Getting a bike to Helsinki from the UK

[Querfeldein]

I will move to Helsinki in October, and will visit once more in July. I have two bicycles that I want to take with me, a "summer" road bike, and an all-year commuting bike. The first weighs about 7 kg, the latter weighs about 15 kg. I am planning to take the road bike with me on the plane in a bike box, when I move myself. I am planning to ship the rest of my possessions (probably with UPS, via a cheap reseller), but shipping bikes seems to be very expensive - the cheapest quote I could find in a quick search was for £75, and even then, the bike needs to be boxed. British Airways, on the other hand, charge only £34, and some other airlines are even cheaper (and I would have no issues putting the commuting bike in a disposable cardboard box).

If I take the bike on the plane, I'd have the added benefit of being able to use it for a week in July, but I'd then have to leave it somewhere until October. I have a spare, decent quality D-Lock, but I wouldn't leave it parked in the middle of London for a week, never mind two months, so I am unsure about Helsinki. Although it's a commuting bike, it is pretty good, hence why I want to take it with me in the first place.

1. Do you know of a cheap way (< £50) to ship a bike to Helsinki from the UK?
2. Do you know a place to keep a bike relatively safe for so long?

[caster]

http://www.cargoforce.co.uk/
http://www.pelicanselfstorage.fi/en/rent-storage-unit

[Jukka Aho]

If I take the bike on the plane, I'd have the added benefit of being able to use it for a week in July, but I'd then have to leave it somewhere until October. [...] Do you know a place to keep a bike relatively safe for so long?

Apartment buildings in Finland typically have a ground-level room (pyörävarasto) for storing bikes and sports gear, such as skis. They're not safe from break-ins or dishonest neighbors but they do have a lock in the door, making them generally only accessible by the tenants and thus a bit safer than just leaving your gear outside. If you happen to know people living in Finland in the area where you'll be moving, maybe they could do you a friendly favor and host your bike for you in such storage room?

Apartment buildings also usually have another kind of storage room (häkkivarasto) with padlocked, chainlink-fenced walk-in storage compartments for each apartment. This room is typically not as accessible as the bike storage room for daily use (might be located in the basement or in the attic) but could also be used for storing a bike.

Another option would be renting a small storage unit (vuokravarasto) for storing your bike and maybe other things as well for whatever length of time you need:

https://www.google.fi/search?q=vuokravarasto

At least Cityvarasto and Pelican Self Storage maintain storage units in various locations within the capital area. The facilities are locked and monitored using a CCTV system. Access is typically controlled by a human operator. (You need to stand in the view of a camera at the front door and call a number to get in the facility. The individual unit you rent should be locked by a padlock supplied by yourself.)

[Querfeldein]

Thanks for both suggestions. I have asked for a quote from the shipping company, but I doubt that it will be cheaper.

If Finish apartment buildings have bike stores, I suppose there's a good chance that one of my (future) colleagues would let me use theirs, if I give them my lock and keys. I was considering using the University bike shelter if there is one; however, at my own university, they tend to put notices on bikes that haven't been moved in a long time, and I felt it a bit too much of a burden to ask someone to check up on the bike regularly. At an apartment building that should not be a problem, hopefully.

[Jukka Aho]

If Finish apartment buildings have bike stores, I suppose there's a good chance that one of my (future) colleagues would let me use theirs, if I give them my lock and keys. I was considering using the University bike shelter if there is one; however, at my own university, they tend to put notices on bikes that haven't been moved in a long time, and I felt it a bit too much of a burden to ask someone to check up on the bike regularly. At an apartment building that should not be a problem, hopefully.

Yes. If you already are or will be introduced to your future colleagues before you actually move into the country, I guess you should be able to find someone who can help you with that. And not only among those who live in apartment buildings... obviously someone living in a detached home could quite easily store your bike in their garage or some other place... but I mentioned apartment buildings, specifically, because they do tend to have these common area storage rooms designated for bikes.