has a better record when it comes to losing packages than USPS.

The UPS was on Steeles Ave., in T.O.. They had a sign on the wall. Considering i had paid for insurance I was a little confused but, I was just so relieved to finally get the bike I didn't question them.

The UPS was on Steeles Ave., in T.O.. They had a sign on the wall. Considering i had paid for insurance I was a little confused but, I was just so relieved to finally get the bike I didn't question them.


Yeah I know I am not going to breathe until I hear that is got there in one piece

With a front-loading stem, and threadless steerer, is it Ok to remove the bars, reverse the stem out of the way, and place the bars sideways?
Use bubple wrap or plumbing pipe insulation foam tubes for protection.
If you are not using a special hardshell casing, make sure you have some anti-crush protection, some rolled up tubes of corrugated card will do.

What I've done in the past is to zip-tie pipe insulation onto the all frame tubes and fork legs. Handlebars with cables still attached were also zip tied onto the frame. Also, both wheels, zip-tied to frame, along with seatpost and saddle. In other words, everything was zip-tied onto the frame. No loose components floating around in the carton. Also it is usually not necessary to remove cranks. Pedals, yes. Bubble wrap pedals and zip tie them onto frame as well. You will need a couple dozen long ties to do this. Go to your LBS and pick up those little plastic fork and axle end protectors. They prevent bike parts from poking through the carton. The Ebay recipients who I shipped bikes to all said they all arrived in perfect condition....not a scratch.

I went to a UPS store. Maybe they charge more??? I found my receipt. It cost 14.60 for shipping and 9.00 for Service(insurance for $1000). The store was only a few doors down from the bike shop. The LBS suggested buying a box from them if I didn't want to cut down a large box. I'm lazy, figured..what's a couple of dollars. The box 40 x 25 cost $14.00. I was embarassed to say no. After I went home and told SO how foolish I was, he said it might be for the the packing materials. So I went back and they asked if I wanted "popcorn". I said yes, and they charged me an additional $8. This was really over the top, so I said no. They didn't quote prices before they rang up the merchandise. I have never packed stuff to be shipped. I was going to use FedEx but they were about 5 miles away. (Is this the correct place to say I work for the USPS and know what they do to packages there?) Live and learn.

I went to a UPS store. Maybe they charge more??? I found my receipt. It cost 14.60 for shipping and 9.00 for Service(insurance for $1000). The store was only a few doors down from the bike shop. The LBS suggested buying a box from them if I didn't want to cut down a large box. I'm lazy, figured..what's a couple of dollars. The box 40 x 25 cost $14.00. I was embarassed to say no. After I went home and told SO how foolish I was, he said it might be for the the packing materials. So I went back and they asked if I wanted "popcorn". I said yes, and they charged me an additional $8. This was really over the top, so I said no. They didn't quote prices before they rang up the merchandise. I have never packed stuff to be shipped. I was going to use FedEx but they were about 5 miles away. (Is this the correct place to say I work for the USPS and know what they do to packages there?) Live and learn.

Actually what you might have here on the $9 service may not only insurance but a $5 special handling fee depending on the size of the box. I am fortunate seeing that I am one of my box vendors better customers he will custom make me a box no charge. UPS stores were formely mailbox etc. and are the worst place to buy boxes try uhaul next time. Also peanuts are not for protection they are just for fill and $8 is over the top, your USPS gives them away.

I've always gotten UPS'able bike boxes from my LBS for free......including axle and forkend protectors.

George