10. Loosen the headset. If your fork needs to be twisted to 90 degrees so that the bike can lay flat, you'll have to loosen the headset. It's worth asking your local bike shop to show you beforehand how to retighten it to make sure that you don't end up riding with a loose headset when you arrive at your destination.
11. Other parts. Note that with certain bike boxes, other parts may need to be removed, like the brakes, bottle cages, front fork and cranks. This is rare and usually only applies to bikes that are designed to be packed into small travel boxes the size of a regular piece of luggage.
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Wrapping Your Bike
Parts of the bike that are unlikely to be damaged should still be wrapped. This will ensure that other bike parts do not rub against them.
Step 1: Cut pipe insulation to size.
Step 2: Place the pipe insulation on all possible parts of the bike. Some hard bike boxes have foam inside them, which will protect the frame. For all other cases, try to protect the entire frame and parts with insulation. Parts that should be protected include:
- Fork
- Head tube (you may need to use a piece front and back)
- Stem
- Frame
- Handlebar
- Crank arms
- Seatpost
Step 3: Use velcro straps to secure the pipe insulation.
