Packing Strategy

[jgoodlet]

I'm wondering how most people have packed their gear for the trip to Banff. Getting the bike packed is obvious, but what about the rest of their gear (i.e. bikepacking bags, food, all the stuff going into the bikepacking bags, etc...)? Do you get everything into a large carry-on? Do people plan on having some extraneous items that they'll simply send/mail back once in Banff?

How have the veterans done this in the past?

For the rookies, what's your packing strategy for this year?

[Georg66]

I'm wondering how most people have packed their gear for the trip to Banff. Getting the bike packed is obvious, but what about the rest of their gear (i.e. bikepacking bags, food, all the stuff going into the bikepacking bags, etc...)? Do you get everything into a large carry-on? Do people plan on having some extraneous items that they'll simply send/mail back once in Banff?

How have the veterans done this in the past?

For the rookies, what's your packing strategy for this year?

For me as a rookie and coming from Europe the strategy is to send a parcel of personal items back to Germany one day before the start. Depending on the conditions and reroutes or not, I will also send back some items (snow shoes etc. if necessary) before leaving montana ...

[trebor]

Everything when in the bike box for the trip with the exception of the clothes I wore and my bar bag. I used my bar bag as a carry on (just added some long straps with velcro to throw it over my shoulder).

Canada Post was on strike last year so mailing things back was not an option. I threw my street clothes away the morning of the start. I didn't want to throw them away but I didn't really have time to find a place to donate them... Banff is a "resort" sort of place.

[sheilar]

I put the bike bags, mostly packed, in the bike box.  I carried a small duffel. There is a thrift store in Banff. I bought a $5 outfit and mailed everything else home.  The Post was not yet on strike. I gave the clothes to the lodge front desk to re-donate  To do over, I'd bring throw away clothes just to have one less errand to do. I'd also bring a small box and tape from home.  Someone told me they just put tape around their duffel and mailed it. Not me but an option I suppose. 
sr

[sluttyduck]

I brought most things as carry on so my bike box would be lighter(and hopefully cheaper).
Air canada waved my fee...
I just wore some worn out clothes and pitched them that morning.

Do not fly with a reusable fancy plastic case. They are too big to mail to the states via Canadian post(your only option in Banff).
I priced shipping an empty case from Calgary(to Ohio), and it was as expensive as the case.

[phil_rad]

In 2010 I packed my bike, bikepacking bags and some of my lighter items in a bike box. The other things I put in a cheapo sport bag that I was planning on throwing away. I didn't have to because my Dad and Uncle surprised me at the Airport in Calgary, they drove up from Colorado and met me at the airport. Really surprised me :-)

This year I'll pack my bike like the last time and send the other stuff that I don't need for the ride (street clothes) to my Dad's in Colorado, the bike box I'll toss in the dumpster in Ban ff.

If you fly take your bike with you; don't send it. It could get hung up in customs. Then you'll be driving shoe nails to AW ;-)

[DenisVTT]

I had a bike box (cardboard type...) and a duffel with all my stuff, including the frame bags. Once in Tucson (I was a NoBo), I went to a UPS store and mailed back everything I didn't need, including the duffel itself and the book about bear attacks I had read in the plane...

[rooster14]

So has anyone actually shipped their stuff to Banff somehow? Or know of a way to do this?
I know it would have to be well in advance due to customs regulations, but after booking my flight, one flight says that there is no problem in carrying my bicycle on the flight but they are unsure of the connecting flight.... this leaves me wondering what i should do, as if i show up in calgary without the box that has my whole life in it, i will be pretty SOL.

Also, anyone know of a guide on how to send drop ship packages ahead of yourself on the route/the way to do this?

[woody]

So has anyone actually shipped their stuff to Banff somehow? Or know of a way to do this?
I know it would have to be well in advance due to customs regulations, but after booking my flight, one flight says that there is no problem in carrying my bicycle on the flight but they are unsure of the connecting flight.... this leaves me wondering what i should do, as if i show up in calgary without the box that has my whole life in it, i will be pretty SOL.

Also, anyone know of a guide on how to send drop ship packages ahead of yourself on the route/the way to do this?

I have no experience with this company, but it looks like they have it together. I have heard of stories of the bike getting hung up in customs. Might be worth a phone call to get a warm and fuzzy if you think that's the route you want to take.
http://www.shipbikes.com/


Woody

[rooster14]

I have had experience shipping bikes before (but this is a cool service i hadnt heard of), but does anyone have a suggestion on how to ship something to myself? where could i send it to pick it up once i arrive in calgary or subsequently banff?

[sluttyduck]

So has anyone actually shipped their stuff to Banff somehow? Or know of a way to do this?
I know it would have to be well in advance due to customs regulations, but after booking my flight, one flight says that there is no problem in carrying my bicycle on the flight but they are unsure of the connecting flight.... this leaves me wondering what i should do, as if i show up in calgary without the box that has my whole life in it, i will be pretty SOL.

Also, anyone know of a guide on how to send drop ship packages ahead of yourself on the route/the way to do this?

Can you change your flights?

I shipped mine in 2009 on May 30th from Tennessee, moved to Ohio and spent the week talking to fedex, faxing docuements etc to prove I owned it and wasn't going to sell it.
it got out of customs the day I arrived.  I'm pretty sure I lost a few hairs because of that.  you can probably ship stuff to the YWCA. and i'm willing to bet you can ship "general delivery" to canandia post(as you can in the states).

[rooster14]

honestly i do not want to change the flights as i think i will have luck in working it out...i just have to do a lot of leg work it seems to get ahold of the second carrier.  But ultimately i am sticking with the flight as it was paid for by an old voucher, so it didnt cost me anything but the headache now.

[trebor]

In my experience, it would be best to fly direct to Calgary or to change planes in the USA. I changed planes in Toronto with a 2 hour layover and nearly missed my flight. The bike DID miss the flight. The bike was on a latter flight and was deliverd to me about 12 hours later in Banff - but it was stressful.

If changing planes in Canada you arrive international and swap to a domestic flight. You are required to gather all your baggage, go through customs, and recheck with your airline. Pain in the arse. And it takes a while to do all that.....

By swapping in the USA your bag just changes planes like normal luggage. Of course flying direct has no plane changes at all - even better.

I'd say don't ship... it costs more than flying it. Air Canada only charges $50 for the bike in a box.

To pick a place to ship your own stuff to on route, just look at a map, find a town (or towns) on route you think you want fresh shorts, special food, supplements, extra tubes, chains.... and look up the post office on the internet. Call them to verify they accept General Delivery and ask for their mailing address. Ship the box just before you leave (ship it First Class) and it should be there waiting for you to pickup. Just address the box like this, "Your name c/o General Delivery" Make sure your return address is on the box so if you don't pick it up or it gets lost it goes back home. That is also why you ship first class. They won't ship it back to you if you mail it Parcel Post. The general rule is they hold General Delivery for 30-days then ship it to the return address... Its a general rule. They held my box for closer to 60 days....

[rooster14]

In my experience, it would be best to fly direct to Calgary or to change planes in the USA. I changed planes in Toronto with a 2 hour layover and nearly missed my flight. The bike DID miss the flight. The bike was on a latter flight and was deliverd to me about 12 hours later in Banff - but it was stressful.

If changing planes in Canada you arrive international and swap to a domestic flight. You are required to gather all your baggage, go through customs, and recheck with your airline. Pain in the arse. And it takes a while to do all that.....

By swapping in the USA your bag just changes planes like normal luggage. Of course flying direct has no plane changes at all - even better.

I'd say don't ship... it costs more than flying it. Air Canada only charges $50 for the bike in a box.

To pick a place to ship your own stuff to on route, just look at a map, find a town (or towns) on route you think you want fresh shorts, special food, supplements, extra tubes, chains.... and look up the post office on the internet. Call them to verify they accept General Delivery and ask for their mailing address. Ship the box just before you leave (ship it First Class) and it should be there waiting for you to pickup. Just address the box like this, "Your name c/o General Delivery" Make sure your return address is on the box so if you don't pick it up or it gets lost it goes back home. That is also why you ship first class. They won't ship it back to you if you mail it Parcel Post. The general rule is they hold General Delivery for 30-days then ship it to the return address... Its a general rule. They held my box for closer to 60 days....

all awesome advice.  Thanks a lot! My flight exchange is in america, so that works out.  I think the plane thing is going to work just fine...now the joys of packing everything up haha.

[BigPoppa]

I would fly into Calgary and stay the night in Calgary on the day that I arrive. That way, if your bike is delayed by a day you will be right by the airport to get it. Take the Banff Transporter (official transporter of the TD) to the YWCA Lodge. Build up your bike. Take and easy ride and chill for a few days. The day before the race, go to the grocery store and ask for an old box. Put all your street clothing and everything you aren't taking on your bike in there. Mail the box home before the post office closes. (I just wore my riding clothes in the afternoon the day before the race.) Then you are set to go. Head back to the lodge early and get some shut eye.

DO NOT bring a large plastic type bike box. I did just because I was used to traveling with one for triathlons. MISTAKE. It cost ~400 to send that sucker back home!

[DenisVTT]

Also, anyone know of a guide on how to send drop ship packages ahead of yourself on the route/the way to do this?

Here are the addresses of the post offices on the route:

2300 North Harris Street, Helena, MT (406) 443-3304 mf 8-6 sat 9-12
701 Dewey Boulevard, Butte, MT (406) 494-2107 18002758777 8:30-5mf sat 9-1Pm
700 Peat Street, Lima, MT (406) 276-3515 mf 8 - 1 and 1:30 - 4:00 sat 9:30 10:45
413 Pine St, Pinedale, WY (307) 367-2650 mf 8:45 -4:45 sat 9-11
106 5th Street, Rawlins, WY (307) 324-3521 mf 8 - 5 sat 9-12
200 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Spgs, CO (970) 870-3001 8:30 - 5 mf sat 9-12
500 Lake Dillon Drive, Dillon, CO (970) 513-8282 mf 9-5 SAT 10-12:30
05 South Ridge Street, Breckenridge, CO (970) 547-0347 mf 8-5 sat 10-1
310 D Street, Salida, CO (719) 539-2548 mf 7:30 - 5 sat 8:30 - 12
590 Columbia Avenue, Del Norte, CO (719) 657-3155 mf 9-4:30 sat 9-12
4 Palvadera Road, Abiquiu, NM 5056854460 mf 6-5:30 sat 6-10
6358 Main Street, Cuba, NM (575) 289-3426 mf 8 - 4:30 sat 10-11:30

From what I understand, it's pretty much a complete list. Just ship a box to yourself and it will be there when you arrive.

[Georg66]

In my experience, it would be best to fly direct to Calgary or to change planes in the USA. I changed planes in Toronto with a 2 hour layover and nearly missed my flight. The bike DID miss the flight. The bike was on a latter flight and was deliverd to me about 12 hours later in Banff - but it was stressful.

If changing planes in Canada you arrive international and swap to a domestic flight. You are required to gather all your baggage, go through customs, and recheck with your airline. Pain in the arse. And it takes a while to do all that.....

By swapping in the USA your bag just changes planes like normal luggage. Of course flying direct has no plane changes at all - even better.

I'd say don't ship... it costs more than flying it. Air Canada only charges $50 for the bike in a box.

To pick a place to ship your own stuff to on route, just look at a map, find a town (or towns) on route you think you want fresh shorts, special food, supplements, extra tubes, chains.... and look up the post office on the internet. Call them to verify they accept General Delivery and ask for their mailing address. Ship the box just before you leave (ship it First Class) and it should be there waiting for you to pickup. Just address the box like this, "Your name c/o General Delivery" Make sure your return address is on the box so if you don't pick it up or it gets lost it goes back home. That is also why you ship first class. They won't ship it back to you if you mail it Parcel Post. The general rule is they hold General Delivery for 30-days then ship it to the return address... Its a general rule. They held my box for closer to 60 days....

... my flight goes from Frankfurt/Main (Germany) to Calgary directly ... :-)
I will arrive June 2nd in Canada, so there should be time enough to get things going

[rooster14]

does anyone know for sure if you can ship things to general post at the Banff post office?

[robinb]

does anyone know for sure if you can ship things to general post at the Banff post office?

Yep - Address like this:
yourname
General Delivery
STN MAIN
Banff, AB
Canada
T1L 1A0

[rooster14]

many thanks