shipping ups vs. flying your bike

That is a rare occurrence with TSA. Is your bike is okay?

I shipped my bike Federal Express Ground this March to a tri camp in CA due to ridiculously high bike fees on US Air and guess what my bike frame was ruined. My bike box had been squished.

If you are going to ship your bike, there is always a risk it may get damaged. No one way is always best.

I have had that unfortunate experience as well. I have shipped bikes (UPS, Fed-Ex) as well as paid to put them on plane. In the bike box I have not had really any issues as there is sufficient space for them to not pack it back the same way (which is gaurenteed to happen!). Have also had BIL take it to France and they only put your bike on IF there is room! with domestic travel not so much an issue but with international be careful. With bike box best bet is to ship directly and make sure to give yourself plenty of time to get it there.

I also have an S&S coupled road bike that I take as I travel often and have had some unfortunate luck there. Have had the clamps to close suicase broken off on the trip in ( I now carry an extra in my suitcase incase), All my parts (pedals, multitool, lube, tubes, etc) I carry in a sealed bag which they opened and did not even bother to put back in. They just dumped it in the suitcase and closed it up. This leads to different problems as the tolerance for where everything goes in an S&S packed case is very tight as you can see from picture. I have now laminated some pics of packing steps so hopoefully they follow it in putting it back together. No way to avoind this one. I do hate TSA

(S&S packed.JPG)

Not necessary.  Next time, when you are checking the bike, ask them if you can be present if they have to open it.  They run some quick test on it that tells them whether they have to open it or not.  If they do, you're there.  If they don't, say thanks and go head to your airplane.

I've flown with my bike at least a dozen times and I've only ever had ONE thing break (a derailleur cable).  And that happened to be the ONE time I didn't ask to be present if they had to open it.  I've never put locks on my bike or any special padding around the frame.  And nothing bad has ever happened to it.  Please don't let one bad experience deter you.

FWIW, a friend of mine shipped her carbon bike by Fed Ex sometime this year and she had padding all around the frame and Fed Ex STILL managed to destroy her carbon frame.  So, it can happen if you Fed Ex it to.  All you can do is pack it as well as you can, ask to be there if they have to open it, and hope for the best.

Sorry about your bike.  I hope none of it was unfixable.

Edited to add: Just realized that my friend Kathy posted about her Fed Ex experience above!

I did not know  that I could be present when they have to open it.  that would have made a huge difference.

despite the box looking like a yard sale , the only gear that was damaged was the aero helmet that i paid $50 for used. The box will need some work . I got the bike back together today and it "looks ok"

thanks

I did not know  that I could be present when they have to open it.  that would have made a huge difference.

despite the box looking like a yard sale , the only gear that was damaged was the aero helmet that i paid $50 for used. The box will need some work . I got the bike back together today and it "looks ok"

thanks