Re: [CR]Shipping a bike.

<classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>; "Bruce C." <BruceCumberland@comcast.net> Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 11:25 AM Subject: Re: [CR]Shipping a bike.

> Regarding Raoul's effort to get prcing on imaginary weights and various
> shipping methods, just go online to the USPS site (www.USPS.com) and there
> is a domestic and international cost calculator where you can punch in all
> sorts of shipping methods, weight, size combos and get their published
> prices. I've used it a number of times and find it to be accurate.
>
> Good luck
>
> Eric Elman
> Somers, CT
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Raoul Delmare" <Raoul.L.Delmare@worldnet.att.net>
> To: "C.R. List" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>; "Bruce C."
> <BruceCumberland@comcast.net>
> Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 10:34 AM
> Subject: Re: [CR]Shipping a bike.
>
>
> > Excellent advice in those previous posts !!
> >
> > And here are some additional notes about international rates , through
> the
> > official U.S. Postal Service :
> >
> > 1.) In the U.S.A. , as most folks know ( because of good old Lance
> > Armstrong ) , the "Mails" or the "Post" , is the U.S.P.S. , The
> > United States Postal Service .
> >
> > 2.) If it is anything over four ( 4 ) pounds in weight , it is termed
> > "Parcel Post" .
> >
> > 3.) The lowest level of Parcel Post is , "Economy" , by
> ground-surface
> > transport . The standard guess is that it should arrive in perhaps 3
> to
> > 6 WEEKS . That's right , like a month , or more . And in that
> > amount of time , there is plenty of extra time for extra damage .
> >
> > 4.) The next level of Parcel Post is , "Airmail" . The standard
> guess
> > is that it should arrive in 7 to 10 DAYS . The price is roughly
> > double the price of "Economy" .
> >
> > 5.) Then we go up into the seriously expensive levels ! When the
> > U.S.P.S. uses the term "Global" , they mean expensive . We have
> arrived
> > at the "Global Priority" level . I just telephoned my local Post
> Office
> > . The nice person tried to do a quick price check on an imaginary 15
> > pound box . We were both surprised to learn that the U.S.P.S. does not
> > even offer Global Priority , on boxes with some weight in them , to
> > Australia ! I didn't ask , and don't recall exactly , but the
> standard
> > guess is that it should arrive in something like 4 or 5 days .
> >
> > 6.) The absolute "top-of-the-line" is "Global Express" . When you
> > walk into a Post Office , with a large box , and ask to send it by
> Global
> > Express , you can expect to pay some real money . You are now putting
> > yourself up into the stratosphere of super-deluxe . Some people may
> > experience nose-bleeding at those altitudes of pricing ! When I called
> > this morning , and asked about an imaginary 15 pound box to Australia by
> > Global Express , the nice person tried . But the computer wanted an
> > actual label to scan , and an actual weight on the scale . So , we
> > couldn't come up with a price . ( if I'd been there in person I could
> > have looked it up in a very large book - but the person I was talking to
> > on the telephone had other customers to help ! ) Global Express arrives
> > with some serious speed . I've sent a letter from Kansas City (
> middle
> > of the U.S.A. ) to London , with delivery there in less than two ( less
> > than 2 ) days ! I don't know if boxes travel at the same incredible
> > speeds .
> >
> > 7.) I would strongly recommend "Parcel Post" "Airmail" .
> >
> > 8.) However , even though "Global Priority" seems to be not available
> ,
> > and we know that "Global Express" is very-very expensive . . .
> > Still , Global Express may be cheaper than sending it by commercial
> > companies such as U.P.S. or Fed.Ex. !
> >
> > Raoul Delmare
> > Marysville Kansas
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Thomas R. Adams, Jr." <kctommy@msn.com>
> > To: <DTSHIFTER@aol.com>; <lynnmiller@optusnet.com.au>;
> > <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
> > Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 7:43 AM
> > Subject: Re: [CR]Shipping a bike.
> >
> >
> > >
> > > I've been able to ship 63cm bikes through USPS in compliance with the
> 108
> > inch size limit, but it takes two boxes; one for the wheels and one for
> the
> > frame. And you have to scrupulously minimize the size of the box around
> the
> > frame to meet the size limit. I had to repack a frame once when I didn't
> > notice the box I scavenged from the bike shop was 8 inches wide instead of
> 7
> > inches. The two extra inches (girth measures top and bottom width) put me
> > at 109 inches, and the clerk at the desk had no sense of humor.
> > >
> > > Of course you have to remove the wheels, pedals, seat post, handlebars,
> > and drive side crank (or at least the chainrings, which is probably too
> much
> > work) to get a 63cm frame to fit. The seat cluster is then the tallest
> > point on the frame. You may or may not be able to leave a seat post in
> > there for protection. On one extremely long frame I had to cut another
> inch
> > off the height of the box to meet the 108 inch limit. A smaller frame is
> > obviously easier. With the fork spun 180 degrees, the length of the box is
> > about 40 inches, which gives you 27 inches for height, assuming a 7 inch
> > wide box. 40 + (2 x 27) + (2 x 7) = 108. Amazing on my frames how often
> > the height is exactly 27 inches.
> > >
> > > It is possible to leave the handlebars on if you unwrap one top section
> to
> > enable you to slide the bars towards the back of the bike after twisting
> > them 90 degrees to the right or left. I usually just unhook the brake
> > cables, pull the whole handlebar assembly and ship with the wheels. You
> may
> > also have to pull the front brake and spin the fork 180 degrees to shorten
> > the frame a few more inches.
> > >
> > > Two boxes through USPS has always been cheaper than one big UPS or Fed
> Ex
> > box, but I don't know about Australia and USPS Global Express rates. As
> > always, stuff that box full of non crushable packing material to prevent
> the
> > mail gorillas from mangling the bike. I usually put removed items in with
> > the wheels box to avoid having loose items roaming around with the frame,
> > scratching the paint.
> > >
> > > Tom Adams, Shrewsbury NJ
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >From: DTSHIFTER@aol.com
> > > >To: lynnmiller@optusnet.com.au, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> > > >Subject: Re: [CR]Shipping a bike.
> > > >Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2003 06:59:48 EST
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >In a message dated 10/30/03 2:24:50 AM, lynnmiller@optusnet.com.au
> > writes:
> > >
> > >
> > > >Could anyone here tell me the least expensive way to get a bike from
> > > >the US to Australia? I have been quoted some very hideous prices.
> > > >I am sure among the collectors here, there is plenty of bike shipping
> > > >experience.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >Morning Lynn,
> > >
> > >The least expensive shipping is usually with the US Postal Service,
> > however,
> > >they limit the size of a package shipped to Austrialia via airmail parcel
> > or
> > >economy (surface) to a maximum of length + girth = 79". If you go with
> USPS
> > >Global Express, the size gets increased to 108" which is barely enough to
> > fit a
> > >complete bicycle (with creative packing) as long as it's not a very large
> > >frame. Global Express should be much less than either UPS or FedEx
> however.
> > >UPS and FedEx are very expensive (I know) and I have been told by a few
> > folks
> > >that Airborne Express is much less than UPS & FedEx, but I have no direct
> > >experience with that carrier.
> > >
> > >Best,
> > >Chuck Brooks
> > >Malta, NY