What is the best way to get my bicycle from Long Island to Santa Fe, NM – ship it or use a car bike rack?
The trip is 2,000 miles and I’m unsure of whether it is better to use a car-attached bike rack – which I had planned to purchase at some point, anyway or to ship it because the distance being traveled makes the use of a car attachment impractical.
It’s not totally correct that putting the bike on a rack won’t cost you anything extra. A bike adds wind resistance, which decreases your gas mileage. It may only be 1 mile a gallon or something, but it adds up over 2000 miles. Also, the risk of your bike being exposed to bad weather, and getting stolen while you run in for your morning McMuffin make it less appealing to carry it with you. It will probably cost you $100 – $150 to have it professionally boxed and shipped, but it will be insured, so at least you know you’ll have a bike when you get there. Remember too, though, that you’ll have to have it reassembled in New Mexico, and that will cost a little bit, probably $40 or so. If the cost is a problem, I guess the rack is the way to go, but if you can afford it, I’d have it shipped. Enjoy the move to the mountains!
Thule bike rack / cycle carrier review.