Getting home from Yorktown in Sept.

[Rick.in.AZ]

Hi Folks,

I'm about to re-start my TA adventure (stopped 1/2 way in Pueblo last summer).  Getting to Pueblo is OK - Greyhound will get me there overnight (depart noon, arrive 8:30 AM next day) and take my boxed bike.  Getting home should be OK, but I am short of info.

I expect to arrive ~ 10-Sept, and need to return to the Phoenix, AZ area.  I am thinking that using a bike shop to ship my bike home makes the most sense, but I am open to options.  I don't need it to get home quickly as I have another bike, and I don't mind paying a bit - like as in $150 or so - for the convenience.  Mainly I like not having to deal with a big box in an unfamiliar airport would really be nice.

Given my thoughts above - Is there a recommended bike shop to use?  Yes, there are shops on the map, but with little info.

I am unfamiliar with Virginia, so I don't even know which airport is best.  In another thread I read a post by Pete Staehling that renting a car to Richmond was a good option - is that my best approach?  Pretty much all major airlines go to Phoenix, with Southwest and US Air (now American) being the predominant carriers.

Other airport ideas?

And, while not the history buff my history major daughter is, I wouldn't mind a bit of exploring. And as a retiree, I don't have a tight schedule - so I might enjoy spending a few extra days exploring, either on bike, or in a rental car.  It just seems a few days at the end of 5-6 weeks is pretty cheap.

So, suggestions?

Thanks, All

[John Nettles]

I can't comment on a bike shop.

Depending on how quick versus how much you want to spend, you have several options.  1) You can rent a car one way to Phoenix for around $800 plus gas and motels.   Plus is whole lot less likely to damage the bike.  2) You can rent from VB to DCA OR Richmond airports one-way for about around $100 and then take a flight to PHX for around $175 plus bike shipping costs ($~$200???).  I personally would take the DCA route as the flight is direct (you AND your bike do not switch planes so less likely you get bike damage).  3) You could take a train from Washington for around $300 but it takes about 3 days PLUS a layover night in either Chicago or New Orleans (not too bad in New Orleans).  4) If you are a glutton for punishment but want to save money, you could take Greyhound from VB for $120 plus bike and it takes 2 transfers so even though the published times is a little over 2.5 days, there is an even chance you could ride your bike back to PHX before the bus arrives as they are notoriously late so you miss the connections if the bus doesn't break down in the middle of nowhere.

I personally would ride up to DCA via VA & MD and cross over on the ferry to Tangier Island and connect to the ACA Potomac route into Washington.  It would take another week but what the heck  .

Whatever you choose, have a great ride.

[John Nelson]

I used the Newport News airport, only 8 miles from Yorktown Victory Monument. The flight cost no more than flying from a big airport. I support your idea of using a bike shop to ship. Almost all of them provide a pack-and-ship service. $150 ought to cover it.

[staehpj1]

I can't recommend a particular bike shop, but will say that I have typically just found a bike shop in the town that I wanted to get rid of the bike.  In every case they were happy to pack and ship my bike.  I never even bother to plan ahead.

I find it easier than dealing with finding a box, packing up the bike and schlepping it to the airport in a strange town at the end of a tour.

I have generally paid $40-60 for the packing and $40-60 for the shipping.  The bike shop always got a much better shipping rate than a UPS or FedEx store quoted.  In general it seems to have always come in very close to $100 total, only once was it as high as $120 total.  It would still be worth it in at least some cases even if it was a bit more expensive.  To me at the end of a tour it is well worth it to just drop off the bike and not have to deal with it.

BTW, if you go with a rental car, I have found that if I walk up to the counter I am often told that they have no cars that they can let go out one way or am socked with a big charge for dropping off at another location.  When I book online I have never been refused a one way rental and am almost never charged a drop off fee.  I think it helps that I usually book airport to airport.  If I am flying I often book the car through my airline's web site.  If not I use a site (like expedia or kayak) that searches all of the rental companies.

[Rick.in.AZ]

Thanks guys.

I wouldn't have thought Newport News would work, but I checked, and yes, it does.  It is a bit more $$ ($50) but that's not bad. And very close to the end spot. Good idea.

Guess I'll just call bike shops when I get there. It's good to know that most will do this.

I used REI to ship when I did Portland to SF 15 years ago. Fine outbound save to the receiving store requiring a $50 "tune up" when I picked it up (on a bike I just tuned myself); but on the return their price was over $150 - 15 years ago, and for that, all they did was remove the wheels, seat, pedals, and bars and throw it all loose in a box - with the cassette against the frame so it scratched it all up.  Oh, and for reference, my bike is an REI/Novara Randonee... I'll never use them again - and why I was looking for specific references.

But now I have some info, so thanks for the assist.

Rick

[scottgdvm]

Thanks guys.

I wouldn't have thought Newport News would work, but I checked, and yes, it does.  It is a bit more $$ ($50) but that's not bad. And very close to the end spot. Good idea.

Guess I'll just call bike shops when I get there. It's good to know that most will do this.

I used REI to ship when I did Portland to SF 15 years ago. Fine outbound save to the receiving store requiring a $50 "tune up" when I picked it up (on a bike I just tuned myself); but on the return their price was over $150 - 15 years ago, and for that, all they did was remove the wheels, seat, pedals, and bars and throw it all loose in a box - with the cassette against the frame so it scratched it all up.  Oh, and for reference, my bike is an REI/Novara Randonee... I'll never use them again - and why I was looking for specific references.

But now I have some info, so thanks for the assist.

Rick

Rick,

My personal favorite is Village Bicycles; super nice folks, good with a wrench, and very reasonable pricing. I live just across the river from them near Smithfield, VA.

Address: 9913 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA 23601
Phone:(757) 595-1333
Hours: Open today · 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Scott

[indyfabz]

Guess I'll just call bike shops when I get there. It's good to know that most will do this.

I recommend picking one at some point and making an appointment once your arrival date becomes clearer. I have shipped using shops and have had to wait up to a week even with making an appointment far in advance.

Also, you should check out bikeflights.com. I have had two good experiences with them. Shipped from Philly to Rapid City, SD in June. CrateWorks case with a wildly overestimated total weight of case, bike and racks at 60 lbs. was something like $47 (including $5 surcharge for pick up at a local bike shop) for 4-day shipping. Philly to Missoula last year was $71.

[SlowAndSlower]

There are a number of bike shops in the area of Yorktown. Personally I would look at having a shop box my bike, shuttle over to Norfolk and catch a Southwest flight back to Phoenix with my bike.