Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Tandem Cycling
Reload this Page >

New tandem enthusiastic with big problem

Notices
Tandem Cycling A bicycle built for two. Want to find out more about this wonderful world of tandems? Check out this forum to talk with other tandem enthusiasts. Captains and stokers welcome!

New tandem enthusiastic with big problem

Old 05-14-22, 12:14 AM
  #1  
Bioethical
Bioethical
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
New tandem enthusiastics with big problem.

Hello friends,
My wife and I decided to give up our gas car and now we move on our bikes and train. Very recently we purchased an used tandem bike on ebay. The seller lives in Fairfield, Connecticut and we live in Los Angeles, California. The seller lady can not pack and ship the bike to us so we are stuck tried to use FedEx services to pick up and ship the bike to not avail. We don't want to cancel our purchase since we both are really excited about riding together during our senior years. PLEASE HELP US with a suggestion. GLADYS AND VICTOR.

​​​​​

Last edited by Bioethical; 05-14-22 at 12:21 AM.
Bioethical is offline  
Old 05-14-22, 01:11 AM
  #2  
mikebian 
Newbie
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Tucson AZ and Medford MA
Posts: 66

Bikes: Calfee Tetra Tandem, Ventana ECdM Tandem, Kent Eriksen Custom Coupled Tandem, Meridian Coupled Triplet, Canondale MTB Tandem, Landshark Tandem, Giant TCR, SantaCruz Blur LTb

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 18 Times in 9 Posts
Originally Posted by Bioethical
Hello friends,
My wife and I decided to give up our gas car and now we move on our bikes and train. Very recently we purchased an used tandem bike on ebay. The seller lives in Fairfield, Connecticut and we live in Los Angeles, California. The seller lady can not pack and ship the bike to us so we are stuck tried to use FedEx services to pick up and ship the bike to not avail. We don't want to cancel our purchase since we both are really excited about riding together during our senior years. PLEASE HELP US with a suggestion. GLADYS AND VICTOR.

​​​​​
contact a bike shop near the seller and see if they will pack the bike in a box. Usually two single bike boxes taped together. Then use bikeflights or shipbikes to arrange for pickup and delivery.
mikebian is offline  
Likes For mikebian:
Old 05-14-22, 08:35 AM
  #3  
Bioethical
Bioethical
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thank you for your advice.

Originally Posted by mikebian
contact a bike shop near the seller and see if they will pack the bike in a box. Usually two single bike boxes taped together. Then use bikeflights or shipbikes to arrange for pickup and delivery.
Maybe it would help if we call bike flights and shipbikes and ask them if they know a local bikes shop that can do the packing. What do you think 🤔?
Bioethical is offline  
Old 05-14-22, 08:38 AM
  #4  
mikebian 
Newbie
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Tucson AZ and Medford MA
Posts: 66

Bikes: Calfee Tetra Tandem, Ventana ECdM Tandem, Kent Eriksen Custom Coupled Tandem, Meridian Coupled Triplet, Canondale MTB Tandem, Landshark Tandem, Giant TCR, SantaCruz Blur LTb

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 18 Times in 9 Posts
They are unlikely to know.

I think most bike shops would do it for a fee. I did this several years ago when I bought a used bike.
mikebian is offline  
Likes For mikebian:
Old 05-14-22, 08:40 AM
  #5  
Bioethical
Bioethical
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Bioethical
Maybe it would help if we call bike flights and shipbikes and ask them if they know a local bikes shop that can do the packing. What do you think 🤔?
"Quitting my gas car was the only thing I could do to contribute to the good of mother earth and our health"
Bioethical is offline  
Old 05-16-22, 07:48 AM
  #6  
iandusud
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Congratulations on your good choice, both ethically and in choosing a tandem. My wife and I bought a tandem 4 years ago and haven't regretted it for one moment. We also decided to get rid of our car and now we cycle everywhere in all weathers, either on our solo bikes when going about our own things, but generally on the tandem. I hope you sort out getting your tandem delivered soon.
iandusud is offline  
Old 05-16-22, 10:24 AM
  #7  
reburns
Full Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: The valley of heart’s delight
Posts: 413

Bikes: 2005 Trek T2000; 2005 Co-motion Speedster Co-pilot; various non-tandem road and mountain bikes

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 102 Post(s)
Liked 55 Times in 39 Posts
Originally Posted by Bioethical
"Quitting my gas car was the only thing I could do to contribute to the good of mother earth and our health"
👍I can offer a few additional ideas if you are interested.
reburns is offline  
Old 05-16-22, 04:41 PM
  #8  
Bioethical
Bioethical
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Your suggestion is great but nobody wants to pack a tandem

Originally Posted by mikebian
contact a bike shop near the seller and see if they will pack the bike in a box. Usually two single bike boxes taped together. Then use bikeflights or shipbikes to arrange for pickup and delivery.
Thank you mikebian. I called seven businesses in the Fairfield area and offered even more than $200 for packing the tandem. The seller lady is willing to drop it off at any bike shop in the area of Fairfield, Connecticut.

Last edited by Bioethical; 05-16-22 at 04:49 PM.
Bioethical is offline  
Old 05-16-22, 04:44 PM
  #9  
Bioethical
Bioethical
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thank you very much. I tried hard but no bike shop in the Fairfield area wants to package a tandem bicycle.

Last edited by Bioethical; 05-16-22 at 04:47 PM.
Bioethical is offline  
Old 05-16-22, 04:45 PM
  #10  
Bioethical
Bioethical
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thank you iandusud. I appreciate your words.
Bioethical is offline  
Old 05-16-22, 04:48 PM
  #11  
Bioethical
Bioethical
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 7
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Thank you reburns!
Bioethical is offline  
Old 05-16-22, 11:28 PM
  #12  
mikebian 
Newbie
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Tucson AZ and Medford MA
Posts: 66

Bikes: Calfee Tetra Tandem, Ventana ECdM Tandem, Kent Eriksen Custom Coupled Tandem, Meridian Coupled Triplet, Canondale MTB Tandem, Landshark Tandem, Giant TCR, SantaCruz Blur LTb

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 21 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 18 Times in 9 Posts
Originally Posted by Bioethical
Thank you mikebian. I called seven businesses in the Fairfield area and offered even more than $200 for packing the tandem. The seller lady is willing to drop it off at any bike shop in the area of Fairfield, Connecticut.
Sorry to hear that. I guess I got lucky when I bought mine a few years ago. I am not sure what else to suggest.
mikebian is offline  
Old 05-17-22, 12:36 PM
  #13  
L134 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: San Diego
Posts: 704

Bikes: 1978 Bruce Gordon, 1977 Lippy, 199? Lippy tandem, Bike Friday NWT, 1982 Trek 720, 2012 Rivendell Atlantis, 1983 Bianchi Specialissima?

Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 345 Post(s)
Liked 170 Times in 105 Posts
Originally Posted by Bioethical
Hello friends,
My wife and I decided to give up our gas car and now we move on our bikes and train. Very recently we purchased an used tandem bike on ebay. The seller lives in Fairfield, Connecticut and we live in Los Angeles, California. The seller lady can not pack and ship the bike to us so we are stuck tried to use FedEx services to pick up and ship the bike to not avail. We don't want to cancel our purchase since we both are really excited about riding together during our senior years. PLEASE HELP US with a suggestion. GLADYS AND VICTOR.

​​​​​
Couldn't help but think the tandem you purchased must be pretty special to justify an out of area purchase given that the used tandem market in S CA provides plenty of local opportunity. My wife is an artist and has used an individual who specializes in transporting art around the country at rates far lower than the bigger specialty carriers. He came to mind and I contacted him. $1,500. If interested, I can provide you with his contact info.
L134 is offline  
Likes For L134:
Old 05-17-22, 01:41 PM
  #14  
jethro00
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 266
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 80 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 39 Times in 32 Posts
Try searching for a bike club in or near Fairfield. If you find one, as them if they know anyone who can assist. Start with : https://www.soundcyclists.com
jethro00 is offline  
Old 05-17-22, 11:29 PM
  #15  
Leisesturm
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,968
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2473 Post(s)
Liked 722 Times in 513 Posts
If the sale can be cancelled, then, IMO that is the most practical way forward. As was observed earlier there are tons of used tandems local to the o.p. and it seems somewhat out of keeping with an environmentally conscious outlook to want to transport something as unwieldy as a tandem bicycle clear across the country. As awkward as I can imagine it will be, backing out of this deal, you will be, I think, better off for going through that pain. FWIW.
Leisesturm is offline  
Likes For Leisesturm:
Old 05-18-22, 05:49 AM
  #16  
Alcanbrad
Full Member
 
Alcanbrad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 430

Bikes: '14 CoMo Carrera, '11 CoMo Primera co-pilot, '98 Santana Visa, a Plethora of road bikes, A commuter/Gravel beast (and 1 MTB)

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 106 Post(s)
Liked 45 Times in 38 Posts
Originally Posted by Bioethical
Thank you very much. I tried hard but no bike shop in the Fairfield area wants to package a tandem bicycle.
You might try giving Mel at Tandems East a call. He may have connections that might be able to help.
Alcanbrad is offline  
Old 05-23-22, 10:28 AM
  #17  
ksisler
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,739
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
How to pack & ship tandem

Many UPS stores will pack and ship a tandem. Have used them several times.
ksisler is offline  
Old 05-24-22, 09:33 AM
  #18  
Philly Tandem
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: SE Penna., USA
Posts: 1,173

Bikes: Too many! Santana tandems and triplet; MTBs; touring bikes

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 88 Post(s)
Liked 19 Times in 15 Posts
See if there are any REI stores near the seller. I used them to pack and ship a tandem I bought on the West Coast to me on the East Coast. They did a very good job and were reasonable. That said, the idea of packing a tandem scares many people due to the oversize box and all that, so I'm not surprised shops are not very eager to handle it. Especially given how busy most bike shops are with repairs nowadays. Unless you got a good deal on the perfect bike, I agree with others that I'd look for something more local to you. Between packing and shipping costs, you're likely to spend $300-500 just on that.
Philly Tandem is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.