Best way to transport bike to an overseas race

Brent Bills

I am thinking about IM Tallinn in Estonia.  My wife wants to turn the trip into a visit to her family roots in Germany.  I found a flight to Berlin with a return flight from Tallinn.  I really don't want to take my bike all over Germany and then deal with the commuter plane from Berlin to Tallinn.  My wife is a school a teacher and has to be back to school by the Thursday after the race, so our visit to Germany will have to be befor the race.  Any advice is apprectiated.  Also anyone know anything about IM Tallinn?

scott dinhofer

see if bikeflights.com will do international, ship to hotel in a box.. ship back... 

Brent Bills

Scott, I have looked at bikeflights.com.  They want $1,500 to transport the bike.  I am trying to find a cheaper alternative.

Paul Hough

Man, IM Estonia caught my attention too, but the plate is full for many years and I can only hope it lasts a long time.  Since next year is the first year, no one is really going to know anything about it.  You will be the guinea pig and I look forward to your RR!

Scott Alexander

Brent Bills said:

Scott, I have looked at bikeflights.com.  They want $1,500 to transport the bike.  I am trying to find a cheaper alternative.

Personally, since bikeflights and shipbikes are FedEx based (from my recall), I wouldn't use them. They cannot commit to a specific delivery date when Customs gets involved!

Peter Greagg

I am using Luggageforward to ship my bike from Australia to Chatannooga, and back. They are super easy to deal with and the cost was $1.5k Australian for the return trip, including insurance cover of $10k.
just saying....

Tim Sullivan

I disassemble my bike and cover it in swimming noodles and toss it in a small black non descript bag. Have not ever been charged for it. Fits in the back seat or trunk of a small rental car. Went to IM Switzerland this year and traveled all around with it