This is the update that many of you have been waiting for, all about shipping bikes to/from Iowa. For those who have shipped bikes with us before, please read carefully, as the process is a bit different this year.
The Bike-Shipping Partners
Two organizations will work together to provide this service during RAGBRAI...
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BikeFlights is the bike shipping company that will receive your order, send you a box if you order one, and provide your shipping label/s. BikeFlights' service will include pickup from your house or a local bike shop, $1000 in base insurance (additional coverage available), plus improved tracking and priority movement through the UPS system.
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Pork Belly Ventures and our crew will provide the bike-shipping ground game in Iowa. We'll receive your shipped bike, truck it to our location in Sergeant Bluff, keep it secure until you claim it on July 23rd, provide the option of pre-assembly, and store the bike-shipping container until week's end. In Lansing on Saturday, July 30th, we accept bikes for return shipping and reverse the process! We have a proven ground game before and after RAGBRAI, and we can even handle bike-shipping for those who can only ride part of the week.
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NOTE: In the past, you have ordered shipping labels from our company/brand, SendMyBike.com. This year, you will order shipping labels from BikeFlights (link below). SendMyBike.com will not be part of the bike-shipping plan for 2022. No worries. It will still be us, the same people who have handled your bike-shipping ground game through many RAGBRAIs in the past, receiving and return shipping out your bikes this year.
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When To Order from BikeFlights
BikeFlights is accepting to-RAGBRAI and round-trip bookings through Friday, July 1. After that, they will turn off those options and only accept from-RAGBRAI bookings.
This schedule gives them sufficient time to export data and meet their target box-delivery date of July 8 to those who order. BikeFlights wants folks to have their boxes in time to pack over the weekend prior to pickup on Tuesday, July 12th. They will likely send out boxes in two batches for those who order early and those who wait until July 1.
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The Riders We Serve:
All RAGBRAI Riders
- In Sergeant Bluff, you will find us in the Pork Belly Ventures campground, which is conveniently located in relation to the main campground and other large camping areas. Any RAGBRAI riders may claim their shipped bike from us there. You'll be receiving a map later on.
- In Lansing, you will find us at the Pork Belly Ventures staging area, blocks from the river where you'll dip your tire at the end of your RAGBRAI adventure. You can drop off your bike or pack your bike for shipping there. You'll be receiving a map later on.
- If you're shipping a bike, we will provide storage of bike-shipping containers during the week of RAGBRAI at no additional charge, whether or not you are with Pork Belly Ventures for the week of RAGBRAI. Remember, please, that we cannot give you access to your shipping container during the week. In Lansing, all of the containers will be unloaded for you to claim.
- International riders, please contact BikeFlights directly at support@bikeflights.com for special arrangements to get your bike to RAGBRAI.
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Mechanical Assistance
Before RAGBRAI
Pre-assembly is an option for any RAGBRAI rider who ships a bike to us. Choosing this option means you will arrive in Sergeant Bluff and find your bike fully assembled. The cost is $60, selectable at the BikeFlights site.
Any RAGBRAI rider may use the mechanical assistance available on site in Sergeant Bluff. The rates of that Iowa bike shop will apply for all work/assembly, if you did not sign up for pre-assembly when ordering your shipping label.
Of course, you may assemble your shipped bike yourself.
There is one significant advantage for riders who are spending the week with PBV. We offer free mechanical assistance from our experts in camp if you don't elect to have your bike pre-assembled before your arrival ($60). From Saturday morning until about 6:00 p.m., our mechanics will be set up to help those on our support.
After RAGBRAI
For those who booked it in advance, hand-off in Lansing is an option for any RAGBRAI rider who will return-ship from Iowa. To simply hand off your bike and label to our crew for packaging and shipping, the cost is $60.
If you can pack up your bike yourself, we will stage a UPS trailer in Lansing, and we'll help you load it.
Bikes shipped from RAGBRAI will be delivered within a week or so of the end of RAGBRAI.
Please plan to avail yourself of our return shipping service in Lansing by 5:00 p.m.
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Shipping Labels Emailed
to You
Regardless of when you order your shipping labels, BikeFlights will email them to you during the second week of July.
After receiving your label and before Tuesday, the 12th of July, you'll pack your bike into your box or case, affix your label, and have your bike ready and out for pick-up on Tuesday, July 12th by UPS. (If you intend to have your local bike shop package your bike, use the bike shop address when ordering your shipping.) Prior to shipping, be sure to completely remove all previous shipping labels, barcodes and warning stickers. Here’s how to attach your label to your box or your case.
If you order a BikeFlights Bike Box along with your shipping, it will be sent directly to you at the shipping address you specified while ordering. You can expect to receive the box by July 8th.
NOTE: Residential pick-up is included for all orders. The pick-up date is pre-arranged as Tuesday, July 12th. If you use your home address, the pick-up will be your home. If you use your bike shop's address, pick-up will be at the shop.
If you are shipping from a bike shop, make sure the shop knows that you are getting your bike picked up on Tuesday, July 12, so they can have it packed, labeled and ready to go. It’s always a good idea to call them and remind them prior to the pick-up. BikeFlights will be monitoring to make sure pick-ups are successful and will follow up as needed.
If you're ordering pre-assembly, your bike will be need to be received in time to assemble it. Please be sure your bike goes out by the 12th so we have time to assemble it.
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Types of Bikes and Containers
for Shipping
When you order, you will see a number of options on the BikeFlights drop-down menu:
- Shipping a standard bike in your own case
- Shipping a standard bike in a BikeFlights Bike Box Large
- Shipping an e-bike in a BikeFlights Bike Box Large
- Shipping a tandem in your own box or case
- Shipping a gear bag
- Assembly of your bike before RAGBRAI and/or packing of your bike after RAGBRAI
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Your Link to BikeFlights
Click here to begin the process of shipping your bike for RAGBRAI:
The deadline for ordering boxes and shipping
is July 1, 2022.
Questions for BikeFlights?
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Other Options
Perhaps you have a usual way of shipping your bike and other parcels. You can use that preferred method of shipping, and we can still receive, transport, pre-assemble, and make your bike available to claim in Sergeant Bluff, transport your case/box for the week, return ship/package at the end of the ride. The cost would be $35 each way plus assembly/packaging costs. Please contact Pete for specifics, 402-681-2613.
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If you have questions about bike shipping, please contact Pete at pete@pkbelly.com or at 402-681-2613.
[With any other questions about Pork Belly Ventures RAGBRAI Charter Service, please contact Tammy at tammy@pkbelly.com, or 712-328-0161 h, or 808-375-8921 c.]
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We'll have more good news for you soon, friends, and until then, we remain,
Your friends,
Tammy and Pete
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Pork Belly Ventures LLC
Tammy: 712.328.0161 h, 808-375-8921 c, tammy@pkbelly.com
Pete: 402-681-2613 c, pete@pkbelly.com
www.sendmybike.com
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