posting a bike?

Fat Freddy's Cat said:

Need to send a bike from central Scotland to London...

It appears easy enough to arrange a courier to collect and deliver, but how
do I package it? Is there anywhere I might be able to purchase a cardboard
box for such a purpose? Can you send it without packaging?

Any advice much appreciated.

I was in the same position a couple of years back and just went to local
bike shop and asked them for a box. They did not have any problem with
that and were happy to let me have one. May even have done them a favour.

Cheers

Steve
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Email steve 'at' shodgson 'dot' org 'dot' uk

"Steve" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Fat Freddy's Cat said:

Need to send a bike from central Scotland to London...

It appears easy enough to arrange a courier to collect and deliver, but
how
do I package it? Is there anywhere I might be able to purchase a
cardboard
box for such a purpose? Can you send it without packaging?

Any advice much appreciated.

I was in the same position a couple of years back and just went to local
bike shop and asked them for a box. They did not have any problem with
that and were happy to let me have one. May even have done them a favour.

Cheers

Steve
--
The reply-to email address is a spam trap.
Email steve 'at' shodgson 'dot' org 'dot' uk

Been searching the net all night and it never even crossed my mind to go to
the local bike shop!

Thanks Steve.

g.

Fat Freddy's Cat said:

Need to send a bike from central Scotland to London...

It appears easy enough to arrange a courier to collect and deliver, but how
do I package it? Is there anywhere I might be able to purchase a cardboard
box for such a purpose? Can you send it without packaging?

Any advice much appreciated.
g.

Go to your local bike shop and ask them if they have any empty bike
boxes - [they get loads every time new bikes are delivered to the
stores]. They probably will. A few years ago I did the same thing as I
was moving to the States. I collected couple of bike boxes [from
Cheltenham Cycles,Cheltenham, England], packed the bikes after removing
the wheels, taking off the pedals and loosening and twisting the 'bars.
Plus putting spacers between the forks and the rear drop outs just in
case they got squeezed together.

The removal guys were overjoyed. They hate moving unpacked bikes. Bikes
can fall over, get caught up, spread oil everywhere and take up to much
space...

Cheers

Alan

On Monday 27 November 2006 22:36, Fat Freddy's Cat [[email hidden]]
wrote in message <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Need to send a bike from central Scotland to London...

It appears easy enough to arrange a courier to collect and deliver, but
how do I package it? Is there anywhere I might be able to purchase a
cardboard box for such a purpose? Can you send it without packaging?

My flatmate used to send bikes regularly which he'd sold via eBay. He works
for a bike shop (has done for many years) and has experience of packaging
bikes. Below is my best interpretation of how he packages bikes:

Your local bikeshop (I see others have already posted) will have a surplus
of bike boxes which they usually have to pay to have removed. If they let
you have one, make sure your bike will fit or grab a few different sizes
just to make sure.

Be sure to grab plenty of soft packaging also, mostly to stop various
components from rubbing against each other.

Remove the pedals and either wrap them separately inside the main box or fit
them to the cranks but pointing inwards.

Leave the wheels in place if possible. If not, cut a piece of wood to fit
tightly inside the drop-outs and tape it in place. This stops the forks and
stays from being pressed together.

Preferably just turn the handlebars sideways unless removal is easy, in
which case remove them and tape them firmly to the frame.

Loosen and drop the seat right down or remove it and also tape it securely
within the main box.

Tape up the chain to make sure it can't chafe against the frame or other
components.

Have a good look at the bike before it gets sealed inside the box. Look out
for any vulnerable components. I'd rather have to spend an extra hour
re-assembling a bike than spend a few extra days and several pounds
replacing bits which were bent in transit.

Fat Freddy's Cat said:

Need to send a bike from central Scotland to London...

It appears easy enough to arrange a courier to collect and deliver, but how
do I package it? Is there anywhere I might be able to purchase a cardboard
box for such a purpose?

Had the son's new bike delivered (was eight miles to the shop:EBC at
Alvanley terrace Edinburgh http://www.edinburgh-bicycle.co.uk/ )it came
with wheels on but bars turned through 90°and the pedals removed and a
few pieces of foam to stop the brake/gear cables scratching on things,
this was in a MASSIVE box,was told at order/fitting time that we could
collect the bike. So some people must ride the bikes home ergo they
will have more boxes than delivered bikes, maybe if you ask nicely they
will give you a box add a few bits of lagging to protect the frame from
the cables... .
Don't know about sending a bike unpacked, wouldn't do that myself.

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