Fly Away on Two Wheels

Nothing's worse than reaching your destination and realizing that something on your bicycle has been damaged, especially if the glitch prevents you from riding. Fortunately, this is rarely the case if the bike is packed carefully. If you're not sure how to do this, we're happy to do it for you. We take the bike apart just enough so that it fits in the box and travels safely. This usually involves removing the pedals, front wheel, seat and post (as a unit) and handlebars. Don't worry though, as long as you have a few Allen wrenches to fit these components, re-assembly is a snap. It should take you no more than 30 minutes.

Optimum Protection And Easy Assembly
One of the reasons to have us box your bicycle is that we know how to protect the frame and components from damage. We pad the frame and install shipping materials that keep parts of the bike from banging against each other in transit. And, when we disassemble your machine, we don't change any brake or derailleur adjustments, which means you're set to ride, once you've installed the parts we removed. Check with us for current rates on boxing.

Bike-Travel Cases
If you travel frequently, consider purchasing a bike case. These crates are more expensive than bike boxes but they offer more protection than cardboard and can be used over and over. Additionally, they include wheels on the bottom for easier toting through airports. Plus, once you own one, you might recoup some of its cost by renting it to cycling friends who travel. And, think of how cool it will look all stickered up with decals from all the far-flung destinations you've ridden in.

Take Along Tools, Too
When preparing your travel kit, assemble all the tools needed to build your bike. Be sure to pack some spare parts in the event of a breakdown. There's nothing worse than taking your bike on a trip only to not be able to ride it because something broke. We recommend bringing spare tubes, a spare tire, patch kit, several spokes, a brake and shift cable, chain pins and a seat post binder bolt (holds the seat post tight in the frame).

A nice trick is to pack an inexpensive pair of gloves in your tool and parts kit. Put these on for assembly and then again for packing your bike, and you'll save yourself a lot of hand scrubbing to remove grease and grime.

Don't Panic If Something Was Left Behind
If you're unlucky enough to get somewhere with your bike and then realize that you left something crucial back in the garage, such as your shoes or front wheel, don't give up. Remember that you can ship almost anything, almost anywhere in the world overnight. It'll cost you a pretty penny but you'll at least salvage the riding part of your trip. You can't put too high a price on that.