Tips
For Successful Packing and Shipping
Packing Your Bike for Its Trip to Iowa
Careful packing can save your bike, particularly for those of you using cardboard shipping boxes. If you use the Bike Flights Box option, every thing you need will be included for packaging your bike. If you elect to use your own box, remember to keep bike parts from poking through the box by giving special attention to these areas--pad or reinforce the bottom of the box where forks can puncture it, and the sides where your hubs could punch through. You might put a piece of extra cardboard against the sidewalls of your box. Pad other vulnerable areas (brake levers sometimes poke through), and if there are no slots for handling the box, cut some so the UPS handlers can grab your box. Often, we receive boxes torn open for lack of a place to grab. You might ask your local shop for special packing items that come with every newly manufactured bike, but usually get thrown away when the bike is uncrated. These items include plastic fork blocks, plastic spacers, and cardboard padding or other packing materials. If pedals or other small parts have been removed from the bike, contain them in one or two packages, taped securely to the inside of the box. This keeps the small parts from scratching your frame while the bike is in transit.
Preparing Your Box or Case for Its Trip to Iowa
1. Tracking Numbers
Take the time to handwrite your Tracking numbers in large black marker on the box or case. Should the label come off in transit, this will give UPS another chance of getting your bike to its destination.
2. CONTACT INFORMATION
Write your NAME, CELL PHONE #, and DESTINATION INFORMATION on the box.
3. TEAR OFF ANY OLD SHIPPING INFORMATION
Your box should be clean of any old shipping labels or information from previous shipments. Remember this on the return shipment of your bike when RAGBRAI is over. Be sure the only label and information on the box pertain to your return destination to your hometown.