Mailing drop boxes to be held at post offices?

[onebadcat]

Hoping to ride from Alaska to Banff, AB and then ride the Divide route down to New Mexico. Wondering if anyone has experience with mailing drop packages to U.S. and Canadian post offices? How does it work? How do you label your package? Also, if I place an order for tires or parts along the route can I have a retailer drop mail them to be picked up down the road somewhere at a post office? or have a relative mail them out? Just not exactly sure how this system works.

Thanks for any insight –

Scott

[harryonaspot]

I did it on the Divide Route 4 years ago. Put your name then care of general delivery. They will be held for a certain amount of time. Don't remember how long. I haven't tried it in Canada. One thing is getting to the post office when they are open. With cutbacks and weekends that can be problematic. Send them someplace you won't mind hanging out. Just in case.

[onebadcat]

Thanks much!

Scott

[bpeschka]

Scott,
Go to USPS.com and you can find all post offices by town.  Info will include the correct address and ZIP code for addressing General Delivery as well as the physical address, hours etc of that post office.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[dave54]

Call LBS' along the route and see if they will hold the package for you.  They are usually open more hours than the local post office and may open the shop after hours if you call them.  Many shop owners are happy to oblige.  If the shop is not willing, they could recommend a local club or individual for you.

[onebadcat]

Will definitely keep that in mind. Thanks for your input!

[hikernks]

I wouldn't recommend LBS along the route.  If one person does it, it's probably not a big deal, but if 10 people, or more, do it, then it becomes a huge PITA for those guys.  Besides, if you're at a bike shop, a resupply box probably isn't needed anyways, as you can get stuff through them. 

What I did was mailed out four boxes to towns along the way that didn't have bike shops but had 8-5 post offices (Seeley Lake, Grants, Rawlins, and I can't remember the last one, haha), and I raided my spare parts bin and other bikes for spare parts to include.  In each, I put a set of pedals (even flats, just in case), a tube, a tire, extra patch kit, extra sealant, batteries, a jersey and shorts, socks, extra allen wrenches, co2, etc.  My line of thinking was if I needed something, it would be there, and if not, I could just roll through without stopping, and they'd mail it back to me.  I think it was about $30 to send out four small boxes.

[onebadcat]

Thanks. Appreciate you sharing exactly how you planned it. That extra bit of info is helpful.
Scott