I'll second the AirCaddy/ShipBikes recommendation. I've used them 4 times, without any issues. The shipping crate they sell ($100) survived 3 round-trips before needing a replacement cardboard shell ($40). The crate is designed for minimal dis assembly of the bike. For many bikes you only need to remove the front wheel and seat, and rotate the handlebars. I was also able to fit my helmet, shoes, tools and bags in the crate.
http://www.aircaddy.com - Rob On Sep 24, 7:14 am, roadrunner <irvh...@aol.com> wrote: > I have used ShipBikes 3 times and it works great; no damage, no > scratches, perfect. You just have to ship a week early via FedEx. > Great system. > > On Sep 24, 8:07 am, Larry Powers <lapower...@hotmail.com> wrote: > > > Jim, > > > Hopefully I will be travelling to France next year with my coupled tandem. > > It fits into two travel cases that are the largest size that is allowed for > > luggage. If I don't decalre them as bicycles and the TSA then inspects the > > cases will this information get back to the Airline? > > > If you place a note in the cases that you want to be present for any > > inspection will this be honored? I assume that one should allow extra time > > at the airport for this. > > > When you shipped the bike was this domestic or foreign travel and who > > received it? > > > Thanks for the info. > > > Larry Powers > > > Get a bicycle. You will not regret it if you live. - Mark Twain > > > > Date: Wed, 23 Sep 2009 22:15:33 -0700 > > > Subject: [RBW] Re: S&S Recommendations > > > From: thill....@gmail.com > > > To: rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com > > > > A local framebuilder known to many in the RBW group coupled my > > > Atlantis. I had it powdercoated black, no decals. I am glad I did it. > > > Note that S&S is picky about which framebuilders install their > > > couplers. If you call them, they will refer you to Bilenky, and only > > > Bilenky. But ask around, as your local framebuilders may be able to do > > > it. > > > > What a lot of people don't consider: > > > 1. I am a bike mechanic as my day job, and it takes me ~1hr for > > > disassembly/packing, and another hour to unpack/reassemble. > > > 2. Your bike will get beat up no matter how carefully you pack. Not > > > for scratch-and-dent worriers. > > > 3. The airlines will try to charge you the full bike rate if they find > > > out it's a bike. Experiences vary, and arbitrariness rules. > > > 4. TSA may inspect your bike and not put it all back together with the > > > utmost care and precision. I ask to be present for a hand-check. > > > 5. Beyond the $800+ for coupler-install and repaint, be prepared to > > > spend $300-400 or more for the travel case, packing materials, etc. > > > 6. Be aware of the 50-lb weight limit. Bike plus accessories plus > > > tools plus case... it adds up fast. > > > 7. Lugging the heavy case through the airport, surprise fees, careless > > > inspectors, checking it with no insurance if it gets lost/damaged, > > > etc, is not for the faint of heart. Last time, I packed the bike in > > > the S&S case, then in a cardboard box, and shipped it UPS, with plenty > > > of insurance. > > > > On Sep 23, 10:41 pm, AJ <flyfisherman.cad...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Howdy folks, > > > > > I'd like to take my Rambo along with me on trips, it looks like S&S > > > > couplers are the way to go. Interested hearing from the group whose > > > > gone through the retrofitting process i.e. coupler installers, paint > > > > option chosen, decal replacement etc. > > > > > Many thanks in advance. > > > > AJ > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don’t worry about storage > > limits.http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_...Hide > > quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
