Shipping bikes to Oslo

juice79

Hi, I'm taking part in a charity cycle in June that starts in Oslo.

There will be about 30 cyclists from Ireland taking part so I'm looking into the feasability of shipping all the boxed bikes as one lot, as opposed to each individual boxing up their own bike and bringing it on the flight.

Does anyone have experience of shipping this number of bikes together and is it worth the effort ahead of individually bringing the bikes on a plane?

Thanks.

maloner

juice79 wrote: »

Hi, I'm taking part in a charity cycle in June that starts in Oslo.

There will be about 30 cyclists from Ireland taking part so I'm looking into the feasability of shipping all the boxed bikes as one lot, as opposed to each individual boxing up their own bike and bringing it on the flight.

Does anyone have experience of shipping this number of bikes together and is it worth the effort ahead of individually bringing the bikes on a plane?

Thanks.

If they're all boxed up, then your just shipping 30 boxes, so its a regular shipping issue rather than bike specific. Also depends on how long people are prepared to be without their bikes before and after. Taking them yourselves on the plane is probably quicker.

I'd have thought lugging them on the plane is probably easier all round.

Morgan

Except you won't get 30 bikes on a single flight (assuming you're travelling together). The limit is usually 6.

Eamonnator

In a different life, I managed a mountain bike team. Once we had 14 bikes on a transatlantic flight. It was a NIGHTMARE. We had missing bikes, damaged bikes, delayed bikes. It took two days for all the bikes and all the riders to be reunited.

juice79

The Aer Lingus websites states they have a limit of 6 bikes per flight but after speaking with one of their phone operators last year he said there was an 8 bike limit (maybe 9, I forget) - I suppose it depends on how busy the flight is. There is no mention of a bike limit on either the SAS or Ryanair websites as far as I can see.

Not all the cyclists will be on the same flight, probably spread over 3 which could be an issue hence the reason for thinking of shipping them all together. It will cost about €3k with the airlines so a similar price with a shipping company could be worth looking into.

Eamonnator

Luggage handler 1 says to luggage handler 2 "Look Joe, another fooking bike"

rugbyman

figures out of the top of my head

I guess that a groupage operator would take these bikes to one point in oslo for 1500 euro and 2500 back from the end point of the race. So about 130 euro per bike.

regards Rugbyman

Rob A. Bank

€130 per bike for 30 bikes = €3,900 !

Would you consider hireing a man with a van to go ferries/overland with the bikes to Oslo ?

He could also transport the lugage while your group was cycling.

.

juice79

The tour starts in Oslo and finishes in Düsseldorf 8 days later, my team will be part of a group of 400, the tour organisers arrange transportation of luggage day to day. So we only need to arrange to get our bikes to Norway and home from Germany.

A man in a van is certainly a option, trusting him with at least €30k worth of equipment would be a little nervy, might go myself instead - would be a hell of a road trip!
http://g.co/maps/nb2kc The fuel estimates alone for a car are €300, then add in ferry, truck rental, accommodation, etc....

blowtorch

Hello. I'd reckon a groupage operator would be best. Box the bikes, and put them on pallets (so that the groupage operator' warehouse don't have to handle them individually). The best for Scandinavia are Schenkers or DSV.
From Germany, again the bikes should be on pallets to avoid damages - and you will
find companies that will palletize them for you (what about the boxes though?)- I have found the following company to be very good (they have an office in Dublin too) www.gerish.de (these are in 'neuss', 15/20 km from Dusseldorf)

Remember that ( as regards road transport operators)

a) Any price they give will have to have VAT added.
b) They insure under CMR insurance = € 13000 per metric tonne approx), and payments
under this are pre-rata. e.g. if a bike was 20 kilos, you're only covered for € 260
SO - Always get full transit insurance from them. if they don't offer it, you can still
buy it seperately. You can get a quote from http://www.motisinsurance.com/index.php?menu_id=84&content_id=1

juice79

blowtorch wrote: »

Hello. I'd reckon a groupage operator would be best. Box the bikes, and put them on pallets (so that the groupage operator' warehouse don't have to handle them individually). The best for Scandinavia are Schenkers or DSV.
From Germany, again the bikes should be on pallets to avoid damages - and you will
find companies that will palletize them for you (what about the boxes though?)- I have found the following company to be very good (they have an office in Dublin too) www.gerish.de (these are in 'neuss', 15/20 km from Dusseldorf)

Remember that ( as regards road transport operators)

a) Any price they give will have to have VAT added.
b) They insure under CMR insurance = € 13000 per metric tonne approx), and payments
under this are pre-rata. e.g. if a bike was 20 kilos, you're only covered for € 260
SO - Always get full transit insurance from them. if they don't offer it, you can still
buy it seperately. You can get a quote from http://www.motisinsurance.com/index.php?menu_id=84&content_id=1

nice one, I'll check out your suggestions, thanks

triggermortis

I was going to suggest along the lines of blowtorch's idea. Another idea would be to secure sponsorship from the likes of TNT or UPS and get them to ship your gear. I know TNT don't go to Oslo, but someone must do