Grasschopper

Well right on time my bike was delivered today and unpacking shows no damage to the bike on it's trip back from the Ride for the Roses. After seeing the post the other day I got worried I might have the same fate of the UPS monkeys folding my Salsa...but it didn't happen.

Since I now have expierence shipping bikes 3 times I wanted to make some comments based on my observations.

#1 packing is the key. Bike companies take a risk packing bikes the way they do, IMO they use too little packing material.

#2 DON'T use a cardboard bike box for more than 2 shipments. IMO this is VERY important if you want your bike to get there in one piece. Be warned 2 shipemnts includes the one that got the box you got for free from the LBS. So what I am saying here is after you reuse that box for your one shipment don't use it again. Now I didn't follow this on the return trip from TX, I used the same box I shipped it down there in but looking at the box when it arrived it was clearly in boarderline condition. If you use a box over and over it isn't as strong and UPS/FedEx will claim the bike was not properly packaged if you file a claim for insurance.

#3 don't skimp on packaging material. Face it the package is oversized and because of that you are paying for more weight than is really in there. My shipment to TX weighed 38 lbs but because of the size it was charged at 70 lbs. What this means is you can fill the box with peanuts or bubble wrap or clothes or whatever up to 70 lbs and you wont pay a dime more for shipping. Use at least some of that weight for extra packing the bike companies don't use.

#4 take out the skewers. Hey they will get scratched or poke through the box. Take them out and put them in a seperate bag in the shipping box (I also put my computers, shoes, and pedals in this same bag and taped it shut).

#5 tape a sheet of paper to each seperate item in your box that has your destination info and contact info on it. If the box falls apart for some reason having each item marked will help you get your stuff.

So there are my thoughts. Here is another pretty good resource with some tips: https://bicyclesportshop.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=570

puddin' legs

#4...modify to add: USE BLOCK or some type of spacer between both front and rear drop outs.

#6 foam pipe insulation around main triangle tubes.

#7 If you travel or ship your bike more than once a year, forgo all of the above and
buy a proper hard travel case. It lasts pretty much forever and works better
than any cardboard bike box.

Grasschopper

Good points. I sort of assumed but shouldn't have that people knew about the blocks for the drop outs. The bike boxes I have gotten from my LBS always have had all of the original packing including the plastic dropout blocks, yes use them. What I do is use the original packing and then suppliment it with additional material, be it bubble wrap, foam nuts or whatever.

As for #7 I totally agree and one is on my list as I fully plan on going back to Austin for the ride in the future.

ModeratedUser011020182

Those are all good ideas, my rule of thumb is: Will the item survive rolling down one flight of stairs?

You can't expect the UPS/FedEx/DHL to know or care what is in the box. You have to pack it expecting it to be dropped, stacked, thrown, and mistreated. I have seen FedEx drivers drop a case with 100lbs of computer equipment marked FRAGILE from 3 feet while delivering in the office. I don't want to know what they do at the terminal!

--v