Originally Posted by
John Martin
Re shipping my Bruce Gordon Rock and Road (my wife named it "Mike the Bike" for some crazy reason): I just can't seem to collect enough energy to handle the packaging necessary to haul it on the Atlanta metro rail ("Marta"), the airport struggles, the reassembly, the securing of the return packaging, return metro, etc., etc.. Maybe if I were younger or was doing this trip with a friend, it might seem less daunting. Anyhow, I think I'm pretty much tied to the rental route although I will take my Brooks saddle and my pedals with clips.
I have no experience with them for international shipping, but have you looked into possibly using shipbikes.com or bikeflights.com? It is easy to get a online price quote. You could ship to a bike shop or the hotel where you spend the first night there. I think it might be worth it to me to ride my own bike. I'd ask folks who have done this for advice though.
Alternately I'd consider paying someone to assist in getting the bike packed and to the airport at each end. Bike shops can be pretty accomodating to tourists with regard to shipping and logistics in my experience. For the trip home, dropping the bike at a bike shop and letting them pack and ship it is my preferred way to get it home in most cases.