Shipping Your Bike

If you're going to be travelling any great distance to your touring venue, lugging your bike becomes a problem. You may not have enough time to drive across country and back with your bike, or you may be taking public transportation to your destination. You have two choices. You can rent a bike on site or you can package and ship your own bike.
      Commercial tour organizers, knowing their clients will often be travelling to get there, will have good bikes available to choose from; event ride organizers generally will not, but can usually direct you to local shops which will rent you one. If you want your own bike, you'll have to package and ship it.
      If you're shipping it, once again you have two choices. You can carry the bike on the plane/train/bus as luggage or send it ahead as frieght via a delivery service.
Lugging Your Bike
Taking your bike as luggage allows you to stay close to it, but you'll have to take a few extra steps and deal with security if you fly.
Bikes on A Plane
Most commercial airlines accept packaged bikes as luggage for domestic flights (some international flights outside the U.S. will take unboxed bikes). Expect to pay $50 to $100 each way. Fees will vary by airline, destination and over time, and fees and policies on bikes change frequently. Discuss everything with your carrier beforehand and make sure your flight(s) can accommodate your bike. Airlines don't generally offer insurance, so check with your own insurance company before you leave to make sure you're covered. Your box will be opened and inspected several times during your trip, especially if it's international - be sure the packaging can survive this process.
      You can use curbside check-in for your bike or rent a cart curbside at most terminals. You can park in a short-term parking lot, check your bike, then move your car to a long-term lot.
      If you're using a shuttle or a taxi to a local motel, make sure they know you have a bike so they can send the right size vehicle.
      Remember, like with all luggage, there's a chance your bike might not arrive on the same flight you do. Be prepared for all eventualities.
Public Ground Transportation
If you're travelling by bus or train, you can usually take your bike, but fees and boxing requirements will vary substantially among carriers. Some will allow loading and unloading of bikes only at designated stops. You'll need to do a lot of research on the carriers which serve your destination. If you'll be using local bus service on the beginning or ending legs of your trip, many cities have busses with convenient racks which allow you to bus and ride to your final destination. State departments of transportation (DOTs) will often have much practical information about this on their websites.
Delivery Services
Using a delivery service saves you the hassle of getting your bike through airports or riding it out of downtown train stations. However, you'll lose the use of it for a week or so before and after the event while it's in transit. You'll also have to pick up your bike and get back to the tour starting point rather than ride directly out from the airport, which tours sometimes do.
      UPS and FedEx can ship your bike just about anywhere domestically for $35 to $100, depending on size, weight and destination. It takes about a week, but you can pay more for speedier delivery. Make sure not to cut delivery times too tight - leave an extra day or two. Insuring your bike through the carrier saves a lot of hassle with your own insurance company and doesn't cost that much. Adventure Cycling Association members can get a discount through Sports Express, which uses UPS and FedEx, but tracks your bike, guarantees on-time delivery and offers a discount over standard shipping rates.
      You can ship your bike to a local bike shop or to your overnight accommodations - just make sure to arrange things ahead of time. If your tour is point to point, you'll need a new shipping carton (if you're using cardboard cases) or arrange to ship your hard case to the end point of the tour.
Packaging Your Bike
Whichever way you go, you'll probably have to package your bike for transport. There are two basic kinds: corrugated cardboard disposable cartons and hard plastic reusable cases. The former will cost you a few bucks at a local bike shop and the latter, which you can find on-line, will run up to $500. Just make sure the case you get will fit your bike.
      If you're uncertain about packing and shipping your bike yourself, your local bike shop will usually do this for a fee. If you want a premium packing job, specify this - it will probably cost more. Expect to pay $40 or so in addition to shipping fees.

Bike Access.net Resources
Bike Flights Shipping, planning
Boxing Your Bicycle (ACA)
Crate Works
How to Box & Ship Your Bike

On-line Bike Forums
Ship Bikes Shipping in U.S.
Shipping and Bike Cases (ACA)
Ship Your Bicycles Shipping

Shuttleguy   Comfort and convenience services for midwest bike tour participants
Sports Express   Custom shipper
Trico Sports   Shipping containers