It's also important to try and keep the finished product under 108" of total girth plus length (the max. dimension for Priority Mail, among others). If that's not possible (it usually is on frames up to about 60 cm), then absolutely keep it under 130." I once shipped a lightweight (~32 pounds) tandem to California, but it was over 130" and cost about $180 to ship (learned a lesson on that one, for sure). I generally reverse the fork so it rakes inward, brace the dropouts front and rear, and use pipe insulation from the hardware store to wrap all tubes, and then put the whole thing inside a couple garbage bags, but there are several ways to go here..... It can also be helpful to put something fairly rigid that runs across the box in one or more places, to try and prevent it becoming smashed flat when someone inevitably lays it sideways and stacks forty-two other boxes on top of it..... Greg Parker Dexter, Michigan
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 11:47:43 -0500 From: Fredrick Yavorsky <fred@twistcomm.com> To: John Barry <usazorro@yahoo.com>, "classicrendezvous@bikelist.org" <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Subject: Re: [CR]Packing and Shipping Frame - Looking for Guidance
One way that I've used successfully is to get 2 bike boxes. I cut the
"sides" out of one that's a just a bit smaller than the other box so they
fit inside snugly. Call the sides A & B. Then I wrap up the frame and fork
in bubblewrap, adding a spacer between the fork ends and rear dropouts. (I
usually find these in the bike boxes that I've gotten for free from my LBS.)
Then here's the trick: I use zip ties to "lash" the bubble-wrapped frame
tightly to "A" and slip it into the box. "B" goes next to the frame on the
other side. So frame "foats" withing the outer box, never sitting on the
"floor" of the box. Fill all spaces with crushed newspaper. Try to start
with a "small" bike box if you can. I've aslo cut down a bike box shaving
one side dimesion to save a few bucks. I think FedEx ground has the best
prices. I will use the website to pre-pay, then bring the box to a FedEx
drop off center.
**********************************
Fred Yavorsky
Jenkintown, PA
fred@twistcomm.com
http://twistcomm.com/
> From: John Barry <usazorro@yahoo.com>
> Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 06:58:12 -0800 (PST)
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Subject: [CR]Packing and Shipping Frame - Looking for Guidance
>
> I will soon be packing an on-topic frame up for
> shipping - something I have never done before. I have
> several ideas, but I'm interested in soliciting the
> "best-practices" of those who've done this before.
>
> My primary interests are not paying more than I need
> to, and ensuring the frame, fork and headset arrive
> unscathed.
>
> Any suggestions will be much appreciated - off list is
> fine. Feel free to presume I'm a total ignoramus, as
> you wouldn't be far off the mark.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> John Barry,
> Mechanicsburg, PA