Posting a Bike to Australia

latw5

Hi,

Ok I'm stuck - I have purchased a new Bianchi which has been delivered to my parents house in the UK - which I need to ship to Melbourne, Australia.

Does anyone have any ideas on the most economical way to do this - the box seems to be too big for the major couriers to send it as a parcel, which means i am being quoted freight prices (very expensive).

The bike is pretty much built, and I would prefer it to be shipped that way - so has anyone experience of sending a bike by air courier? I would prefer this than it sitting in a container or on a boat for 6 months, whilst the Summer slips by over here.

Thanks for any suggestions, it seems to be more complicated to send it than i was expecting...

bompington

Fly to the UK and cycle home via Singapore

andymiller

See the suggestions in the thread further down the page 'Posting a bike abroad' (about sending to New Zealand).

latw5

Yeah i read that thread - but the trouble is because the bike is in such a big box (as it is already assembled), the dimensions mean people like UPS will only send it as freight - which is ridiculously expensive.

Bompington, the plan is eventually to cycle it back to the UK via singapore...! (well maybe not a bianchi, but something!)

Buckled_Rims

I'm not 100% certain if this is true. But the Ozzie customs take out your bike, dismantle it and disinfect it. I know New Zealand is very very strict!

So if this is the case, it might be better unassembled. But it'll need confirmation. I'm sure I read in another forum, so a Google might help you.

Buckled_Rims

Wow, I found this in the first quick search

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/t ... -australia

This might help.

bompington

latw5 wrote:

the plan is eventually to cycle it back to the UK via singapore

Very cool. We spent a year in Sydney a while back and I really wanted to drive home via the maximum overland route from Singapore, only snags were 1. the cost of buying a car in Singapore and 2. my wife adamantly refused to consider it.
As for freight, I'm afraid I don't have any positive stories to tell at all, we were in Oz for a year and the stuff we freighted was in transit for a total of 7 months (we were assured 4 weeks each way). It's looking like shipping the bike unbuilt is your best bet.

latw5

Yeah i was touring on another bike through states/New Zealand on the way here, and know all about the cleaning process for a bike getting into Australia!

Would definitely be keen down the track to cycle home, just the small matter of finance.

Anyway, thanks for your help and suggestions guys - I'm thinking its going to have to be dis-assembled now - i could probably buy and ship with a reusuable bike box, which would qualify for the cheaper shipping rates, for the same cost as sending it ready built - and would then at least have a bike box to show for it.

andymiller

latw5 wrote:

Yeah i read that thread - but the trouble is because the bike is in such a big box (as it is already assembled), the dimensions mean people like UPS will only send it as freight - which is ridiculously expensive.

It might help to read past the first post - to the suggestions about specialist companies, and forums for expats. The cheapest option is going to be to find someone who has some space in a container.

If you're going to freight the bike to Australia then take the wheels etc off.

dilemna

WTF. Why can't you build the bike up again when in Oz? It's not that hard. All you need these days is a multi-tool and or get a local LBS to refit the components you can't or to rebuild the bike in it's entirety for you once in Melbourne. I shouldn't imagine it would be that expensive even in Oz for an LBS to fit a Hollowtech 2 chainset and set up the transmission or even rebuild the whole. The rest is a piece of cake like putting in the seat pin and attaching the saddle. If you plan cycling back from Oz to the UK I would have thought you will need some sort of mechanical proficiency in maintaining your bike. I'm taking it that your bike is a Bianchi road bike? Is this the most suitable type of bike for your journey you anticipate. Surely a touring expedition bike would be more suitable?

Alternatively buy a Bianchi in Australia if that's the bike you feel you really need or if you can't bear to part with yours then buy a cheap return flight to Melbourne and fly it there as your main baggage allowance. Simples. Problems are as complicated as you make them.

Ands

latw5 wrote:

Hi,

Ok I'm stuck - I have purchased a new Bianchi which has been delivered to my parents house in the UK - which I need to ship to Melbourne, Australia.

Does anyone have any ideas on the most economical way to do this - the box seems to be too big for the major couriers to send it as a parcel, which means i am being quoted freight prices (very expensive).

The bike is pretty much built, and I would prefer it to be shipped that way - so has anyone experience of sending a bike by air courier? I would prefer this than it sitting in a container or on a boat for 6 months, whilst the Summer slips by over here.

Thanks for any suggestions, it seems to be more complicated to send it than i was expecting...

Was it not possible to get it shipped to Oz by the company you brought it from (or is it 2nd hand?). HAve you paid VAT on it? You will almost certainly now get stung for GST & import duty when it goes through Aussie customs (unless you can prove that it is over a certain age - so if it's 2nd hand, get the original receipt from the seller). (You will also pay GST & duty on the UK shipping costs.) Shared container won't take 6 months, should take 6-12 weeks - just depends when the container is full.

My husband had a frame made in the UK and shipped to Oz - but the shipping was also arranged by the company who made the frame. CAn't remember if it came air freight or not but it got stuck in customs for a bit

Ands

Buckled_Rims wrote:

I'm not 100% certain if this is true. But the Ozzie customs take out your bike, dismantle it and disinfect it. I know New Zealand is very very strict!

So if this is the case, it might be better unassembled. But it'll need confirmation. I'm sure I read in another forum, so a Google might help you.

I took my bike to Australia during the height of the foot and mouth crisis (2 bikes went on the plane with us and 2 in the container). We had to disinfect with farm grade disinfectant. None was wasn't stripped down or dismantled. We just made sure they had been meticulously cleaned and then labelled the boxes as having been disinfected. At customs, the staff just ripped a small hole in the box and had a peek to see if the tyres were clean and that was it, we were on our way.

magfos

Just pack your bike in a standard bike box from your friendly bike shop. As long as it is clean you will have no problems with the quarantine inspection - make sure your tent and shoes are clean also.

Singapore Airlines have a policy of charging you for six kilos for a bike. Lufthansa and KLM also have a policy of charging a flat fee for a bike. Having flown from Heathrow, Frankfurt and Paris with a number of airlines, we have never been charged for the bike. Emirates have a 30kg checked baggage plus 7kg hand baggage allowance. If you can't fit in with that, you are taking too much stuff with you. If it's still a problem, you could always get a round the world ticket which gives you two bags of 23kg each if you fly via North or South America.