Shipping Bicycle

[Chris Ball]

Hi all
Can anyone advıse of a cheap/reputable company for shıppıng my tourıng bicycle from Istanbul, Turkey to Australıa? Apprecıate any advıce on companıes to use, costs, your experınce, etc.
Look forward to any help!
Cheers

[Big Yellow Tractor]

Can't you just check a bike in as luggage ??

I'm sure I've seen bikes, as well as bloody great big golf bags and even surfboards sitting around airports.

[Alexlebrit]

Standard parcel companies will transport bikes, people like DHL and UPS. Thing to do is to try and get yourself to a bicycle shop and ask for a shipping box that one of their bikes come in. I've used UPS to send a bike to Australia before and it got there no problem and I could track it on-line, but they did want it well packed.

[Walkabout]

Originally Posted by Big Yellow Tractor

Can't you just check a bike in as luggage ??

.

You certainly can; just get one of those bike boxes mentioned in another post, take off the pedals and turn them inwards (or just pack them in other luggage), turn the (flat) handlebars through 90 degrees (or pack them separately as well) and pack the bike securely in the box - check it in with your flight as hold luggage; there might be excess baggage charges if you are carrying a lot of kit.
At the destination, there are no carnet requirements, re-filling of fuel tanks or heavy lifting! - ideal.

[DougieB]

not any more you can't, at least in the UK. many/most airlines are now imposing restrictions (least of which is a 'proper' bike bag, which you'd have to dump at the other end). it's become a right pain in the ****.

best check with your airline before turning up at the airport. seeing a few reports of cyclo-tourists being rejected at airports here. BA, SleezyJet and RyanScare are ones to be wary of.

still, not as bad as trying to take a surf board on a plane trip....

[Walkabout]

You almost certainly would have to pay, but nothing like as much as to transport a bike that has an engine.

CTC - the UK's national cyclists organisation

I agree that the cheapie airlines can't be bothered with anything that gets in the way of making a few £.
A half decent airline that is used to providing good service would certainly carry a bike.

[DougieB]

British Airways are at it as well, with new rules:

British Airways - New baggage policy

the rest will no doubt follow.