MTB Travelling

I just shipped a bike by UPS from Southern Oregon to Texas. I had to buy a bike box which was $30.00. I took the bike apart and packed it in the box with bubble wrap. The total weight ended up being 50lbs. The cost was $65.00 to ship it UPS. Most bike shops will give you a bike box free or for a small fee. None of our local shops had any left so I had to buy one at UPS. It was 54X28X8. This way you can ship the bike ahead of time and have it ready when you arrive. I have not tried putting my bike on an airplane. Good Luck, hope that helps.

You can rent nice bikes in Tampa or Orlando, you can purchase bike specific cases for planes or like Sarge said you can ship it. If you decide to rent a bike call AJ's Bike and Board in Bloomingdale or look them up online. They are outside of Tampa. If you want to fly your bike call the airline and ask for a price(usually 50 bucks) and be sure to insure the bike whether you fly or ship. If you rent be sure to bring your own pedals as most shops only supply flats. If you fly, your best bet is to bring it on the plane, the traveling case required will last many years and would be good for roadtrips with limited space in the future. Look on Price Point or Jenson USA for good deals on cases.

P.S. If you do decide to bring the bike on the plane do not use a UPS or Fed-Ex cardboard box, the baggage handlers will not be as nice to your bike as UPS or Fed-Ex. Put it in something rugged or well padded.

Whatever you do don't send it fedex. I had my bike shipped to AZ to ride over thanksgiving and on the return trip they dented the frame and bent a chain ring in like 30 degreese. The frame and everything in the box was wraped in 3 layesr fo bubble wrap. I could not see any metal on the bike at all once it was wrapped and still the frame got dented. The frame has since been considered totaled by my local bikeshop and i am trying to get money out of fedex. The damage is almost what i paid for the bike. Its really sad because the 2005 rocky mountain slayer 50 frame is no longer available so i baisically have to start over w/ a nw bike or a new company for the frame...and i love my rocky.

....anyway, my point is.....don't send it via fedex and get a real hardcase box if u do ship it or bring it on the plane. Good Luck!

the average price to put a bike on a plane is around $85 for domestic. flying into the US on int. flights is usualy free. Goes to show that US comapnies want that money!
RIDE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT.

I know this is an 'aged' topic, but I have some advice that may help.
I manage a parts department at a large manufacturing facility. I ship parts all over the world via UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc. The one thing I urge anyone to do when shipping ANYTHING of value, is INSURE IT. Even for something that's a few thousand dollars, it will only be $20 bucks or so to insure it. UPS (which I use 99% of the time) will automatically insure any parcel up to $100. Anything more than that, you have to specify.
In the even that damage does occur, if you are face to face with the delivery driver, or at a carrier facility, have them note it in the hand-held computer. If you don't see any damage until you open it up, then call the carrier and make sure you have the tracking/pro number.
One of two (or both) things can happen: First, they may send you labels to ship it to their claims center. This allows them to see the damage for themselves. They will evaluate it, and send it back within a few days and will call with the result of their findings. Second, they will ask for a receipt, so make sure you have one (or all of your receipts for all the upgrades on your bike if they lost it). It may take a while to get a check, but if you insure it, and can prove that you paid for it, you'll be ok. Oh, I almost forgot, if it's something that can be repaired, you could probably get a quote from a bike shop and that should do it. The important thing to remember is INSURE IT. Then you have recourse if something is missing or damaged.
One more thing: If you are in hurry and need your bike to be somewhere in one, two or three days, if it's late, the shipping is either free, or will only cost what ground shipping would cost.
I hope this helps.