General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane? Rss Feed  
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2017-04-26 8:48 AM

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Subject: Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane?
I live in Boston and I'm signed up for the Ironman 70.3 in Victoria (Vancouver, BC). I'm trying to decide if I should ship my bike (maybe via FedEx) for a cost of about $160 or buy a case (for about $400) and bring it on the plane. Obviously the case would be something I'd need to use a few times to justify the cost.

Main issue is whether the bike is safer with me or do I trust it in a cardboard box in the back of a FedEx ground shipping van.

Btw, here is the case/bag I'm looking at, which seems to get great reviews: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006J42FS6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?i...



2017-04-26 9:14 AM
in reply to: halfironmike


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Subject: RE: Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane?
Whatever you do, make sure you don't have any ivory or mpingo wood on your bike or it will get seized coming back in....unless you have the proper CITES certification.

Sorry....musicians joke.
2017-04-26 9:36 AM
in reply to: halfironmike

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Subject: RE: Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane?
Originally posted by halfironmike

I live in Boston and I'm signed up for the Ironman 70.3 in Victoria (Vancouver, BC). I'm trying to decide if I should ship my bike (maybe via FedEx) for a cost of about $160 or buy a case (for about $400) and bring it on the plane. Obviously the case would be something I'd need to use a few times to justify the cost.

Main issue is whether the bike is safer with me or do I trust it in a cardboard box in the back of a FedEx ground shipping van.

Btw, here is the case/bag I'm looking at, which seems to get great reviews: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006J42FS6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?i...




Some places rent bags/boxes to bring on the plane
I would say you have a better chance of it arriving safely in a bike bag/box by plane than FedEx
I think AirCanada is $60 each way. + rental of a case it would be about break even but I would prefer bringing it with me.

I think cardboard box/FedEx, you are asking for trouble. IMHO.
2017-04-26 10:41 AM
in reply to: halfironmike

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Subject: RE: Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane?
Check with your airline on the costs. Delta costs $150 each way to have a bike on the plane. So that adds $300 per trip in addition to the box. Also look into transport services like tri bike transport.
2017-04-26 11:03 AM
in reply to: 3mar

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Subject: RE: Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane?
Originally posted by 3mar
Also look into transport services like tri bike transport.

I have had nothing but positive experiences with TBT. To me the convenience is well worth the money. YMMV. You should check their website to see if they pick up near you. Have a great race!
2017-04-26 11:10 AM
in reply to: kalish

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Subject: RE: Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane?
I should mention that I used TBT for IMMT and it was fantastic. Unfortunately they don't go to Victoria Island and their site basically refers you to a regular shipping company.

This seems like a tough call. I'm inclined to bring the bike on the plane, but I don't want to spend $400 on the bag and then another $150 to the airline!


2017-04-26 1:15 PM
in reply to: halfironmike

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Subject: RE: Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane?

I'd be more inclined to get it on the plane with me than ship with an external vendor, but you have to weigh the costs.

If you can ask around, another local triathlete may have a bike box you can borrow? Or, a friend of mine put hers on the plane in a cardboard bike box - the kind they ship new bikes to the local bike shop in, so you could check with a LBS to see if they have any laying around. She put hers on the plane and just got one of those airport carts at baggage claim to get it out to the car.

2017-04-26 2:57 PM
in reply to: lisac957

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Subject: RE: Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane?
TriBike Transport is shipping to the Victoria 70.3. Check out their website. This is the safest way to go.
2017-04-26 3:02 PM
in reply to: amymengel

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Subject: RE: Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane?
Originally posted by amymengel

TriBike Transport is shipping to the Victoria 70.3. Check out their website. This is the safest way to go.


Unfortunately not from Massachusetts. That's my problem. When I go to the TBT website, the Victoria race is listed, but when I enter that I'm starting out in Massachusetts it says that I have to use their "pack and ship" model and it's $450.00. It even says: "It is not TBT's regular transport system."

2017-04-26 4:18 PM
in reply to: halfironmike

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Subject: RE: Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane?
tri bike transport is a bit of a ripoff. if you can wrench your own bike look into bikeflights.com
2017-04-26 4:24 PM
in reply to: halfironmike

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Subject: RE: Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane?
Originally posted by halfironmike

I live in Boston and I'm signed up for the Ironman 70.3 in Victoria (Vancouver, BC). I'm trying to decide if I should ship my bike (maybe via FedEx) for a cost of about $160 or buy a case (for about $400) and bring it on the plane. Obviously the case would be something I'd need to use a few times to justify the cost.

Main issue is whether the bike is safer with me or do I trust it in a cardboard box in the back of a FedEx ground shipping van.

Btw, here is the case/bag I'm looking at, which seems to get great reviews: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006J42FS6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?i...




I wouldn't read too much into reviews. Talk to any pro (usually we don't have good info but we travel a lot and know bike cases). The joke always is everyone loves a soft case until something breaks then they don't. Given enough time and travel nearly everyone will end up with a hard case. They just offer a lot more protection.

I am all for the Thule Round Case despite not getting as high of rating on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2oKvyKt


2017-04-27 5:14 PM
in reply to: ThomasGerlach ProTri

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Subject: RE: Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane?
Ask your local bike shop. I was able to rent a new bike container for like $60/week. Beats paying $400 for one since. after flying with bike, I decided to only do races I could drive to unless it was one I really really wanted to do....so I would have got one use out of it.
2017-04-28 6:33 AM
in reply to: Blastman

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Subject: RE: Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane?
That a great idea for bike shops to do actually. Or just ask a friend as well.
2017-04-28 5:56 PM
in reply to: halfironmike

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Subject: RE: Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane?
How about looking up the cost of renting a tri bike? I saw a Kona site where they advertised as low as $30 a day.
2017-05-02 8:03 AM
in reply to: bkh66

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Subject: RE: Should I ship my bike or bring it on the plane?
Doubt they would rent a Tribike in Victoria. Oak Bay does rentals and demos... I'd anyone would do it they would. If the OP was training on road + clip onset then this would be the smart play. I would fly with my bike. Last thing you want is to ship a bike, get there and find out customs still has it.
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