shipping a bike
 

I need to ship my bike for an externship. I won't be able to fly with it due to my own travel plans. Any suggestions and tips for shipping a bike? If it matters, it is a Giant Transcend commuter with disk brakes, fenders, and a pannier rack. I am not extremely mechanical, but I can do basic things like remove and replace parts. Thanks for the assistance!

Have it Boxed and shipped by one Bike shop to another bike shop,
where they will re assemble it ..


LBS here is on both ends of those situations , early, the boxes arrive
for the Cycle Tourists heading off , late summer they get boxed up and returned
when folks finish their transcontinental adventure.

There are several good videos on YouTube about packing a bike in a box. I like the advice about going to a local shop for a used box and getting the extra packing materials that come with it, like axle end protectors and plastic spreader for the rear dropouts.

Depends on where you are going. I use Amtrak, just about dead simple. You take the pedals off, lower the saddle, lower the handlebars, turn them to the side, roll into the large box tape it up and off it goes. I have shipped several bikes up and down the east coast and my daughter shipped her big city bike from Seattle to Boston via Amtrak. Average price has been about $65 including insurance. Only issue is making sure that the Amtrak station you are shipping to and from has baggage/freight service, unfortunately not all of them do.

I see that you are listing Cary, NC as home, they do have baggage service. If the place you are going has Amtrak baggage you are golden.

Aaron :)

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...NG_1_Start.htm

There are also some threads in C & V about shipping bikes.

Is the "large box" something that Amtrak provides or do you get it elsewhere? How long did it take from Seattle to Boston?

Unfortunately, I'm in the Florida Keys trying to get my bike back to Cary. A friend drove me (and it) down, but heading back north is an issue. I am flying to see an ill family member, and there is no need for my bike to go to the midwest then to Cary, so I want to ship it back up. I'm going to call the local bike shops, see if they can help. Amtrak doesn't do the keys, so not very viable. I looked at BikeShip.com as well. I will take a look at the other forum. Thanks!

You have to buy it from Amtrak. IIRC it is $15. Best to call ahead and ask if they have them. At one station they had a couple of used ones they were giving away. I kept one of mine for a while. The trip from Seattle to Boston was 3-4 days from what I recall.

Aaron :)

Ride to Miami? :D How about Greyhound? I have shipped with them a couple of times. You still have to break the bike down into a smaller box though.

Aaron :)