Bikeflights Adds Built-In RFID Tracking to Bike Shipments for the Best Way to Ship at Every Step

June 23, 2026

Operationally integrated RFID gives riders, Bikefl ights and carriers a shared, near-real-time view of every shipment in transit just in time for RAGBRAI, one of the largest shipping moments in North American cycling.

PORTLAND, OR (June 23, 2026) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – Bikeflights, the bicycle shipping service most trusted by riders worldwide, today announced the launch of built-in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tracking on its bike shipments, making it the first bicycle shipping company to bring the technology to riders. Previously limited to critical healthcare shipments like organs and vaccines, Bikeflights’ RFID service is a close collaboration with UPS, bringing top-tier tracking to cyclists across the country. Unlike a traditional barcode tracking number that goes quiet between updates, or a consumer device that only the sender can see, RFID gives the customer, Bikeflights and the shipping carrier the same near-real-time view of a bike’s progress.

RFID labels use a tiny embedded chip and radio waves to identify and track a shipment without an onboard battery or power source. Unlike a traditional barcode, which has to be lined up and scanned one at a time on a belt, an RFID label can be read wirelessly and from a distance, even when it isn’t directly visible or if the parcel is too big to fit on conveyors. As a tagged shipment passes an RFID reader in the carrier’s network, the reader activates the chip and captures its unique ID automatically, so the bike is identified, sorted and tracked more quickly and accurately at every point the label is read.

Because those reads happen inside the carrier’s own operations, the resulting location data isn’t something the rider watches from the outside. It’s the same operational data the carrier and Bikeflights use to move and route the shipment with each scan feeding the customer’s Bikeflights shipment status page, so riders see meaningful, location-stamped progress instead of long silent gaps. The result is true end-to-end visibility and faster problem-solving across the entire journey, not just a string of scans.

“Shipping a bike is an exercise in trust, and riders want to track exactly where their bike is at any time,” said William Alcorn, President of Bikeflights. “Embedding RFID into the way we already handle and scan packages means everyone in the chain: the rider, our team and the carrier, is looking at the same information. That shared visibility builds confidence into the shipment itself, from the moment the box leaves until it arrives at the door.”

For riders shipping within the US, built-in RFID tracking means:

• Near-real-time pickup confirmation
• Greater visibility and transparency as a shipment moves through the carrier network
• Fewer disruptions and faster resolution if an issue arises
• More reliability and confidence that a shipment will arrive on time
• A stronger chain of custody for added peace of mind

The rollout arrives in time for this summer’s RAGBRAI in mid-July, where Bikeflights will provide RFID-enabled labels to participating riders shipping bikes to and from the ride.

Built-in RFID tracking is available now by request on domestic shipments within the United States. It is not yet available for international shipments. After purchasing a shipment at Bikeflights.com, customers select “Request by Mail” at the label step to receive an RFID version of their shipping label, which arrives within two to three business days.

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About Bikeflights

Bikeflights is a global bicycle shipping service, trusted by riders worldwide. We offer carbon neutral shipping, dedicated support and premium protection at less cost so that you can ship the best way, guaranteed. Join the over 1.7 million served – including individuals, bike shops, events and cycling industry businesses – who have used Bikeflights to ship their bikes, wheels, e-bikes and gear with confidence since 2009.

Bikeflights is committed to a sustainable future for everyone and the planet. We believe in getting more people on bikes and enabling them to realize their goals and dreams, no matter how big or small. We are also constantly looking for new ways to reduce, reuse and recycle bike boxes and packing materials.

More information: www.bikeflights.com.

Media Contact:

Greg Fisher
TRUE Comms
greg@truecomms.com
707.495.3756