On Thu, 10 May 2001 OROBOYZ@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 5/10/01 12:05:48 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> wspokes1@hotmail.com writes:
>
> << I just noticed this started as a classic issue and has since gone
> south...maybe responses offlist are best now. >>
>
> NO, please! I think tips to ship and protect valuable bikes has a distinct
> place on the CR.. Keep it up folks!!
Since Dale's given us the "OK," I'll throw in some things I've done.
If you're shipping a derailleur-equipped bike, try to de-cable the derailleurs. This way, you can wrap the entire downtube with foam pipe insulation, and not worry about the bare cable rubbing the paint off the downtube.
My Mercian was shipped via a large moving van (we're talking 18-wheeler), and the foam/pipe insulation certainly saved the bike's finish. The movers laid the bike on its side on top of furniture/etc, and the foam had some very, very deep "dents." If the cables were under the foam, you could kiss the paint/decals goodbye.
-- cyclist [at] dimensional [dot] com