Transporting tandems cont.-Shipping/flying

[marciero]

Another transporting tandems thread.

One of our two tandems is coupled and we've flown with that a number of times. But now wanting to do a trip with the non-coupled one but wondering if it would be worth dealing with the logistics. Has anyone done this that can offer tips or hacks? I imagine flying is out so we would have to ship it ahead. Or maybe rent a vehicle one way. Driving our own vehicle is out because we are planning an "open jaw" tour. And in any case I am averse to driving for a number of reasons.

Thanks in advance.

[AngryScientist]

How about a hybrid approach? Wheels off and pack the frame very well and ship it ahead. Bring your wheels and auxiliary stuff in your S&S case on the plane with you. Keeps the weight of the shipped box reasonable for both shipping cost and moving the box around logistics.

I think a lot of us have to keep in mind that whenever someone buys a new bike, it gets shipped around a few times before the owner takes possession of it, so in theory, shipping a bike safely should be no big deal.

The obvious point to consider is if you will have someone/someplace available to receive it at your destination, and how/where will you build it before starting out.

I am curios about this too and would like to hear if others have successfully shipped a bike to perhaps a hotel, bike shop, or other destination depot.

[marciero]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

How about a hybrid approach? Wheels off and pack the frame very well and ship it ahead. Bring your wheels and auxiliary stuff in your S&S case on the plane with you. Keeps the weight of the shipped box reasonable for both shipping cost and moving the box around logistics.

I think a lot of us have to keep in mind that whenever someone buys a new bike, it gets shipped around a few times before the owner takes possession of it, so in theory, shipping a bike safely should be no big deal.

The obvious point to consider is if you will have someone/someplace available to receive it at your destination, and how/where will you build it before starting out.

I am curios about this too and would like to hear if others have successfully shipped a bike to perhaps a hotel, bike shop, or other destination depot.

Ah-thats a creative approach worth considering. As far as shipping to hotels- Ive not shipped bikes, but have shipped other things to hotels, including bike boxes, two of them, which were pretty big even collapsed. (I forget the brand but these were heavy multi use boxes.) Ive also stored items in bike boxes and left them at a hotel while on tour. That worked fine.

[marciero]

I'm also now seeing some tandem bike box options. In fact, Shipbikes may be what I've purchased before. I think if under 165 inches it can go on the plane, though likely airline specific. The label on the Santana case indicates "guaranteed to fit ... on all Boeing and Airbus jets."