How to Pack a Bicycle when Moving

Packing up a bike for a move can be quite complicated if you don’t know what you are doing. Below we discuss the best ways to pack up a bicycle in order to keep it safe during a relocation.

First, you will need to ensure that you have the correct materials to move the bike safely. Below is everything that you will need:

• A cardboard bike box
• A smaller box for the disassembled bike parts
• Pedal wrench
• Set of hex wrenches
• Torque wrench
• Pair of pliers
• Around 10 tube protectors
• Fork protector
• 4 wheel axle protectors
• Cable ties
• Bubble wrap and/or packing paper
• Packing tape

You are able to get bike boxes from bike shops or hardware stores. You can also find these boxes by contacting your removal company, which should be able to provide this for you at an added cost. If you don’t have any of the tools required, then it might be best to get your removal company to pack up your bike for you.

How to Prepare Your Bicycle for Moving

First, you need to clean your bicycle with a soft rag. Unscrew the pedals using your pedal wrench and place them in packing paper inside of the smaller box. Take off the seat and seat post and place them in the smaller box too. Remove any accessories that you have on the bike such as bells, mirrors, and tech holders, and again place them into the smaller box.

Now you need to remove the front brake on the bike. Make sure you re-attach the nut so that you don’t lose it in transit. Remove the handlebars of the bike and remove the front wheel by unscrewing the front bolts. Place the fork protector there straight away to avoid any damage to it. Place any nuts and bolts you have removed from the bike into the smaller box.

Deflate both the tires to halfway so that they are able to fit better in the bike box. Wrap the bike chain and largest rear cog in bubble wrap to protect it. Put the foam tube protectors on the metal frame of your bicycle. This will stop it from getting any scratches or dents whilst the bike is being moved. You can use packing tape or zip ties to secure these tubes in place. Now use the 4-wheel axle protectors and wrap everything else up in bubble wrap.

You then need to place the bicycle into the box. Do this very slowly so that you don’t damage the bike. Insert the handlebars into the box if possible. If there are any gaps in the box where the bike could move around, fill those with packing paper. Close the box and make use of enough packing tape to seal it up.

Use a Removal Company

If you believe the above procedure is too complicated or you don’t want to risk doing it yourself, removal companies offer bicycle dissembling services. They will have all the right materials and be able to disassemble the bike in a safe and efficient way. They can even reassemble it when you get to the new location as well.