apotnolid

DHL, no problem. for an even cheaper DHL rate, your friend's bike shop can set up an account for them for free, and you can do it all through there. 5 bikes shouldn't cost you more than $700 if you pack them well. i just shipped a frame and fork from us to switzerland through dhl for $85.70.

Morgie

what you could do is try'n find someone who is moving using a large shipping container and pay them a few bucks (see Craigslist maybe?)...

my dad works for a large international oilfield company and when the company relocates someone they pay for the move, when my dad was relocated they brought a freight container to the driveway and loaded everything in it and off it went. He had a number of people from the destination location request that he bring over some items for them (one being a harley)...

doofo

im gonna go ahead and tell you that you do not need ship 5 bikes to europe

sefb222

really?


oh, ok.. that was easy.

problem solved.

floridagator

From shipping often oversized muscle car parts to Europe over the past few years, here's my take:

Fedex: Expensive. Best US rates, not competitive internationally.
UPS: Expensive in the US and everywhere else.
USPS: If you can get the bike down to within their shipping guidelines, which you definently can, they are the most cost effective solution. I've used them to ship car consoles, steering wheels, etc, and the prices were half or less then I was quoted elsewhere.

I would box one up really well, maybe just with the frame and wheelset (bring the other components with you on the plane) and take it to USPS to get a quote. The worst you'll lose is an hour's packing time. Good luck in your move.

LóFarkas

Supposedly, you can take one bike on many (most?) international flights with you on top of your normal luggage free of charge. I'd check with the airline.
Then ship one or two with some company like USPS and leave the rest at home. Well, that's what I'd do.

Zombie Carl

I'm taking two bikes to Europe next month, and hopefully coming back with three. I'm just going to do whatever I have to to get them on the plane with me. Shipping = bank.

a b seize

hmm still gonna be there in spring 09? i will need a bike.

Arabesque

This is the case for International travel to and from the Far East or Asia:

A standard bike box meets the airline requirements as far as size and girth. That said, you are allowed 2 checked-in luggages at 32 kilos each or 70 lbs. You can checked in 1 bike box (stuff with clothes to avail the maximum weight) and 1 luggage with no charge. Extra luggage is $150 per luggage.

I would suggest you and your wife bring 1 bike each or 2 luggages + 1 bike then pay the extra luggage fee of $150. Declare them as personal sports equipment and there would be no duties/taxes.

I wouldn't advise bringing all your bikes to fly with you as customs might think you are bringing in merchandise for commercial purposes.

jmichaeldesign

I would think with the cranks off you could get two bike in one box.

Cyclist0383

You will have to pay a lot of money, especially flying out of Europe. Don't think that you will get three bikes on a plane for free with just one ticket because you won't.

(I regularly bring bikes and frames on planes between the US and Europe.)

roadgator

take one bike. You dont REALLY need 5.

Put in a box on the plane with you. You might have to pay an oversize charge (it can count as one of your checked bags), but it shouldn't be more than than shipping it separately (i've heard reports varying from free to ~$50), and you will have the added convenience of knowing where it is the whole time and not waiting for it to show up.

Zombie Carl

Yeah it's two tickets. I figured I might have to pay to ship one back DHL, but I think if I can get it on the plane that will be cheaper.

Cyclist0383

It'll be a lot cheaper to bring the extra bike on the plane with you, only around 100 euro or so.

sefb222

well, im not moving alone, so im pretty sure one bike wont cut it, if my wife, or the kid's nanny wants to ride..

i sent 4 of them to get boxed up today... keeping one around for me to ride until the last minute.

there's 5 of us traveling... i think we'll each take one as baggage...

gr23932

Just throwing this out. If you know someone that's stationed in Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, or England, you could ship it to their APO address and save a ***** load of cash. Example, I shipped a frame for $18.75, insurance included.