Shipping bikes (one way)

[rebeccaC]

If there is a big time gap between when you get to your destination and the moving truck how about fedex'ing the one you most often ride and moving truck the others. For sending my bike to portland for my STP ride I got a used bike box, fork and derailleur guards and wheel plugs from my lbs for free. Bubble wrap (I'd use foam wrap for a painted bike), zip ties and roundtrip fedex with insurance from the los angeles area to portland was $160. I was able to pack it with just taking the wheels off, skewers out, handlebar off the stem, pedals off and lowering the seat. There has to be how to box a bike videos on the net. Personally I'd box the ones going in the moving truck too.

[Owlie]

How about fedex'ing the one you most often ride and moving truck the others. For sending my bike to portland for my STP ride I got a used bike box, fork and derailleur guards and wheel plugs from my lbs for free. Bubble wrap (I'd use foam wrap for a painted bike), zip ties and roundtrip fedex with insurance from the los angeles area to portland was $160. I was able to pack it with just taking the wheels off, skewers out, handlebar off the stem, pedals off and lowering the seat. Personally I'd box the ones going in the moving truck too.

I work at a bike shop, so I have access to packing materials. And yes, all three of them are getting boxed, regardless of how they're traveling.
Good thought on the sending them separately. My only concern is that the bike I ride most often (the Avail) is not the one that would cost the most to replace.

[OakLeaf]

We always express mine because you get better insurance, the ability to hold for pickup, and just less transit time means less opportunity for damage.

But there is FedEx Home, which I haven't priced in quite a while, but at least used to be MUCH cheaper, like $50 or $75. The destination address has to be residential and you have to drop the box off. That IMO would still be safer than a moving truck.

If it were me I'd probably express the Charge and FedEx Home the other two.

[indysteel]

How are you getting to Arizona? I'd you're driving, is there any chance you just put one or more of the bikes in your car?

[Crankin]

We had a bad experience with FedEx Home, shipping to Tucson. Granted, it was 10 years ago, but DS's bike was packed very carefully and ended up with a huge scratch. Personally, I think they decided they could get away with not taking responsibility for it, because they were dealing with an 18 year old. If we had been on the other end, it might have turned out differently.
Frankly, you take a chance no matter how you are shipping a bike.

[OakLeaf]

Express with FedEx. Most generally I prefer USPS for parcels, but it's cost prohibitive for something that large, and I've never had a problem with FedEx express (touch wood).