Standard Bike Box Packing
‍

Disassembled silver Specialized road bicycle packed inside a red hard plastic bike travel case, with bike wheels mounted vertically on the inside of the case lid and other bike parts wrapped in bubble wrap.
Partially disassembled blue road bicycle packed inside a red hard case with two wheels secured in the lid, wrapped handlebars, and protective cushioning around various parts.
Cyclist wearing black gear and bright pink socks rides uphill on a winding mountain road with guardrails, surrounded by trees and vegetation, overlooking a distant coastal landscape under a clear sky.
A cyclist wearing black biking gear and helmet rides a road bike uphill on a paved mountain road with a wooden guardrail, surrounded by dry grass and green trees under a partly cloudy sky at sunset.
Indoor space with patterned tile floor featuring a Van Rysel road bike leaning against a tiled structure, black Bike Box cases stacked near a yellow door and window bars, and a green plant near a white arched wall with a hanging lantern.
Cyclist wearing a helmet rides along a curved mountain road surrounded by rocky cliffs and green trees under an overcast sky.
Person wearing a white helmet and cycling gear rides a road bike uphill on a mountain road with dense green trees below and large rocky peaks with patches of snow under a clear blue sky.
Fourteen colorful hard bike cases arranged in three rows on a stone patio next to wooden fences and greenery, with colors including purple, blue, pink, orange, and red, each with metal latches and labels.
cyclist
Getting Started

Watch the video below, follow the step-by-step guide, and the golden rules are simple: secure everything tightly and use plenty of padding.

cyclist
cyclist
cyclist
Before you start

A few things worth checking before you begin:

Disassembled white and black Cervélo P3 racing bike frame secured inside a red protective bike case with foam padding.

01

Pedals

Make sure you can remove your pedals! If they've never come off before, they may be very stiff. Don't force them; take the bike to a local shop and they'll have them off in seconds. (Note: the left pedal has a reverse thread — lefty tighty, righty loosey.)

Close-up of a black bicycle wheel with a solid disc wheel anti-crush pole attached to the hub, secured by white zip ties, on a wooden floor background with a green toolbox and feet wearing black sneakers visible.

02

Thru Axles

If your bike has thru axles, you'll need Quick Release skewers of a suitable length for front and rear (rear is longer). All our Standard/Premium boxes come with QR skewers.

Close-up of a bicycle wheel with black spokes, a silver disc brake rotor, and a blue hub on a wooden floor.

03

Disc Brakes

See our dedicated disc brake packing guide below. Short version: most riders leave their disc rotors on to travel without issue.

Packing the frame - Make sure nothing in the base of the box is positioned to push into the rotors. The front disc is usually fine - the frame sits flat below it. For the rear disc, check your handlebar position.
‍
One more tip... Place a coin or small piece of plastic between the brake pads and secure it with a wrap of tape. This protects the pads during transit.

A bike box containing two separated bicycle wheels, labeled front wheel and rear wheel, both with disc brake rotors and wrapped hubs.

04

Chain and Cassette

Give these a clean before you start. Unpacking a greasy bike in a hotel room is nobody's idea of a good time.

What Else Can You Fit In?

One of the great things about Bike Box Alan cases is the extra space. As triathletes, we pack a track pump, helmet, shoes, wetsuit, tools, and nutrition alongside the bike.

Most airlines are generous with weight allowances, so with a light bike, there should be space for extra bits. Pack smart and you may not need any additional checked baggage at all.

Will It Fit In My Car?

Check the dimensions guide. Most cars fit a box with the rear seats down.


Troubleshooting...

A bike box containing two separated bicycle wheels, labeled front wheel and rear wheel, both with disc brake rotors and wrapped hubs.

Do this with bubble wrap...

Two bicycle wheels with disc brakes, labeled front wheel and rear wheel, placed inside a gray molded plastic case.

Not this ^

A disassembled bicycle frame secured inside a black bike travel case, with the handlebars reversed and placed separately from the frame, accompanied by red text pointing out that the handle bars reversed no longer have the potential to damage the rear wheel disc.

Do this with your handle bars reversed
(no longer have the potential to damage the rear wheel disc).

Disassembled road bike frame secured inside a bike travel case with padding and straps, accompanied by detached bike components; a red circle and arrow point to the frame near the handlebars with the text 'Potential to push into the disc'.

Not this ^ 
Potential to push into the disc.

Your next cycling adventure starts here.

London Bike Box Hire - delivered to your door.