shipping bikes

[lauriemartz]

I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the best way to ship our bikes from Vancouver BC to Tallahasee Florida. I have a bike shop that will receive them. Any thoughts? We are planning to cycle Tallahasee to new Orleans on the southern tier route in November.
Thanks

[zzzz]

Well......I'll tell you who not to use, "BikeFlights"

At the beginning of September I had them ship my bike from Pennsylvania to Jasper. That went okay except everything I got from them was at the last minute. Then they were supposed to get my bike crate shipped from the bike shop in Jasper to Denver which is where my trip ended. I will spare you the details except to say it was the worst consumer experience of my life. I rode my bike from Jasper to Denver (1700 miles) and got there three days before the bike box did.

There is a place called "ShipBikes" that might do you better. The also sell a line of cardboard boxes specifically for shipping bikes and those are disposable which may be handy if you're flying into Florida and then flying back from New Orleans.

The other thing you may want to check into is driving across the border and shipping your bike from the US. The reason I went with the shipper I used was because I was told that international shipping is much more complicated and from what I saw I believe that's true.

Pete

[geegee]

How are you getting to Tallahassee? Air Canada still has one of the most reasonable rates for taking bikes on flights. I flew from Ottawa to Haida Gwaii this summer and all I paid was $50. They require you to box your bike (maximum length 115 inches), but because the maximum weight is 70 lbs, I was able to stuff most of my gear inside with the bike and take the rest as carry-on, which meant that instead of paying $25 for a piece of luggage anyway, I only had to pay an extra $25 for it being oversized.

I guess the problem is that AC does not fly to Tallahassee. Could you consider leaving from Orlando or Tampa instead? A few years ago I rode from Orlando to Houston via New Orleans, you might be interested in this route: http://www.bikemap.net/en/route/137115-orlando-to-houston-via-new-orleans/
I rode along the coast instead of the ACA Southern Tier.

[PeteJack]

If you can get to Seattle (ride there?) with your bike you might try REI. Last May REI in a box they provided, packed and shipped my bike from their Tukwila store in a Seattle suburb, to a motel in Bangor Maine for $50! I kid you not. It got there in fine shape. The only 'glitch' was that instead of removing both pedals they removed the right pedal and the left crank. Not a deal really. Perhaps this was better than just removing the pedals, there's less danger of the crank poking through the box.

[lauriemartz]

PeteJack, great idea. There is an REI in bellingham wash. Even closer to us. Did you buy your bike from them, or is it a service they provide to anyone?
Geegee, As far as flight options, our flights are already booked and we are stopping En route for a family function so prefer not to take them on flights, but thanks for the ideas.

[PeteJack]

Laurie, I bought my bikes elsewhere. I don't even use their bike shop much. FWIW I am a member. I think it's only $20 for lifetime membership and you get a dividend on all purchases which presumably will include your shipping. I hadn't thought of Bellingham that's pretty handy for you. You'd better call ahead before you go down to be on the safe side. Oh and be sure it's OK with the receiver for them to keep your bike for a few days so it's there when you arrive.

[indyfabz]

You'd better call ahead before you go down to be on the safe side.

+1. I think this issue came up a few years ago and it was determined that shipping service was not offered by all REI stores.

[JayH]

Some bikeshops do this also, not just REI, I shipped my bike back from Silverthorne, CO from Mountain Sports Outlet..

Jay

[PeteJack]

However you do it Laurie I'm 99% certain it will be significantly cheaper if you do all your shipping within the US. Not to mention no customs hassle. If you need a route to Bellingham Cascade Bicycle Club's RSVP route may be a help even though the narrative is for S to N. Have fun. 

[pickupel]

Whatever you do, avoid Delta like the plague — most expensive fees I've ever paid were with them earlier this year. Total rip off.

[lauriemartz]

Thanks to all for their help. REI Bellingham is shipping our bikes to a community bike shop in Tallahasee, they will help us reassemble them and have been great. Cost is likely more than $50, less than $100, as it is weight depending and we haven't done it yet but are later this week.
Our return trip is proving to be more complicated as we will be coming back from New Orleans, and the smaller bike shops will pack the bikes for about $45-50 then they call or we call UPS or FedEx, which quoted us $350 for two bikes to ship to REI in Bellingham...steep. We may take them on our United Flight which leaves at 6 am, which involves getting them packed the day before and cabbing twice with boxed bikes, but saves the trip to Bellingham. Oh well...

[Apotheosis]

How much does it generally cost to ship a bike (roughly)? I'm looking at coast to coast shipping. 
Do I need to provide my own box/carrier?

[John Nelson]

How much does it generally cost to ship a bike (roughly)? I'm looking at coast to coast shipping. 
Do I need to provide my own box/carrier?

Both FedEx and UPS provide online shipping calculators. The cost depends on the distance you ship, the details of the pickup and delivery, the size, the weight, the number of days you can wait, the type of signature required, and the amount of insurance. One of the biggest factors is size. It's much more significant than weight. San Diego to New York shipping of a typical bike box (50 pounds, 50x10x33) with no insurance or signature, a 4 to 6-day delivery time where you deliver and pick up from a FedEx facility is probably about $150. If you can get it into a smaller box, you might be able to get it down to $100. If the box grows, so does the rate. Cutting the weight from 50 pounds to 30 pounds won't save you anything. If you want a bike shop to pack and ship, where they will provide the box, add about $50. If you want a receiving bike shop to reassemble, add more. Home pickup doesn't add much. Residential delivery adds more.

[mucknort]

Another vote for shipbikes.com! They use fedex ground, but their rates are better. They also do international.