How to pack a bike for courier

What you need

• A bike box. Ask your local bike shop; they often have boxes from new bikes. A hard or soft bike travel case also works.
• Padding: pipe insulation, bubble wrap, foam or old towels.
• Cable ties and strong packing tape.
• Tools: hex keys, a pedal spanner or the right hex key for your pedals, and a small bag for loose parts.
• Disc brake pad spacers, if you have disc brakes. A folded piece of cardboard works in a pinch.

Step by step

1. Clean the bike. Dirty bikes make a mess of the box and can hide damage. A quick wipe is enough.
2. Take photos. Photograph the bike from both sides. If anything goes wrong, you have a record of its condition.
3. Remove the pedals. Remember: the left pedal unscrews clockwise, the right pedal anti-clockwise. Put them in your parts bag.
4. Shift to the smallest rear cog, then remove the rear derailleur from the hanger if you are comfortable doing so, or wrap it in padding and tape it inside the rear triangle. The derailleur and hanger are the parts most often bent in transit.
5. Remove the wheels. Fit pad spacers in disc brakes so the pistons cannot close. Fit a dropout spacer or old axle in the fork and rear end so they cannot be squashed.
6. Turn or remove the handlebars. Loosen the stem and turn the bars parallel to the frame, or remove them and tape them to the frame with padding in between. Don’t let levers rub on the top tube.
7. Lower or remove the seatpost. Mark its height with tape first so you can set it back exactly.
8. Pad the frame. Wrap the top tube, down tube and fork with padding. Cover the chainrings to protect the box and anything next to it.
9. Put it in the box. Place the frame in first, then the wheels on either side, separated from the frame by cardboard or padding. Rotors should face out, away from the frame.
10. Fill the gaps and close up. Nothing should move when you shake the box. Add your parts bag, tape every seam, and attach the GearGo waybill on the outside. Remove or cover old labels and barcodes.

What not to pack

• CO₂ canisters, fuel, gas cartridges or other hazardous items.
• Loose lithium batteries. For e-bikes, see our e-bike guide.
• Anything that is not bike-related, unless you have booked it as a kit bag.

When it arrives

Check the box for damage before you sign, then unpack and inspect the bike. Report any damage as soon as possible, with photos. Keep the box and padding for the trip home.

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