Flying with vs. shipping...

Get a couple of old hubs/axles to clamp onto your front and rear
dropouts to help prevent a crushing blow? Lots of padding and tape to
keep it all in place. Wifey shipped her bike from AZ to MI and back via
UPS with no problems. Tom

Chris Glidden said:

I'm heading up the the panhandle of ID in a couple weeks (Sandpoint) and am
a quandry. I hate to trust UPS or FedEX with my baby BUT having a toddler
an infant and an overpacking wife in my company makes it kind of difficult
logistically to get everything to and from everywhere we are going. I have
flown with bikes previously (love the bag Carla) and it is difficult just
with my own personal gear without having to worry about car seats,
strollers, etc. Any advice, warnings re: shipping?

Also, I have scoped out some trails in the area, Gold Hill right in
Sandpoint and Bernard Peak are on the top of my list right now. I spoke to
Erin at Sports Plus in Sandpoint, she let me know about some new trails they
have been working on that she'll give me the skinny on when I get there.
Penny (aka Formica), you were able to help me out on MTBR (I posted as
MTB_Dad), thanks for the help.

I'll only be able to get a day or two of riding in as this is a family vaca,
and my much beloved wife just doesn't "understand". You would think she
would understand as I was riding 2-3 times a week when we met. It's all
good.

CG

Chris Glidden said:

I'm heading up the the panhandle of ID in a couple weeks (Sandpoint) and am
a quandry. I hate to trust UPS or FedEX with my baby BUT having a toddler
an infant and an overpacking wife in my company makes it kind of difficult
logistically to get everything to and from everywhere we are going. I have
flown with bikes previously (love the bag Carla) and it is difficult just
with my own personal gear without having to worry about car seats,
strollers, etc. Any advice, warnings re: shipping?

Also, I have scoped out some trails in the area, Gold Hill right in
Sandpoint and Bernard Peak are on the top of my list right now. I spoke to
Erin at Sports Plus in Sandpoint, she let me know about some new trails they
have been working on that she'll give me the skinny on when I get there.
Penny (aka Formica), you were able to help me out on MTBR (I posted as
MTB_Dad), thanks for the help.

I'll only be able to get a day or two of riding in as this is a family vaca,
and my much beloved wife just doesn't "understand". You would think she
would understand as I was riding 2-3 times a week when we met. It's all
good.

CG

Google a bit as I have replied many times on this very subject. Having
both flown and fedexed my rides, I now only FedEx them. Safer, cheaper,
and INSURED!

I wrap my bike in pallet wrap and put a block of wood between the
drop-outs in front and back. Then it goes in the Trico Iron-Case.
Cross-country shipping via fedex never costs me more than $45.

--
o-o-o-o Ride-A-Lot o-o-o-o
www.schnauzers.ws

"Chris Glidden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:jOFkg.2074$sP1.1354@fed1read07...

Quoted message said:

I'm heading up the the panhandle of ID in a couple weeks (Sandpoint) and
am a quandry. I hate to trust UPS or FedEX with my baby BUT having a
toddler an infant and an overpacking wife in my company makes it kind of
difficult logistically to get everything to and from everywhere we are
going. I have flown with bikes previously (love the bag Carla) and it is
difficult just with my own personal gear without having to worry about car
seats, strollers, etc. Any advice, warnings re: shipping?

Also, I have scoped out some trails in the area, Gold Hill right in
Sandpoint and Bernard Peak are on the top of my list right now. I spoke
to Erin at Sports Plus in Sandpoint, she let me know about some new trails
they have been working on that she'll give me the skinny on when I get
there. Penny (aka Formica), you were able to help me out on MTBR (I posted
as MTB_Dad), thanks for the help.

I'll only be able to get a day or two of riding in as this is a family
vaca, and my much beloved wife just doesn't "understand". You would think
she would understand as I was riding 2-3 times a week when we met. It's
all good.

CG

I've shipped with both Fedex and UPS. They both do something
hugely damaging to the shipping container during transit. Both times, the
straps
were destroyed and on one occasion one of the locks was literally ripped
off. If you ship it make sure you use a hard plastic shipping
container made for bikes. It averaged about $60 one way to ship it from
Maryland to
Sedona, AZ and about the same from Maryland to Steamboat Springs, CO.

I shipped to bike shops in both locations.

Marty

Chris Glidden said:

I'm heading up the the panhandle of ID in a couple weeks (Sandpoint)
and am a quandry. I hate to trust UPS or FedEX with my baby BUT
having a toddler an infant and an overpacking wife in my company
makes it kind of difficult logistically to get everything to and from
everywhere we are going.

Ship the kid and wife and buy two plane seats for the bike.

Problem solved; off you go.

<eg>

Bill "don't forget to punch air holes" S.

Sorni said:

Chris Glidden said:

I'm heading up the the panhandle of ID in a couple weeks (Sandpoint)
and am a quandry. I hate to trust UPS or FedEX with my baby BUT
having a toddler an infant and an overpacking wife in my company
makes it kind of difficult logistically to get everything to and from
everywhere we are going.

Ship the kid and wife and buy two plane seats for the bike.

Problem solved; off you go.

<eg>

Bill "don't forget to punch air holes" S.

I like! Bwahahahaha!!!

"Sorni" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Chris Glidden said:

I'm heading up the the panhandle of ID in a couple weeks (Sandpoint)
and am a quandry. I hate to trust UPS or FedEX with my baby BUT
having a toddler an infant and an overpacking wife in my company
makes it kind of difficult logistically to get everything to and from
everywhere we are going.

Ship the kid and wife and buy two plane seats for the bike.

Problem solved; off you go.

<eg>

Bill "don't forget to punch air holes" S.

Now why didn't I think of that??? Where the hell are my priorities these
days?

"Chris Glidden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:jOFkg.2074$sP1.1354@fed1read07...

Quoted message said:

I have
flown with bikes previously (love the bag Carla) and it >is difficult just
with my own personal gear without having to worry >about car seats,
strollers, etc. Any advice, warnings re: shipping?

Hahahaha, the bike bag is still going strong! I have flown with bikes and
also shipped them. I have been extremely lucky to have not had any damaged
bikes in either case. Carrying the bike on the airplane is a pain in the
[censored], that's for sure, especially when you have your other luggage, plus
children, etc. I have done it a few times and I am at the point where I
don't think I will do it again. Plus, the airline charges you and arm and a
leg. My preference is FedEx. As long as you pack and secure your bike like
Fort Knox, then everything should be fine. I have received boxes back from
shipping from another location and have received the actual boxes beaten to
hell and chunks missing, but the bike was in perfect condition. Its all
about how you pack and secure it inside the box.

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

"Chris Glidden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:jOFkg.2074$sP1.1354@fed1read07...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'll only be able to get a day or two of riding in as this is a family

vaca,

Quoted message said:

and my much beloved wife just doesn't "understand". You would think she
would understand as I was riding 2-3 times a week when we met. It's all
good.

If you think you'll only have time to ride a day or two just bring pedals,
your gear, and rent.

Greg

G.T. said:

"Chris Glidden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:jOFkg.2074$sP1.1354@fed1read07...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'll only be able to get a day or two of riding in as this is a family

vaca,

Quoted message said:

and my much beloved wife just doesn't "understand". You would think she
would understand as I was riding 2-3 times a week when we met. It's all
good.

If you think you'll only have time to ride a day or two just bring pedals,
your gear, and rent.

Greg

It's not the bike, it's the rider.

JD

"G.T." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

If you think you'll only have time to ride a day or two just bring pedals,
your gear, and rent.

That's what we have decided to do from now on. Its just too time consuming
packing the bike and making sure everything is perfect.

- CA-G

Can-Am Girls Kick Ass!

"G.T." <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Chris Glidden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:jOFkg.2074$sP1.1354@fed1read07...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I'll only be able to get a day or two of riding in as this is a family

vaca,

Quoted message said:

and my much beloved wife just doesn't "understand". You would think she
would understand as I was riding 2-3 times a week when we met. It's all
good.

If you think you'll only have time to ride a day or two just bring pedals,
your gear, and rent.

Greg

That was my first choice, however there is only one LBS in town that rents
and they are cruisers. You can rent some nice bikes at the resort
(Schweizer) but they won't let you take them off the property. None of the
rides that I want to do are within the resort so that leaves that out.

CG

"JD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

G.T. said:

"Chris Glidden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:jOFkg.2074$sP1.1354@fed1read07...

Quoted message said:

>
I'll only be able to get a day or two of riding in as this is a family

vaca,

Quoted message said:

and my much beloved wife just doesn't "understand". You would think
she
would understand as I was riding 2-3 times a week when we met. It's
all
good.

If you think you'll only have time to ride a day or two just bring
pedals,
your gear, and rent.

Greg

It's not the bike, it's the rider.

JD

Indeed, I just don't see myself doing long climbs and technical descents on
a 35+lb single speed beach cruiser. I suppose I could, but I just don't
want to. If I could rent something somewhat decent that would definitely be
the way to go.

CG

Based on Rides-a-lot's suggestion, I will ship my bike to my next
destination. Between the extra $75+ airlines charge for the
"oversized" luggage and the way the TSA molested my bike on previous
journeys, I'm going to opt for FedEx for my trip to Oregon in August
and Sedona trip in the Oct. Door to door delivery, less money. BUT,
like previous posters, I do recommend a Trico or similar bike designed
box.

Enjoy mtbike travel more when the travel you feel is YOUR bike, not a
rental.

Chip <just up for air, going back in............>