Travel tips
Boxing up your bike
Are you going on a bike trip and need help preparing your bike for air travel? Here are our tips for packing your bike!
Required equipment
A box with maximum dimensions of 60 inches x 32 inches x 8 inches; Allen keys; a pedal wrench; scissors; gummed tape; tie wraps; a spacer; Styrofoam plumbing sleeves to protect the pipes.
Box selection and disassembly
The box shown below—which can usually be purchased at bicycle shops—is smaller than the maximum size accepted by airlines. It requires removing the handlebars, as indicated in step 3.
Using a box of maximum size—sold at the Maison des cyclistes—simply turn the handlebars.
If you are traveling with a tandem bike, a quetzal bike, or any other atypical bike, or if you are traveling with a box or hard case, please let us know.
Procedure
1 Leave enough pressure in the tires to prevent them from collapsing under the weight of the bike (± 60 psi).
Position the chain on the large sprocket and the large chainring so that the chain is as tight as possible.
2 Mark the height of the saddle and the position of the handlebars.
Remove the seat post.
3 Remove the handlebars by unscrewing the front plate of the stem, remove the handlebars and secure them to the horizontal tube. Be careful not to damage the sheaths or the cyclometer wire. Rotate the fork 90 degrees. Secure a spacer between the fork legs. Unscrew the pedals. Remember that the thread is reversed for the left pedal, so you must unscrew it clockwise. Once the pedals have been removed, put them in a bag and attach them to the frame.
N.B. If you have a full-size bike box, there is no need to remove the handlebars. Simply turn them and rotate the fork 90 degrees.
4 Remove the quick release from the front wheel. Secure the wheel to the left side of the bike. Slide the bike into the box, including the saddle, pedals, and any accessories that attach to the frame. Use Styrofoam plumbing sleeves to protect the tubes. The box must not contain any loose items (such as a pump or lock) unless they are securely attached to the frame. During handling, loose items may puncture the box and you may lose them.
5 Identify your bike box: write your contact details on it.
The transport box must contain only the bicycle and its accessories (helmet, lock, water bottle). Airlines reserve the right to open the box at check-in to verify its contents. Any contents other than the bicycle and its accessories are prohibited (clothing, food, etc.).
Reprint from Vélo Mag magazine.
Equipment column, spring 2007. Author: Mathieu Fagnan
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the bike box for air transport provided?
The cost of transporting your bike is included in the price of our VQV travel packages, but the bike transport box is not included.
However, you can purchase them at the Maison des Cyclistes (where our agency is located) or at any other bicycle shop.
Where can I get a cardboard box to transport my bike?
You can purchase them at the Maison des Cyclistes in Montreal or at any bike shop.
We recommend that you call them to find out more, and above all, do not wait to purchase it at the airport, as this could delay your departure. It is important that your bike is already packed before you arrive.
What happens to my bike box once I arrive at my destination?
Depending on the trip and itinerary, we may leave the boxes at the hotel or have the guide transport them in their car throughout the trip. In any case, your bike box will be waiting for you at your destination at the end of your trip, whether it is made of cardboard or another material.
