Packing a bike bag isn’t as scary as a result of it seems! This step-by-step data will stroll you via breaking down your bike and packing it safely in case your bike bag for transit.
Quick concepts for packing a bike bag
So, you’ve booked an superior bike journey, nevertheless there’s one disadvantage… How do you pack your bike for the airplane? I get it – the first time I wanted to pack my bike in a bike bag, I was pressured and nervous that I’d screw up my bike large time and I wouldn’t be succesful to take pleasure in my journey. Nevertheless I’m proper right here to let you realize that it’s not as intimidating or exhausting as it’d seem.
Breaking down a bike to fit in a bike bag is straightforward for individuals who observe a pointers. I’ve executed it dozens of cases and now I can pack my bike in decrease than 20 minutes (thanks, I do know). On this publish, I share a step-by-step data for disassembling your bike, packing it up, and making certain it’s regular and guarded for transit.
Gathering your supplies
Sooner than you start breaking down your bike, you want to guarantee you have got the exact devices. Proper right here’s what you’ll need:
Bear in mind: This weblog publish includes affiliate hyperlinks. For individuals who make a purchase order order, I get a small price without charge to you. I stand by the merchandise I prefer to advocate and enormously respect your help!
In search of to assemble up your bike devices? Check out my publish on what you wish to your home mountain bike system bundle.
Bike Bag Packing Instructions
Once you’ve gathered your total supplies, proper right here is the strategy I’m going by when packing my bike into my Dakine bike bag.
Bear in mind: this is usually a regular pointers for a lot of bikes. Chances are high you may wish to interrupt your bike down further (or a lot much less) counting on what it is and what bike bag or area you’ve got obtained.
1. Shift into the hardest/smallest gear on the rear cassette. This makes it easier to remove/arrange the rear wheel.
2. Put the dropper publish all the way in which by which down. For individuals who don’t have a dropper publish, loosen the seat publish collar and drop the seat publish down as far as it’ll go.
Bear in mind: throughout the unusual case that your dropper publish continues to be too tall when all the way in which by which down, you might have to remove it absolutely. It’s not as scary as a result of it sounds. Proper right here’s an article on the way in which to remove your dropper publish and the way in which to reinstall it.
3. Take away the pedals. Once you’ve obtained pedal washers, make sure you protect them in a baggie or zip-tie them to the cranks.
4. Take away the doorway and rear wheels and substitute the axles. Don’t neglect the axles!
Bear in mind: Once you’ve obtained an enormous bike area, you would presumably get away with leaving the rear wheel on.
6. Take away every rotors. This isn’t obligatory, nevertheless after dealing with one too many bent rotors I now always take away them. Loosely substitute the screws and pack the rotors in between two gadgets of cardboard taped collectively and marked “entrance” and “rear”.
5. Partially deflate every tires and place the wheels throughout the wheel baggage. Once you’ve obtained tubeless tires, don’t deflate the tires all the way in which by which in any other case you menace breaking the bead off the rim and dropping sealant. If this happens, you’ll desire a compressor to pump them once more up and new sealant!
7. Place a small piece of cardboard or plastic brake spacer between every the doorway and rear brake pads. This prevents the pistons from advancing if the brakes are by likelihood squeezed when the wheels are eradicated.
8. Take away the derailleur from the derailleur hanger. I want to protect the derailleur completely open by taking part the lock ‘button’. This makes it easy to secure the derailleur to the chainstay with zip ties.
9. Take away the face plate and handlebars. I screw the faceplate once more on after eradicating the handlebars so I don’t lose any of the small components.
Bear in mind: In case your bike has a protracted stem (like a freeway or gravel bike), you’ll have to remove the stem as successfully. Do this by loosening the bolts on the aspect of the stem after which unscrewing the headset bolt.
10. Place the very best tube padding on the very best tube and secure the handlebars to the aspect with the velcro straps.
11. Slip the doorway fork sleeve over the doorway fork and secure it extreme cap. Counting on the dimensions of your bike (like an XL), it is attainable you may have to remove air out of your entrance fork to get it to compress enough so it fits throughout the bag.
12. Place your bike into the bag. The rear triangle fits over the froth block.
13. Protected the straps and clips. This may be utterly completely different for each bike bag, nevertheless there have to be a minimum of a variety of straps and clips to secure your bike physique, entrance fork, and wheels inside.
14. Add further padding spherical your physique as needed. Then, zip up the bag and likewise you’re all executed!
Get hold of A Free Bike Bag Packing Report
Strategies for getting your bike bag beneath Airline weight limits
Flying with a bike is perhaps pricey for individuals who’re not cautious. As soon as I flew to Mexico for my Oaxaca journey, my bag was over the 50lb weight prohibit and I wanted to pay $200 each strategy! Ughhhhh….
Nevertheless, there are some concepts and strategies it’s possible you’ll implement that may help you steer clear of these nasty overweight expenses. Proper right here’s what I’ve found after years of touring and flying with my bikes.
Have you ever ever packed up your bike in a bike bag? How did it go? What concepts would you add? Let me know throughout the suggestions!
Was this publish helpful?
buy me a espresso!
I actually like writing regarding the areas I’ve biked and galvanizing you to get out and uncover the world by your self two wheels. If this publish has been helpful, take into consideration displaying your thanks with a small donation. It helps me protect TWW going. Thanks and protect your wheels spinning!
This guide is very detailed and helpful for first-time bike packers. The tips on removing the rotors are particularly useful.
I appreciate the step-by-step instructions. It makes the packing process seem less intimidating.
The recommendation to use foam noodles for padding is a great idea. I never thought of that before!
Thanks for sharing your experience with packing bikes. It’s good to know it can be done in under 20 minutes.
The advice on choosing airlines and avoiding overweight fees is very practical. This will definitely save me money on my next trip.