| Title: | Bicycling | 
| Notice: | Bicycling for Fun | 
| Moderator: | JAMIN::WASSER | 
| Created: | Mon Apr 14 1986 | 
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 | 
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 | 
| Number of topics: | 3214 | 
| Total number of notes: | 31946 | 
    I'm shipping my road bike cross-country and need advice regarding
    the most efficient way of going about it.  There was note on bike
    boxes about 5 years ago but doesn't go in specific detal.  Namely:
    
    I have a sturdy bike box from my shop.  Which conponents must I
    dis-assemble; pedals, front wheel, handle bars -- anything else?
    
    Is there a way to remove the handebars without disconnecting the
    brake cables?  What tools will I need to de and re-assemble the
    bike and brakes?   What kind of packing material should I use?  
    
    What's the best method (safety/cost effectiveness) of transport?
    Right now I'm considering UPS 2nd day air.
    
    Thanks in advance for fielding these intro questions.
    
    LArry   
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952.1 | packing tips | SHALOT::ELLIS | John Lee Ellis - assembly required | Tue May 28 1991 19:26 | 29 | 
|     Depending on the size of the box from your bike shop,
    you will probably have to remove:
    
     - saddle & seatpost
     - both wheels
     - stem & handlebars
     - pedals
     - the rear derailleur.
    
    For packing material, consider wrapping the frame tubes, etc.,
    in bubble plastic or the foam-plastic sheets.  Pack the loose
    components in this wrapping, too, so they don't jostle and scratch
    each other or the frame.
    
    Place a wooden block or equivalent between the fork-tips and the
    chain/seat-stay tips (namely, where the wheels' axles would go).
    
    You do not have to detach the brake cables (or the rear derailleur
    cable) but make sure there is padding between the stem/handlebar
    assembly and the frame - also, tape the stem/handlebar assembly
    to the frame (same for rear derailleur).
    
    I might also wrap the chain-rings (teeth) to protect them.
    
    That should do it for you.  I'll let someone knowledgeable about
    shipping companies carry on from here.
    
    Good luck.
    -john
 | |||||
| 1952.2 | bigger bike boxes | OXNARD::KLEE | Ken Lee | Tue May 28 1991 20:15 | 6 | 
|     Some boxes are alot bigger than others.  The Amtrack (I think) ones are
    big enough to fit your bike with only the pedals removed (and
    handlebars turned).
    
    Ken
    
 | |||||
| 1952.3 | When I did it | AD::CRANE | I'd rather be on my bicycle | Wed May 29 1991 09:27 | 23 | 
|     
      Last year when I shipped my bike from Mass to Georgia I used UPS.
    
      I went to the Local shop and asked them for a bike box that will 
    meet the size requirements for UPS.  To pack the bike I removed the 
    front wheel, turned the handlebars sideways and taped them to the
    frame.  Then I removed the rear deraileur and taped it into the spokes
    of the rear wheel.  I forget if I had to remove the pedals or not but
    I think I did.  Its a good Idea to put some kind of shipping axle in
    the front wheel as mentioned earlier.  I was able to put the Saddle all
    the way down and fit it into the box that way.  I also packed my
    helmet, shoes and a few other Items inside the box with the bike.  The
    only tools I remember using were my trusty Alen wrenches.
    
      I took the bike to the Local UPS location.  they have chain that is a
    specific length that they wrap around the box.  If the chain dosn't
    make it around the box is too big.  With the box I used the chain just
    barely made it around.  I think it cost me about $18 and it took 4 days
    by normal UPS shipment.
    
    
    John C.
    
 | |||||
| 1952.4 | Other than UPS = big $$! | SCAM::DIAL | Thu May 30 1991 17:01 | 5 | |
|     If your bike can possibly go UPS it is definintly the best way.  I did
    some checking one time for shipping my bike, and it was going to be
    $60.00 - $200.00 for non UPS carriers.
    
    Barry
 | |||||
| 1952.5 | SWAM1::ANDRIES_LA | and so it goes ... | Tue Jun 04 1991 11:34 | 5 | |
|     Thanks for all the help!  My bike is enroute from Los Angeles to
    Stockbridge, MA.
    
    LArry
    (It's going to be a great adventure ...)
 | |||||