Bikes in Bike Bag

Piggy

Does anyone have any tips for packing bikes for travel? I've bought a bike bag from Wiggle
(dhB Elsted - highly recommended) and am taking bike with me to Jersey next Friday. I suspect there's a thread here somewhere but I seem particularly inept at the search function so any help appreciated

yogi

Take-off the pedals
Loosen and turn the stem and handlebars to sit parallel to the frame with the forks in their normal position.
Get some plastic frame spacers to fit in the dropouts (usually available from your LBS) to prevent the frame and forks being squashed!
I use a short piece of old hosepipe, sliced length-ways and wrapped around the outer chainring.
Get some of the larger diameter plumbing pipe insulation tubes (from DIY store) and wrap it around as much of your frame as possible.
I even used a couple of old bodyboards either side of the bike for added protection.

I've probably missed a few things out but no doubt people will have further suggestions
I have used a Planet-X Bag which is probably similar.

Have a good trip.

andy_wrx

Basically remove or turn-in anything that sticks out, lots of bubblewrap and polystyrene pipe insulation from B&Q

If you can't get hold of the fork & stay-end spacers, cut a piece of wood to size and push it between them - the idea is to protect the forks & rear-triangle from being crushed.

Remove the rear mech and hanger, tape to inside of rear stay.

Remove chain if you have a missing-link type thing in it.

Protect chainrings - they could get bent if some ape drops your bag - the hosepipe idea is a good one, I used a couple of thicknesses of cardboard box.

Remove skewers from wheels and pack seperately.

Ensure that pedals, skewers, etc that you've got seperate inside the bag won't damage the bike.

You could try daubing 'FRAGILE' on the outside of the bag : 50/50 whether this will help or just further enrage a baggage-mangler... :?

Steve2020

Leave the chain on the big ring to protect the teeth.

I dont know why but I find the plastic spacers from a bike shop really hard to get in. Old hubs would be ideal (I only have one). If it is a bike you really care about someone must make a wooden spacer which attaches via a QR skewer.

eskimo Joe

I used the following http://www.switch-backs.com/switchbacks-pack-mountain-bike-travel.html

Piggy

Thanks all - very helpful - though now slightly nervous about bike mangling possibilities...

pdstsp

As Piggy's reply - I use the bike box from your lbs inside the bad as added ptotection and, touch wood, so far so good.