Doing NT beginning June 2018

[Ghspalding]

Plan to fly bike prior to departure. I assume Seattle? Want to do few days San Juan’s and then depart Anacortes. Think there is a shuttle from Seattle correct? Does the bike shipping service select a bike shop or is there one I should pick. Know any there?


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[Pat Lamb]

All the details you'll need are on TransAm map #1.

There's a shuttle from SeaTac (change buses in Burlington or Mt. Vernon, IIRC).  The bike shop we used to ship bikes home had a backlog of a couple weeks, so it'd be a good idea to coordinate with them before shipping.  You might also ship to a shop around Burlington or Mt. Vernon and treat Anacortes as a day trip shakedown.

[jamawani]

There is a cruise ferry to Friday Harbor in the San Juans that leaves downtown Seattle harbor at 8:15 a.m.
They do one-way fares - moderately pricey, but a fine way to depart.
https://www.clippervacations.com/seattle-san-juan-island-ferry/ $90 vs $41 for the shuttle.
Amtrak has two runs - very early or late - plus you have to connect to bus.
Public transit involves 4 buses but is cheapest.

I have not used a formal bike shipping service - but I have frequently shipped from bike shops.
Given how expensive airline bike charges are, it is cheaper and easier to ship.
Also, FedEx & UPS give lower rates and guaranteed delivery dates to business customers.
Rather than ship to Seattle, you may want to consider shipping to Anacortes or Friday Harbor.
There are a couple of bike shops in both places - walkable from the bus (A) or ferry (FH).

So, I just call the bike shop where I want to go and ask if they receive bikes.
Then I take my bike to my local bike ship - they pack and ship
I pay my LBS for the packing and shipping and a small unpack charge to the receiving shop.
Plus, if anything goes wrong in the shipping, there are professional witnesses upon receipt.

[BikeliciousBabe]

Are you domestic? If so, look into blikeflights.com. It's essentially a discount broker for FedEx bike shipping. Almost always  cheaper than flying with a bike/shipping a bike by air. Some REI location will receive you bike and assemble it for a relatively low price. Call the one in Seattle to ask. With origin and destination zips, estimated weight and size of box, you can get an on line quote.

[Ghspalding]

Are you domestic? If so, look into blikeflights.com. It's essentially a discount broker for FedEx bike shipping. Almost always  cheaper than flying with a bike/shipping a bike by air. Some REI location will receive you bike and assemble it for a relatively low price. Call the one in Seattle to ask. With origin and destination zips, estimated weight and size of box, you can get an on line quote.

Thanks will use the shop to shop FedX. Not a REI fan. Just read your post on some of the MT 56 alter. Thanks for that!


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[BikeliciousBabe]

Thanks will use the shop to shop FedX.

You will likely pay more, possibly much more, than if you buy FedEx shipping through bikeflights.  When you buy from Bikeflights they email you a FedEx shipping label, which you can give to the shop that boxes your bike. You can even schedule a pickup from the shop when you buy from them. Last I checked, that was an extra $5.  In my case, the LBS near by house that I use for boxing is right around the corner from a FedEx Kinko's store. As a courtesy, the shop carries the boxed bike there for me.