With my teammates traveling to far away places like Ecuador and Arizona for winter training, and National Championships in Colorado this summer, I thought a post on bike traveling/packing might be of use. I spent a few years racing Nationals and had to do it by myself a few times, so knowing how to pack your bike can come in handy.
First you want to decide which mode of transportation is best for you:
1. You can travel with your bike on a plane, but it will cost around $100 each way for domestic flights. International varies by carrier, and some are free. Insurance varies and may be limited. Always check first. If you travel with your bike, you will need ground transportation at both ends that will accommodate the bike box. Co2, lube or any flammables are not allowed on planes or air shipped.
2. You could also ship UPS or Fed-X, but you will need to secure a location to ship to and from. Ground cost less than the airline in many cases. Some bike shops have a pack and ship service. If you do it yourself, and race on Sunday, you may need to stay until Monday afternoon, so that you can get your bike shipped back. You also will be without your bike for a week before and after the trip.
Once you decide how to ship your bike, you will need a box. Your local bike shop should have hard cases for rent or loan. If not, they should have cardboard boxes. Many will pack your bike for you for a fair fee. If you want to pack your own, make sure to get some drop out spreaders and brake caliper spreaders at your bike shop.
Hard box packing assuming you do not have a bike stand. Use the tools you plan to bring:
First remove pedals. Wrench turns backwards off, and forward on (riders right is standard, left is reverse thread). Once the pedals are off, grease threads and place in plastic bag. Set aside.
Next place tiny piece of tape to align handlebar with stem. Remove stem cap, and let bar hang. Replace stem cap.
Next loosen pinch bolts on stem alternating, 1/8th turn at a time until stem can make a quarter turn.
Remove seat post with the saddle attached. I like to clean the seat post and seat tube with a rag and lightly grease seat tube. If you have a carbon or ti bike or post, consult your shop for proper lubrication, or leave as is.
Now remove the wheels and place caliper spreader between brake pads one wheel at a time. Place bike in box, nesting the bars against the fork or top tube, and wrapping the bars in towel or bubble wrap. Place spreaders in drop outs. Place seat post in box.
I remove the rear derailieur as well. With allen loosen until it comes off, but take note of the notch that must line up when putting it back on. If you are not mechanical, I recommend doing this once at home under supervision first to make sure you understand how it goes back together. Once off, zip tie to the frame in a protected place.
Wheels: Remove skewers (don’t lose springs), and place in zip lock bag with tools and bag of pedals. I remove rotors, but this is optional. You will need the proper tools for this and may vary by brand. Mine uses a torx 25, and once removed, rotors are placed in a bubble wrap sleeve with clean hands and bolts are placed in zip lock bag with torx and taped to the rotor bag.
Add your bags of parts to the box with your identification and cell phone numbers if lost. Place foam layer over bike, then add wheels and next foam layer and close.
You are ready to go. To put bike back together, do these steps in reverse. I generally put extra tools, pumps, shoes or anything that may red flag as explosive in my checked luggage in clear plastic bag, so that my bike box will not need to get opened. They never seem to close them up as secure as the owner of the bike.
Maybe some of the bike shop people will chime in with some more tips and information about their shop's ship services.
First you want to decide which mode of transportation is best for you:
1. You can travel with your bike on a plane, but it will cost around $100 each way for domestic flights. International varies by carrier, and some are free. Insurance varies and may be limited. Always check first. If you travel with your bike, you will need ground transportation at both ends that will accommodate the bike box. Co2, lube or any flammables are not allowed on planes or air shipped.
2. You could also ship UPS or Fed-X, but you will need to secure a location to ship to and from. Ground cost less than the airline in many cases. Some bike shops have a pack and ship service. If you do it yourself, and race on Sunday, you may need to stay until Monday afternoon, so that you can get your bike shipped back. You also will be without your bike for a week before and after the trip.
Once you decide how to ship your bike, you will need a box. Your local bike shop should have hard cases for rent or loan. If not, they should have cardboard boxes. Many will pack your bike for you for a fair fee. If you want to pack your own, make sure to get some drop out spreaders and brake caliper spreaders at your bike shop.
Hard box packing assuming you do not have a bike stand. Use the tools you plan to bring:
First remove pedals. Wrench turns backwards off, and forward on (riders right is standard, left is reverse thread). Once the pedals are off, grease threads and place in plastic bag. Set aside.
Next place tiny piece of tape to align handlebar with stem. Remove stem cap, and let bar hang. Replace stem cap.
Next loosen pinch bolts on stem alternating, 1/8th turn at a time until stem can make a quarter turn.
Remove seat post with the saddle attached. I like to clean the seat post and seat tube with a rag and lightly grease seat tube. If you have a carbon or ti bike or post, consult your shop for proper lubrication, or leave as is.
Now remove the wheels and place caliper spreader between brake pads one wheel at a time. Place bike in box, nesting the bars against the fork or top tube, and wrapping the bars in towel or bubble wrap. Place spreaders in drop outs. Place seat post in box.
I remove the rear derailieur as well. With allen loosen until it comes off, but take note of the notch that must line up when putting it back on. If you are not mechanical, I recommend doing this once at home under supervision first to make sure you understand how it goes back together. Once off, zip tie to the frame in a protected place.
Wheels: Remove skewers (don’t lose springs), and place in zip lock bag with tools and bag of pedals. I remove rotors, but this is optional. You will need the proper tools for this and may vary by brand. Mine uses a torx 25, and once removed, rotors are placed in a bubble wrap sleeve with clean hands and bolts are placed in zip lock bag with torx and taped to the rotor bag.
Add your bags of parts to the box with your identification and cell phone numbers if lost. Place foam layer over bike, then add wheels and next foam layer and close.
You are ready to go. To put bike back together, do these steps in reverse. I generally put extra tools, pumps, shoes or anything that may red flag as explosive in my checked luggage in clear plastic bag, so that my bike box will not need to get opened. They never seem to close them up as secure as the owner of the bike.
Maybe some of the bike shop people will chime in with some more tips and information about their shop's ship services.
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