Logistics of shipping equipment for touring

[xenomera]

Thanks to all for taking time to give me some advice on this. It has been very helpful.

I think I've got a plan now. I'll box up some of the gear (with stove and empty bottles) and send via UPS to my first night hotel.

For the bike, I'll fly Southwest and box it up myself in cardboard. I think I probably can get a box that will fit the bike and racks well enough to work with the Southwest size/weight limits. And, I don't think I have to disassemble the bike too much for this. I'm hoping I can leave the fork alone, and just turn the handlebars to fit in the box.

Again, thanks to all who helped out.

[staehpj1]

And to think that was before the Great Corporate Takeover and Warranty Reduction of 2013.  Somehow, I doubt REI will have improved in the last couple of years.

Yeah the only reason I suggested verifying was because I had it only from one person in one store.  If he was correct, which seems likely, it is a slam dunk that their policy hasn't changed for the better.

[BikePacker]

And to think that was before the Great Corporate Takeover and Warranty Reduction of 2013.  Somehow, I doubt REI will have improved in the last couple of years.

Yeah the only reason I suggested verifying was because I had it only from one person in one store.  If he was correct, which seems likely, it is a slam dunk that their policy hasn't changed for the better.

While recognizing the above originators closure on this his/her's string, BUT because of 'staehpj1' prudent encouragement for recheck :- ) ...... I did so.... I rechecked on this with one of the 3 stores in metro-Atlanta.   I simply asked (no mention made by me, of course of this forum or string within) if they were fully willing for the right amount of money to pack/ship from their REI to any other REI and the Bike Dept. Mgr. said an unreserved "Yes."  I did NOT ask if they or other stores would reassemble. 
Soooo, at least some stores, but maybe not all stores are back on board.
Thanks 'staehpj1' for your emphasis on the recheck.  Stuff keeps changing doesn't it :- ) ?

[John Nelson]

I simply asked (no mention made by me, of course of this forum or string within) if they were fully willing for the right amount of money to pack/ship from their REI to any other REI and the Bike Dept. Mgr. said an unreserved "Yes."  I did NOT ask if they or other stores would reassemble. 
Soooo, at least some stores, but maybe not all stores are back on board.
Thanks 'staehpj1' for your emphasis on the recheck.  Stuff keeps changing doesn't it :- ) ?

It may not have changed. Nothing you learned is in conflict with what Pete reported. Pete didn't say that they didn't do it; he just said he didn't like the terms under which they did it.

[staehpj1]

It may not have changed. Nothing you learned is in conflict with what Pete reported. Pete didn't say that they didn't do it; he just said he didn't like the terms under which they did it.

Yes that is correct.  They were still willing to do it then.  The differences were as I recall them:

• Where they used to use their distribution system they at that point said that it would go UPS and the full UPS costs would of course be payed by me.
• Additionally they would insist on reassembling it at the receiving store for another iteration of the same fee.  A fee that in the past was the total cost of packing shipping and receiving.  So bottom line was twice as much, plus the full UPS charges.
• I do not recall the exact dollar amounts, but it was not only way more than they used to charge, but also a lot more than I have ever been charged by a bike shop to pack and ship a bike to my home address.

I will not claim that is all completely accurate as I am going strictly from my sometimes faulty memory.  That said, I definitely found it worse than any of the numerous bike shops I have used for the same purpose and to no longer be a decent deal at all.

[rondickinson]

I was thinking about FedX or UPS to ship the bike box and a box of gear.
I don't see anyone mentioning this as an option.
We can ship it to our first nights destination and put everything together from there.

[BikePacker]

 Pete didn't say that they didn't do it; he just said he didn't like the terms under which they did it.
[/quote]
J.N. - You are right.
Thx.

[DaveB]

I was thinking about FedX or UPS to ship the bike box and a box of gear. I don't see anyone mentioning this as an option. We can ship it to our first nights destination and put everything together from there.

Uhh, I mentioned EXACTLY that option in the third posting of this thread.  I said the OP could ship his bike via Fed Ex or UPS to either a bike shop or the hotel/motel where they will stay when they arrive.

[rondickinson]

Sorry to be oblivious Dave.  I guess there was so much conversation about shipping via airplane and only one comment about FedX/UPS, it was starting to sound like the obvious choice is by air.   When I was naturally thinking the best option was Fed X.  So my comment was more of a curiosity as if I'm making a mistake.    I learn a lot by watching the conversations on these boards, and in 30 days and taking off on my first long distance tour.  Just trying to pick up as much knowledge as possible before I go.

[staehpj1]

I guess there was so much conversation about shipping via airplane and only one comment about FedX/UPS, it was starting to sound like the obvious choice is by air.

Maybe because the original poster specifically asked about shipping by plane.  They said:

My wife and I are planning to do some touring in the midwest (from California), and need to fly there with our bikes and equipment.

Also if flying to a tour IMO it does make sense to fly with the bike to the tour.  It is nice to be able to just ride out of the airport.  I do prefer to UPS the bike home after the tour though.  It is nice to just dump it on a bike shop and pay them to box and ship it home.  That has generally cost me about $100 including the shipping and the bike shop's fee.  It is so nice to not have to deal with boxing and schlepping the box to the airport in a strange town at the end of a tour.

[paddleboy17]

I was thinking about FedX or UPS to ship the bike box and a box of gear.
I don't see anyone mentioning this as an option.
We can ship it to our first nights destination and put everything together from there.

I shipped my bike with FedEx last summer and it worked out fine for me.  The trick is  to get a box small enough to NOT be oversized.  Most bike boxes are oversized, and the ship price just about doubles.  See if you can find a frame box.  Greyhound freight (yes the bus people) is something I have almost used twice.  Their rates are good, and you have to work around the fact that the bike goes from bus depot to bus depot.

[BobG]

The trick is  to get a box small enough to NOT be oversized.  Most bike boxes are oversized, and the ship price just about doubles.

Exactly. Last year a bike shop used a very common size box measuring 55"x31"x8" to ship my bike with UPS. That box bumped me up into a very high tax bracket. A bike box (not a frame box) just slightly smaller used earlier that year for the same bike cost about half to ship.

With the OP flying Southwest, probably easiest to take it on the flight as planned in the huge airlines box likely to be available at the ticket counter. That way the bike serves as a luggage cart all the way to check in without all the disassembly.

[staehpj1]

With the OP flying Southwest, probably easiest to take it on the flight as planned in the huge airlines box likely to be available at the ticket counter. That way the bike serves as a luggage cart all the way to check in without all the disassembly.

Make sure they have boxes ahead of time though.  I thought most of the airlines stopped offering boxes and even if they still do don't assume they will have one.

[rondickinson]

To confirm what is being said about Fed X

A regular bike box from Iowa to VA weighing 40 lbs is $130
A smaller kid bike box (in which I will ship my bags), weighing 60 lbs is $53.