Packing a bike is pretty simple. There are a few important things you'll want to do and most airlines require you do some of these things. First it's the list of important stuff. Then come the photos which I know you're going scroll to right away. Read the things below anyway. Some are for the safety of your bike and it may become severely damaged if you don't do these things.

1. Take the pedals and handle bars off.
Why? Because it makes the bike more narrow. Most airlines require this and it won't fit in a standard bike case or bike box if you don't.

2. If you have air shocks let the air out.
Why? Because the bike wont be in a pressurized area of the plane. Bring a shock pump (not a tire pump!) with you so that you can fill them with air again and make sure you have a chart so you know how much air to put into the shock.

This is a shock pump.

The pressure amount is generally determined by your weight and riding style. If you don't have a pump or don't feel comfortable pumping up your shock bring it to bike shop at your final destination. They will have this stuff on hand. I did this when I went to Moab because I didn't have the pump in the photo above at that time. I also didn't have a chart but they looked it up on the internet and got everything set for me. Don't ride a bike with a shock that doesn't have air pressure in it. You can dammage the shock.

3. After you remove the front and back wheels put spanners in place in the rear dropouts and the front fork/shock. If your bike box happens to get crushed it could destroy the frame or fork (squish them!). You can get these at bike shops. They get them when new bikes are shipped to them for the same reason you need them.



Rear dropouts with spanner to keep the frame from getting squished.

Front shock with spanner to keep it from getting squished. It's unlikely when packed like this but I do it anyway.

4. Let the air out of the tires. Why because they take up too much space in the case when they are full of air and also because most airlines require it.

Ok, now put it all in the bike case. This bike case has straps to hold the frame in place. You don't want it moving around and banging into everything else in the case. If you're using a box or case without straps stuff foam around the sides to keep the frame in place.

Notice a few things here. I didn't disconnect the cables for the brakes and shifters from the handle bars. I just turned the handle bars perpendicular to the frame. I also didn't remove the bearings from the steer tube. I just put a plastic bag over and used a rubber band to keep it in place.

Add salt, pepper, pedals, front shock (rigid fork if desired), seat and post then simmer over medium heat.


Notice the white foam I used in places where parts will be touching. I do this so that the bike wont get scratched up. Yes, I know it's already pretty beat up but there was a time two days before it was brand new and I hadn't ridden it yet...





Add another layer of protective foam and top with tires. Make sure you let the air out of the tires!





Top tires with another protective layer of foam for a delicious bike sandwich.





Locked and loaded!





Notice this bike case has wheels and a pull strap. Consider trying to carry a packed bike around and remember that you can't leave the airport with one of those carts.

Road bikes are a bit different because of the amount of space drop down bars take. Here is the process for that.


First put the spanners in place so the frame and fork wont get damaged. I know you don't really need it for the fork when packed like I'm doing it but I do it anyway.










Now put the frame in place and secure it with the straps. Again, I didn't disconnect the cables from the bars. If the cables wont reach to place it this way you may have to remove them but it's unlikely.







Add seat and post, pedals and fork.







Now for road bikes you'll have to remove the axles. This is because the the drop down bars stick up so far that the box wont close with the axles on. I put them in a plastic bag so the grease doesn't get all over the foam.







Make a bike sandwich.







Done!







Ok, that's my story on packing a bike for shipping or bringing it on a plane. Happy trails!

Now I have to go put my bikes back together.






Possible questions -


What size bikes are they?
The bike is a large frame 29'er. The cyclocross is a 53cm but it will hold larger frames.


In the bike sandwich photo it looks like there is no way that the top will cover all that. Is that for real?
It's an illusion because of the angle of the photo. It fits.


That mountain bike chain is rusty as hell and it looks like it's all full of road salt. There is also rust on that crosscheck and some salt too. Are you some kind of sicko?
I had to ride them to work. Get off my back! :)


I see a primal quest sticker on the box. Did you race in that?
No, Stephen Regenold did. We borrow gear back and forth occasionally.
His Primal Quest Article