Did a search…looks like one can ship bike to Penticton, but may be subject to various taxes and customs fees. And how much does that usually add up to?
Wonder if it would be slightly less hassle to ship to Seattle (bike shop or hotel) and load bike into rental car before crossing the border?
(or take it on plane to SEA)
any advice appreciated!
thanks
I’ve done it 2 different ways … both relatively easy. Shipping to Penticton is supposed to be a problem from what I’ve been told.
Tribiketransport is the easiest by far if you have that available where you live … no comparison of simplicity.
I’ve shipped by Fedex to Spokane previously and then picked it up after I flew into Spokane and then drove north to Penticton (actually a much shorter drive than from Seattle). The cost seems reasonable … but if you want your bike fully insured, it gets a bit expensive.
I don’t fly my bike anywhere anymore (by airline) due to unreliability … and you still have the insurance issue.
Dave
Hey BT,
Where are you coming from? I only ask becuase if you are going to drive to Seattle from Penticton then you may as well just drive to Penticton from your home. The trip is about 5 hours each way by car and you have to deal with the border.
You should not have to pay duties or taxes on your bike since you do not live in Canada and this is your personal equipment which you will bringing back home with you. This only applies to newly purchased products which you bought in the country that is not your place of residence.
Check out the Bike Barn in penticton. They are probably the nicest most helpful bike store I have ever encountered and they actually have a “shipping your bike for IMC” feature on their website. They will act as a “depot” for you to ship your bike.
Good luck at IMC!!!
PS- Not sure if you’ve done the course or not but Richter isn’t so bad…it’s the climb to Yellow lake that can be be a bitch.
tribiketransport is not available for IMC from all parts of the country.
Could send the bike to where we are staying in Penticton, but what I’m trying to find out if the holdups for customs, and the extra taxes, etc. are worth the hassle.
How long to expect it to take?
Estimated cost (from FL)
If less expensive/less hassle, could ship bike to Seattle, or fly with it.
Um…why would a 3000 mile drive be easier?
Still have to deal with the border.
Bike Barn has the info on the site, but still there is no guarantee that the bike is not going to get stuck in customs, or extra taxes etc. placed on it, the way I’m reading it. I can call them this week, though.
Trying to save a few bucks if possible.
I’m not racing…helping out a friend. But looking forward to visiting the area and maybe signing up for next year. 
You know what…phone the Bike Barn and ask for Chris or Will. They sponsor Tom Evans (guy who won IMC and I believe IMF) and I know that Tom lives in Penticton and ships his bike to and from Florida when he races IMF. Perhaps you could just do the reverse of what he does.
A 3000 mile drive would not be better (I agree)…It’s just that you did not state where you were coming from in your original post. I take it you are flying to Seattle and renting a car?
I still maintain that you should not have any issues with tax levies, duties, etc. I work in an unrelated field but I am always travelling to and from the states from Canada with demo product (which is my personal belongings) and I never have to pay anything extra so long as that I will be returning with my stuff (ie: not for resale).
Thanks…
It just sounded like, even with the shipping per Bike Barn instructions, that they can ask for various taxes and customs brokerage fees, that maybe we would avoid if we just drive across the border with the bike in the rental car? Will call BB this week.
And, it seems that domestic UPS or FedEx would be less expensive than sending to Canada?
Is your situation different perhaps with your work product because it is with you when you travel? (as opposed to being shipped via a 3rd party)
Appreciate your input!
(if it was up to me, I’d fly with the bike…just getting info for my friend)
BT
Last year we FedEx’d our bikes from Wisconsin. Never again. They ended up lost in transit for a time, spent countless hours on the phone with FedEx, who were actually wonderful in this case props to them. Our bikes did end up at our hotel in time, I think it took 2 weeks, but they were pretty F’d up from customs. The bike boxes had been opened and every thing pulled out and taken apart. Even skewers that were not inserted in the wheels, for christ sake, I think on my bike 3 of the 4 springs were gone. My Wipperman chain had also came apart and the master link was lost. Props to the BIke Barn as they did not have a master link in stock but opened up a new one and sold me the master link for cheap and ordered one for their chain. Not sure what the best answer here is. TriBike Transport does not ship from WI. If you fly with the bike you have to rent something big enough for the bike box, in our case 2, for my wife and I. Matt
Matt…what an awful experience!
That’s the sort of thing I’m hoping to avoid.
Yes, we’d need a rental car that works, but with one bike (I won’t be bringing mine), not as much a hassle (I fit my Ironcase into mid-size cars all the time).
Like I said, I’m gathering info now…to weigh all the options.
Appreciate your input!
bt,
When I shipped Fedex I sent the bike in a case nearly a week ahead of time and had them hold it at their Spokane distribution center so I could track that it was there and gave it plenty of lead time. It worked well and then I drove it across the border which is no problem at all and no duties, etc … just treated like the rest of your luggage. You can find the rate online from them I’m sure. The insurance may surprise you for cost and I think it was more for UPS at the time I used them … it was nearly as much as the transport. Be sure you are aware how little coverage you have if you just send it routine shipping … same with airlines. It was actually sort of interesting to see how carefully it was treated (the bike box that is) with the additional insurance tags attached! I suspect you will find it a bit costly whichever way you go since tribiketransport isn’t available for you. As mentioned by others as well … I’d not send it across the border except while in your own car or rental car!
Don’t forget your passport as well as they hassled everybody on both sides of the border last year for not having one even though it wasn’t officially required … just makes it less stressful.
I’ll be there again this year … bike via tribiketransport again for myself.
Dave
Here is what I think would be the most realistic way of doing things with the least hassle.
Pack up your bike in Florida. Use a box from your local bike shop or, if you can, rent an actual bike case. Ship the bike via Fedex or UPS to be held in Bellingham. Bellingham is only 30 minutes from the Border and an hour and half from Seattle. Fly into Bellingham international (if you can) or fly to Seattle and rent a car (rent the car in Bellingham if you can fly there). Drive across the border with the bike. Have the depot in Bellingham hold the shipping box (they will do this…sometimes for a small fee) and do the reverse when going home after the race.
This way you can track the shipment to Bellingham online, you do not need to ship across the border (which can cause headaches), and you can just deal with the whole bike thing at the border crossing. At the very worst the border guards will ask you to pull over and fill out a document that states the bike is your property, listing the serial number, and it will be coming back with you. (can’t remember what this document is called…but is a regular thing)
VERY IMPORTANT!!! Do not lose this document as you will have to show it when going back across the border.
Good Luck!
You’ve been most helpful, thanks!
Definitely flying to SEA…going to have a little vacation day on the way up.
Thanks again! Looking forward to visiting your country!
Thanks, Dave…I appreciate the input (and about the passport, too)…my racing buddy may not have his, but will bring ID and birth certificate. I’ve got mine, since my IM this year is in Austria!
see you in Canada!