When it comes to shipping or flying, mountain bikes may seem like large, unwieldy objects, but if you know what to do, you can easily pack them safely.
Smaller components must be dismantled to guarantee the safety of the parts during transportation, and extreme cushioning must be provided.
This blog post will explain how to pack and ship a mountain bike properly. Here are the steps you need to take to ship your MTB bike correctly:
- Select your shipping method
- Take your bike apart and prepare it for shipping
- You need to pack
Let’s go through the article to learn more details about this issue.
Here is an article on my website that you must read, its about Can You Put Drop Bars On A Mountain Bike?
How To Ship Your Mountain Bike?
Before shipping your mountain bike, you need to follow some steps :
First, You Need To Choose A Shipping Service
A bike can be shipped by either a traditional shipping carrier or a bike-shipping specialist. Before making a decision, always do your research since rates change constantly.
To find out if special fees apply, check with your airline. Airlines such as Delta and American will no longer charge fees for oversized baggage for sports equipment like bikes.
A variety of containers are also available. Shipping carriers sell bicycle-specific packing materials and boxes. You can get free shipping boxes and packing materials from bike shops. When you are planning to travel with your bike often, you need to purchase a bike case or bag.
Then You Need To Prepare Your MTB Bike for Shipping.
So, How To Prepare Your Mountain Bike For Shipping?
You may need to disassemble fragile components depending on your shipping method. Here are some tips for securing your bike.
What Do You Need?
- Bag or box for bikes
- Bike tool
- Foam padding
- Bubble wrap
- Zip ties
- Scissors
- Shipping tape
- PVC tubing
- Extra cardboard
- The frame and fork
Secure tubes with tape or zip ties and wrapped with foam padding. A cardboard or foam layer can be added to thin tubes to increase their durability.For mountain bikes, wrap the fork (or stanchions) in foam. A piece of soft cloth should be placed between the frame and the cables of bikes with external cables.
- Stem, levers, and handlebars
Make sure the handlebar is wrapped in bubble wrap or foam before removing it.
The shift and brake levers should parallel the top tube to prevent contact with the container’s sides. Zip ties are an easy way to secure it.
- Pedals, Seatpost, and seat
Put bubble wrap or foam between your saddle and the post. Secure the seatpost once it’s in the box or bag to prevent it from damaging other parts. To prevent movement, zip-tie them to the frame or tape them inside the box.
The pedals should be removed and placed in a small bag or box. Ensure the container doesn’t rattle when you place it inside the bike box by taping it or covering it with cardboard.
- Disc Brakes
Disk brake pads should be kept separated while the wheels are off using a pad spreader.Remove calipers that extend beyond the back dropout of the bike.Remove calipers that extend past the bike’s rear dropout. Protect them by padding them and securing them within the frame.
By doing so, they won’t be damaged or punched through when the fork is turned. A bit of cable slack also facilitates parallel handling because of the slack in the cables. Ensure the caliper mount is wrapped in shipping tape before storing it in your pedal bag or box.
- Hanger And Rear Derailleur
Make sure the derailleur and hanger are removed before transferring, wrapped in dense padding, and secured inside the frame using tape or zip ties. Wrap the rear derailleur with bubble wrap and cardboard after shifting it to the most accessible gear.
- Wheels
The front wheel needs to be removed. The wheel can be cushioned with foam, secured with cardboard in the box, or wrapped in padded wheel bags.
Most bike boxes can still attach the rear wheel to the frame.Cover the cassette with foam or padding on the rear wheel to prevent other components from being damaged.
Both wheels should be fitted with end caps over the axle ends to prevent damage to the box or other components. Remove skewers and thru-axles if possible.
- Dropouts
To prevent the fork from getting compressed and damaging the box, install a spacer between the fork dropouts. Spacer options include the following:
- Using a skewer or thru-axle, secure 12″ diameter PVC pipe
- A tape-secured plastic spacer used by manufacturers
- The old hubs
- Threaded nuts on axles
- Accessories
Make sure all accessories are removed, including fenders, racks, and bottle cages. All small parts and hardware should be stored inside a sealed bag or box.
Now it is time to pack your mountain bike for shipping.
So, How Are Mountain Bikes Packed For Shipping?
- Rolling, rattling, and shaking
Ensure all your bike’s parts are in the container, close it, and shake it vigorously. Add more padding or zip ties if anything rattles or rolls around.
- Choosing Your Destination
Ship your bike to the place you’re staying. If you prefer, you can take it to a bike shop in your area.
- Label It
Two labels are needed: one inside and two outside.The label should be taped on all four edges . However, the barcode should not be covered.
A shipping luggage tag can be used for a travel case. Ensure that a backup label is placed inside the box if the outer labels are damaged.
- Prepare For Arrival
Spare supplies should be available in case something goes wrong during shipping. There are a few items you’ll need for front or rear use: a tire, spokes, a shift cable, a quick link, a derailleur hanger, a shock pump, and cable cutters.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Mountain Bike?
It depends on your shipping service and how much it will cost to ship a bike. Several factors determine the cost of shipping a bike, including:
- Weight:
Heavy bikes and shipping containers will cost more to ship.
- Dimensions:
It will be more expensive to ship a giant bike.
- Distance Shipped:
Rather than having to ship your bike across the country, it is cheaper to ship it closer to home.
- Shipping Internationally:
The shipping costs of BikeFlights are pretty high, but they do ship to over 60 countries. On an airplane, checking your bike as luggage is probably better.
- Shipping An E-Bike:
BikeFlights can ship E-bikes, but because they are heavier and classified differently due to their lithium batteries, shipping an electric bike will be more expensive.
How Can Bike Shipping Be Improved?
There are some common mistakes while sipping a bike usually. By improving these mistakes you can improve your bike shipping.
- Improper Packing
Protect your bike frame and anything else susceptible to damage with plenty of padding. Be sure to protect your belongings with foam wrapping and insurance. Invest in peace of mind by spending a few extra dollars upfront. You should pad up and cinch everything down tight in your bike box to prevent damage from loose parts. Ensure all old labels are removed from a box you’re reusing – nothing from previous shipments should remain on it.
- Measuring Errors
You should enter accurate dimensions and weight when using a shipping service. When using a shipping service, it is important to enter accurate dimensions and weight. Always round up fractions when using a tape measure or scale.
- Unforeseen Delays
Waiting until the last minute to ship is never a good idea. Many factors can delay arrival times, from holidays to inclement weather. Having an extra day or two will ensure that you get your bike when you need it.
Is It Worth It To Ship A Mountain Bike?
It all depends on where you’re going, what you’re doing, and how much time you have. It might be worth leaving packing your bike to the pros if you need more time getting other preparations for a big trip.
You can ensure that your bike arrives in the condition your buyer expects by using bike shipping services.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
What Is The Cheapest Way To Ship A Bicycle?
By shipping a bike by ground, you can ship it interstate or across the country at the lowest cost.
What Is The Cheapest Way To Ship A Mountain Bike In The USA?
Shipping a bike by ground is an affordable way to get it to its destination when your budget is tight. ShipBikes and BikeFlights offer the best rates on FedEx and UPS ground shipping for bicycles.
What Is The Cheapest Way To Ship A Mountain Bike Internationally For A Trip?
Using USPS to ship your bike saves you money because private companies charge international clearance fees. Before you send your shipping label, check it for accuracy and opt to receive notifications when it is accepted.
Can I Send A Mountain Bike To DHL?
You can ship bicycles and other sports equipment with DHL, but they only offer specialized solutions. Before shipping a bike with DHL shipping services, ensure it is adequately packed.
How To Ship A Mountain Bike To Europe?
FedEx and UPS will ship your bike for you in a bike box.UPS does not insure bike cases, but FedEx does. Using UPS and FedEx, Bikeflights, domestically and internationally, picks up and ships your bike and even sells shipping boxes.
Final Words
The process of shipping a bike might seem stressful, but when you research the best option for your needs and your destination and ensure that the bike is packed correctly, it’s okay.
When packing a mountain bike, it is best to use the original bike box and padding foam. A mountain bike’s heavy parts will be protected during travel by the materials used in their manufacture. You’re good to go once you choose the most affordable delivery quote.
For more details on this subject, please check out this post that I published recently the 7 Best Mountain Bike Helmet For Sweat (2023)
