I have shipped my bike a few times. First when moving from Norway to Wisconsin. That time I just checked it in as luggage with my suitcases. Everything arrived without any problems. Second time when moving back to Norway. This time with a shipping company together with all my other boxes of random stuff. All arrived without any problems. This last time, when moving to UK, the shipping company lost all bike boxes including the one with the bike in it.

As for packing, I just did it myself. Went to the LBS and asked for an empty bike box which they let me have for free (they always have stacks of them in the back somewhere). When moving from Wisconsin back to Norway, the LBS was right across the street. When I picked up the box, they gave me some quick instructions on how to pack the bike. I then had to go back a few more times to borrow the necessary tools (I never had much and what I had was packed up). The guy was very helpful and all was free of charge even though I had never actually bought anything in there. It never hurts to ask....

But now that my latest bike shipment got lost/stolen, I'm a bit more nervous about shipping my bike. And I'll need to ship again next year when Trek420 and I are doing the AidsRide. Hopefully the guys in my LBS here where I bought the bike will be as helpful as the guys in WI. The bigger problem will be how to get the bike moved once it's in the box.....Diffucult to cycle home from the LBS with the bike packed up.....