Calgary Mountain Bike Alliance - Bagging/Tarping a Bicycle for Air Travel

Tourist Information

Bagging/Tarping a Bicycle for Air Travel

See also:

Cycling Tour Operators & Services
Tourist Resources
Bike Box Storage To / From the
Calgary International Airport
Flying your Bike for Free

by Don Hollingshead

Clean your drive train before the tour so packing the bike is a pleasant experience.

Remove computers/mounts, lights, bells and accessories that could get bashed during loading by the baggage handlers

Release the brakes so that the brake levers can be strapped into the handlebar to prevent them from poking through the wrapping and catching on things

Pull the handlebars out to the frame and lightly tighten the stem bolt to prevent it from rattling loose

Take the pedals off and store with your gear (turn the left pedal clockwise to loosen)

Detach the rear deraillure and let it hang free

Loosen the seatpost clamp and lower your seat

Do not reduce tire pressure (but be prepared to indicate that you have to the ticket agent)

Buy a camping tarp 8 x 12 foot and wrap the bike in it use bungy cords to secure the tarp around the bike.

(Alternatively, bikes can be bagged. Bags tend to puncture more easily than tarps and tarps have numerous uses on tour. A tarp this size can be rolled into a compact cylinder for storage at or near the airport or to carry along. Bags however can be disposed of and repurchased for the return flight.)

The tricky part of reassembly is remounting the rear derailleur. A simple task if you know to rotate it backwards quite a ways while attaching it.