Protecting your bicycle in a container?

[danibees]

Hi folks, I am wondering what the best way is to protect my bicycle during shipping in a container. I don't want to lose anything, or get tangled with other bikes. If this has already been discussed, link me to threads please?

Thanks!
DaniB

[dragonpilot]

There are soft-sided and hard-sided cases you can purchase...but they are very pricey. For a playa bike I would go to a local bike shop and ask if they have any cardboard bike shipping boxes in the back room. They usually just cut them up for recycling anyway. I used to ship my very expensive road bike this way when I was going to be away on long business trips...never had a problem.

[Elliot]

I always remove the pedals to reduce tangling. Pedals are very "good at" tangling in the spokes of other bikes.
I also turn the handlebar sideways, so the bike becomes almost flat.
Both jobs require bicycle knowledge and appropriate tools, though. Are you up on this, or is somebody in your group?

[Riv]

The minimum I do is to zip-tie the wheels to the frame so they can't rotate, remove the handlebars/pedals/seat to ship separately, and wrap the whole thing in a tarp (using some paracord to keep it snug). Ideally one would also remove the wheels, but I've found that to be more trouble than it's worth.

[misfit]

agree with elliot, remove pedals and loosen goose neck. this isn't your all time favorite, extremely expensive bike you are taking to the playa is it.?.

[DoctorIknow]

Bicycles are made with various methods of connecting handlebar "stems" and pedals.
Perhaps best is to watch countless videos:
Do a search for "how to remove bicycle pedals" and "how to loosen bicycle handlebars."

The short of it is:

For turning the handlebars around (very effective and relatively easy to do) you will need an allen wrench or a really wide open end wrench.
It isn't a good idea to use a pipe wrench, but it would work.
Harbor Freight Tools must have a cheapo POS big ass adjustable wrench (measure the "nut" on the handlebar stem before you buy) that will
be fine for the job at hand.

The pedals will be either removed by an allen wrench or an open end wrench.
Sometimes, you can use an allen wrench on what looks like a pedal that can also use an open end wrench. Look and see.
To remove the pedals, you have to "unscrew" them in the direction OPPOSITE the direction you pedal.
If they need an open end wrench, your wrench may need to be "thinner" than a normal wrench, and a bike shop may sell that wrench, or you may find what is called a "tappet" wrench

Watch the videos and see if you can do it, or find a friend who is a bike freak.

pedal direction.JPG

tappet wrench.JPG

Very expensive specialized bike wrench but very effective as the length gives great torque on what can be a quite stubborn pedal.

pedal wrench.JPG

[Sic Pup]

This may be overkill for your purposes but there are many instructional videos and material calculators on line on how to construct crates.


I hope to fulfill a dream of mine to hang with Patience and Fortitude at the burn this year (truth be told it's really to put an end to the endless whining and hounding that commences in early July and the persistent sulking and sobbing that lasts through the entire month of September but let that be our little secret). I could take them in the vehicle but then there would be little room for shelter......or water.....or clothing.....or food.....or alcohol. The first four...maybe....but the last is a nonstarter. I tried the riding aloft but they bitched even more then them not going. Who would have thought creatures who are exposed to the elements, the occasional lifted leg and spend a fair amount of time covered in bird shit would be so sensitive to a little windburn and mussed hair? It's only 5800 miles or so........wusses.

[EspressoDude]

take a close look at DrIKnow's pictures. In the black and white picture, that is a guaranteed knuckle buster if loosening ( same in the color picture. Don't aim your knuckles at something to hit. Do it open palmed so when it all goes to crap, or comes loose, you don't mash your fingers.

Also notice the wrench handle is pointed toward the crankset bearings. This makes the force that you have to restrain with the chain or something about 1/5 of what it would be if the pedal wrench were pointed away from the center(as if a pedal crank arm extension)

After it is apart, wrap the bike in some old bath towels or blanket for more protection

[Savannah]

This may be overkill for your purposes but there are many instructional videos and material calculators on line on how to construct crates.


I hope to fulfill a dream of mine to hang with Patience and Fortitude at the burn this year (truth be told it's really to put an end to the endless whining and hounding that commences in early July and the persistent sulking and sobbing that lasts through the entire month of September but let that be our little secret). I could take them in the vehicle but then there would be little room for shelter......or water.....or clothing.....or food.....or alcohol. The first four...maybe....but the last is a nonstarter. I tried the riding aloft but they bitched even more then them not going. Who would have thought creatures who are exposed to the elements, the occasional lifted leg and spend a fair amount of time covered in bird shit would be so sensitive to a little windburn and mussed hair? It's only 5800 miles or so........wusses.

Those lions continue to crack me up.