Shipping My Bike

[MM_QFC!]

hello ladies, im packing up my bike and taking it on the plane with me, i know i need to take off the peddles, handle bar, and the front tire. is there any advice for me as to what to use to pad the bike or what to use to make sure it's not moving around in the box???

thanks so much for the help

+1 on the foam pipe insulation to cut to size for all of your tubes, yes, take off pedals (I usually wrap them per greasy spindles and put in zip lock bag), also, bubble wrap works great too; I wrap it around the rear derailleur and use masking tape or zip ties...make sure to have a small tube of grease for any metal-on-metal parts during re-assembly...and zip lock any such lubes or liquids too. I tuck them into my shoes and wedge into corner of case...someone here recently showed their packed bike in a case and had a paper taped to the inside lid showing pictures and description of each layer so as to make it easier for TSA-types to look and maybe not mess with how carefully everything is packed...great idea IMHO!

[kfergos]

I have heard that a cardboard box should work just fine -- much cheaper than buying a special box just for the bike, although if you plan on traveling with your bike much, a special plastic box made for holding your bike might be worth it.

Bicycling Magazine has bike packing suggestions here: http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6...1060-1,00.html

Couple other thoughts:
1. Don't lock it, since the TSA will want to look at it, most likely;
2. Let the air out of your tires before you fly -- you don't want any flats from air pressure changes!
3. Shipping bikes is expensive however you do it. Airlines will be charging big bucks for oversize/overweight packages, and I know from experience that shipping with FedEx/DHL/UPS-type people costs about $125 each way if you go from Boston to Seattle, the cheapest possible shipping. Ouch.

[katluvr]

We fly all the time w/ our bikes. Just returned yesterday from an out of stat MS 150 ride. Now we have hard cases and they come w/ foam and packing instructions.
Some airports have LARGER x-ray machines and no opening of case is required.
I believe you said you were shipping...do pack well! Foam egg crate mattress pads are good, too. Belive it or not, I have only had minor damage with all my travels and shipping was where it happened. When we "fly" w/ the bikes...no problemo!
Like everyone said, pad things, don't let anything be lose AND no "rubbing".
You LBS may help you...ours did the first time we had to do this!
Have fune.