Pacific Northwest - Where to get a bike box?

This wife and I are riding Cycle Oregon next month, and are planning on shipping our bikes from home down to the start line in Medford. Cycle Oregon has made arrangements with a shipping company, but I need to get a couple of boxes for our bikes. Suggestions on the best place to acquire a couple of bike boxes? Local bike shop, I suppose?

Any local shop should have a bunch of boxes available for you. Calling ahead would make it easy for them to set them aside.

We've just noticed these after receiving three demo bikes from Colnago and will be using them in future for our customers who want additional protection and have their bikes ready to go on the other end:

http://www.aircaddy.com/

You don't have to be a dealer to buy them. We pay the same as everybody else :)

Graham
Veloce Velo, Issaquah WA

Graham -

Thanks for the note, and for the link. Those aircaddy boxes look quite good. On one hand, while I don't really want to pay $200 for a couple of boxes, I *really* don't want to arrive in Medford at the start of a seven day riding tour and find that one of our bikes was damaged in shipment.

Are you going to rent these boxes?

I used a plain cardboard bike box to ship from Cleveland to Seattle via UPS, no problems, $104 door-to-door.

woodway, talk to Darren or Mike at W'ville Cycle and they might even help you pack it. I know they have boxes there (or at least they did yesterday when I stopped in.)

I would second cliftongk1 in that very very few bikes that we send or receive end up damaged. The biggest benefit to the aircaddy boxes is that you're up and running in just a few quick minutes with minimal assembly, and not as much damage prevention.

We don't have an official rental on ours but I'm sure there's something we could work out with the two we have in the storage room right now as they're just sitting there. Could you call the shop during opening hours to discuss? Please also feel free to e-mail me any time at graham(at)velocevelo.com.

Thanks for the responses, guys.

I'll stop down to Woodinville bikes tomorrow and talk to the guys. Graham, if they cannot fix me up, I'll give you a shout about renting your boxes.

Get a pelican case. They are a good investment. You'll be able to use it forever. Sure they are spendy up-front, but how much money would you spend buying cardboard boxes over and over again; a new box every time you need to ship your bike somewhere? Do a cost analysis.