Bicycle Shipping - Easy and Affordable

My friend Ann takes her bike wherever she goes, even if
the trip isn't about biking - like her Christmas trip to
Arizona to visit her parents. We discussed the advantages
and compared some expenses.

In the end, I went to do a little research to find out what
would be the best way to go when traveling by airplane -
ship your bike in the cargo hold of the plane, ship it
ahead of time by UPS, or rent a bike when you arrive at
your destination.

Renting was the clear loser among the three options. For
one thing, it's not your bike, so it is likely to be
inferior along with not fitting you perfectly like your own
bike does. Also, it's expensive. You can rent a clunker
for $45 USD a day if you're in an area where bike rental is
even possible.

If you want a decent bike, though, you're going to pay at
least $65. So, if you rent and ride once or twice while
you're there, you'll have almost broken even with the cost
of shipping your bike. If you ride more than a couple
times, you're money ahead, once you've invested in some kind of
shipping carton.

Shipping your bike in the airplane's cargo hold is a good
option, and might be the best choice depending on the
circumstances. The advantages of carrying it with you on
the plane include the fact that you will have it with you
at all times. You won't be without your bike for the 2 to
6 It takes days, if shipping by UPS. You can also
Bag, which is not recommended for shipping by a
Service delivery.

Depending on the type of packaging used for
Transport, dismantle your bike is minimal. You can
from a minimum acceptance of the handlebars and pedals.
The cost is about $ 40 each way.

The option I like best from the courier service.
Depending on which center-to in the rule is the cost
undercarrying the bike on the plane. For example, you
can ship a bike from Miami to Chicago for around $30. The
biggest benefit here is the minimized hassle factor. There
is no waiting in long lines in the airport baggage claim
area, no packing it into the rental car. The bike is
delivered to your door.

You have a tracking number, so you can keep informed about
the when and where of your bike's current position while
it's en route. A good shipping carton is necessary, of
course, but for people who travel often it's worth the
investment.

Here is the run down of options for shipping cartons. You
can get a hard-sided bike suitcase for around $350 USD, and
it will last forever. For these, you have to take off both
of the wheels as well as handlebars, seat, and pedals to
fit the bike into the case.

For around $200, you can get a waterproof bike box that is
very durable and has the advantage of being collapsible
when not in use. I don't recommend the plain cardboard
rectangular boxes because they are expensive, around $150,
and only last for a handful of trips. Both the waterproof
and cardboard rectangular box come with tie-downs, straps,
and foam chocks. You do have to do some disassembly of the
bike, removing the pedals and handlebar.

There's one more shipping set-up that is a little less
expensive. For about $80, you can get a triangular
cardboard Shipping box. You have no
Dismantling, even the bars because of the triangular
form. Just use the quick release for the front wheel and
Safety, and held in place with the tie downs that are
available.

For detailed information about shoppers and packaging, go online
and insert the word "bicycle-Express" into a search engine.
You'll be pleased to discover that traveling with your bike
is accessible and fairly easily. If you do nottaken
your bike with you on trips already, I assure you that it's
worth it.