The Ultimate Guide on How to Ship a Bike

Many eCommerce companies have come up with various ideas for shipping oversized and bulky items, and it seems how to ship a bike should be that simple. However, how to ship a bike is a very different process. If you’ve tried shipping a bike to a friend or family abroad, then you know how difficult it can get. And if your company is selling bicycles, then you may be sharing these shipping problems with thousands of people.

Though many fulfillment shipping companies can help you with shipping, the whole process begins with you. A bike is not just a precious cargo; it’s like a necessary cargo, especially for racers. Even when you send it off through a FedEx truck or on a plane, you risk the bike getting rolled, dropped, or wrecked while on transit, which can be a big deal.

This doesn’t mean you’ve to abandon the shipping process, especially when eCommerce fulfillment experts are. Here we will look at how to ship a bike process, how much it costs to ship, and the cheapest way to ship a bike.

How to pack your bicycle for shipping

You can get a bicycle company that will roll your bicycle into a box and send it off to you. However, a fully assembled bike has some challenges when shipping;

· If a fully assembled bike is just rolled into a big box, it may lead to a higher shipping cost.

· Delivering a bike without a box can be problematic

· Proper packing will help prevent the bicycle from being damaged

Here are the essential steps on how to ship a bike

Get a shipping box

The bike shipping box should be narrow and shorter than the one used for assembling. Usually, bike boxes measure about 54” x 8” x 28”, depending on bike type and size being shipped. The shipping boxes should be sturdy enough to keep the bicycle protected.

Disassemble some bike parts

Remove one of the wheels, the saddle, and the pedal for the bike to fit in the box. Then you can remove the handlebars or turn them sideways. Turning the handlebars is appropriate if it’s straight and wide. Curved handlebars will need to be removed to fit in the box perfectly. Also, specialized tools are needed to assemble and disassemble. Remember to partially deflate the tires to avoid the tubes from popping up because of pressure change. A little air has to be left in the buffer to prevent the rims from being damaged.

Pack the bike

Packing the bike parts needs to be handled carefully. The reasons are that the wheels have to be protected to avoid bent spokes and protect the tubes from scratch. After removing the front wheel, consider adding a spacer at the front fork after removing the front wheel to avoid bent while in transit. The chain left on the bike should also remain protected to prevent the rubbing of chain grease to other components.

So, who can help you ship a bike?

Who will ship your bike?

Ideally, shipping the bike yourself won’t be difficult if you have all the necessary tools to disassemble a bike. However, many people look for professional services for bike shipping. There are various ways to opt for;

Local bike shop

It’s the simplest alternative, especially if you’re shipping either one or two bikes. This alternative is best if you’re shipping in the same locality. You can find a mechanic to help you disassemble and pack the bike. Better still, you can ship the bike to another bike shop directly. A mechanic may then reassemble the bike and deliver it to your client, family, or friend.

Logistic Company

Relying on a logistics company is essential, primarily if you sell bikes in retail and wholesale. You have to seek a fulfillment service provider known for shipping and packing bulky and fragile products. Most of these fulfillment service providers have the tools and expertise to ship bikes, but you have to ensure the services are offered.

Shipping company

There are multiple shipping companies offering quality services like FedEx or UPS. Relying on shipping companies is essential, especially for businesses shipping bulky and heavy items. Even though a shipping company will help your goods get delivered in a good state, they will NOT pack the bike for you. You can refer to how to pack your bike for shipping above.

How much does shipping a bike cost?

The cost of shipping a bike varies from one service provider to another. A typical bike weighs between 20-30 pounds, even though larger bikes may weigh up to 80 pounds. So, if thinking about how to ship a bike, as well as in case of other large in size or fragile items and thinking of the best ways to ship a snowboard, how to package a rug for shipping, consider the services rendered, distance, packing, and how to ship.

Averagely, the cost of shipping a bike may cost anywhere around $50 to $250. This price varies depending on the distance. For instance, you can be charged $50 for shipping if it’s a short distance, you pack by yourself, and if it’s slow shipping. You get charged more for longer distances, professionally packed, and faster shipping.

Some of the leading shipping companies like FedEx and UPS will ship your bike for a fee. These carriers have a special charge for a parcel with a dimension over 48 inches. That means if a bike box is 54 inches, you’ll be charged $16 extra with UPS and FedEx.

However, if you pack the bike in a short and wide box, then you’ll avoid this charge. But again, a wider and short box will increase your shipping charge as the box will be subject to dimensional weight pricing.

Dimensional pricing uses the formula to charge by dimensional weight or actual weight. A bike will incur a shipping charge because of the box dimensions, not weight. Besides that, if you’ll be shipping directly with any of these companies, you have to handle packing by yourself.

Other services have specialized in shipping bicycles like Bike Flights and Ship Bikes. The advantage of using search services is that they help you offer better carrier shipping rates step by step. You can check their online resources to learn more about the whole shipping process.

Let’s breakdown the cost of each service;

Cost for shipping a bike through shipping companies

· UPS: it’ll cost you around $135 to ship with this service company. The price is not inclusive of insurance but can be added at an extra fee.

· FedEx: You’ll spend around $50-$160, which is not insurance inclusive but subject to change with an additional fee.

Cost for shipping a bike through shipping services

· ShipBikes: with this shipping service, you will spend around $65 for shipping, including the box and disassembly.

· BikeFlights: This is the cheapest, and it costs around $60, inclusive of the box and disassembly.

· Sport Express: With this service, be ready to spend $174 inclusive of the box and disassembly.

Receiving the bike after shipping

There are various ways of receiving a bike. For example, if you’re shipping the bike for a destination race, it’s advisable to send it to a bike shop so that experts can reassemble it.

If you run an eCommerce shop in Etsy or eBay and need the bike to be delivered to your customer, your only party is shipping. The buyer can reassemble the bike by themselves or find a professional to help them.

If you’re shipping locally for use for a few weeks or days, you can have it shipped to your destination. All you will need is the appropriate tools for reassembling once you arrive.

Bottom Line

Using logistics companies and shipping services to ship your bike can be monitored. You can track every stage of your package until the pick-up station. If you are not confident about your packing structure, find a professional to help you. Or, take it to your local shop service provider to assist in parking.

Click the links below to read on how to ship other items: