How to Pack a Bicycle for Shipping

Traveling without your bicycle is a real slow-down. In many cities bicycles are the easiest way to get around without a rental car. Besides, going out for a bike ride beats exercising in a hotel gym any day. Unfortunately, unless your driving, taking a bike with you is not an easy task. Both airlines and Amtrak require bikes to be semi-disassembled and boxed. Boxing a bike also allows you to ship it with UPS, Fedex and the US Post Service and shipping a bike through one of these carriers will often be cheaper than airline fees.

Things You'll Need

  • Allen key set
  • 15mm open-end wrench
  • Utility knife
  • Old newspaper
  • Packing tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Get a box. Depending on the area in which you live airlines, Amtrak stations, and packing stores may all have boxes available but the best place to get a bike box is at a bike shop. They're usually free but call ahead or ask a couple days in advance. While you're at it, pick up some spare cardboard if they have any.

    • 2

      Deflate the tires to about half their normal riding pressure.

    • 3

      Remove the pedals with the 15mm wrench. The right side loosens counter-clockwise, like most other threading, but the left side loosens clockwise.

    • 4

      Remove the seat and seatpost. Flip open the quick release collar where the seat post meets the frame. If your bike has a bolt collar instead of a quick release one, open it with an Allen key.

    • 5

      Shift the gears to the smallest sprocket in the front and back. This will remove any tension in the cables, making your gears less likely to come out of adjustment.

    • 6

      Remove the front wheel. Flip the lever in the middle of your wheel to loosen the quick release skewer that holds your wheel in place. Using an Allen key, loosen the nut that attaches the brake cable to the brake; this will release the tension on the brake arms, allowing your wheel to slide out.

    • 7

      Remove the handlebars. Remove the bolts in the front of the stem that attach the middle of the handlebars to the bike with an Allen key. Let the handlebars hang from the cables. Place the bolts back into the face of the stem.

    • 8

      Place the bike in the box with the handlebars tucked onto the right side of the bike. Put the seat and seat post in the box on the right side of the bike as well. Place the front wheel inside the box on the left side.

    • 9

      Pack any empty space with newspaper and extra cardboard. Place the pedals in a bunch of newspaper and put them in the box. Close the flap at the top of the box and tape it with packing tape. Tape the box vertically, in multiple spots, going all the around it if possible.