shipping a bike

[Brandi]

So has anyone ever shipped a bike to a location for a ride?
What is the method for shipping that you have found that works best? Need to ship from California to Colorado. We are flying and could do it that way but they don't insure your item. Which sucks cause my bike is expensive and I don't want to risk that. And I have seen how they handle luggage.

[Pedal Wench]

I've had very bad luck with Fed Ex Ground. Gonna spring for Fed Ex Air next month - I'll report back afterwards...

[Brandi]

How much is that going to run you?
I have three bikes to ship.

[Brandi]

Is that a doughnut on top of that bunny's head?

[DeniseGoldberg]

There are a couple of recent threads about shipping bikes - both from a packing and a shipping standpoint. One of them is titled "shipping horror stories" but it actually contains some good info. (It's possible that you've already seen these, if so - sorry for the duplication.)

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...shipping+bikes - titled shipping horror stories

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...shipping+bikes - titled traveling w/ bikes on plane

[Pedal Wench]

Is that a doughnut on top of that bunny's head?

Chocolate doughnut, to be precise!

I don't care how much FedEx is gonna charge. Honestly, I've blown more on a bad dinner out, and the worry is just too much to go any other way. Delta does not track packages, so if they lose it, it could stay lost, and because I'm going out right before my ride, I don't have time to waste for them to track it down.
Fed Ex Ground lost my BF's bike on the way BACK from our last trip for two weeks. Claimed it to be a total loss (just casually said, "Sorry, we don't know where it is, file a claim, goodbye") and then it finally showed up. I've had two pieces of luggage that I shipped and they destroyed the bags, and in the process of them accessing the damage, they lost them, never to be seen again. So, I don't like them at all.

I'll let you know in a few weeks what FedEx Air is gonna charge. I have too much invested in my bike to try it any other way.