Packing your mountain bike for flights can seem a daunting prospect, but we’ve put together our top tips on how to travel with your bike to make it as stress-free as possible.

We researched and now want to share our thoughts on how to travel with your bike around the world

By Euan Wilson, H+I Adventures owner

Our passion for mountain biking and adventure travel has taken us – and our bikes – to all four corners of the globe. Whilst traveling with our bikes has got easier over the years, transporting our precious mountain bikes safely on planes, trains, and automobiles is always a worry. So we thought we would share with you some valuable hints and tips on how to travel with your bike.

Flying with your mountain bike is probably the most stressful of all public transport options because you have to hand your beloved bike over to airport staff before you board and just pray that it gets to the other end at the same time as you, and in one piece. There are various different bike packing options, which we’ll come on to later, but first, here are a few key tips on how to pack your mountain bike for flying and reduce the chances of your bike being damaged in transit.

• Remove your front wheel (and insert your axel to prevent your forks being damaged)
• Remove your pedals
• Remove your rear derailleur
• Remove your stem, not your handlebars. It is easier to replace your stem with handlebars attached, then align your handlebar position/ angle on arrival
• For hydraulic brakes, be sure to put something in between your brake pads to prevent them being forced together
• Make sure most of the air has been expelled from your tyres (this is a requirement of the airlines)
• Make sure your mountain bike is marked clearly with your name, and your home and destination addresses

How to pack your mountain bike in a bag for travel

Over the years we’ve been exploring the world – from Europe, to South America, to Africa, and beyond – with our mountain bikes and we’ve tried almost every bike packing option available: from the cheap and cheerful cardboard bike box from the local bike shop, to more expensive, hard-shell boxes. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, for example, the cardboard option is inexpensive and easy to access, but also requires a lot of extra protective packaging to secure your bike and is very time-consuming to pack/ unpack. The hard shell, on the other hand, offers a good deal of protection for your mountain bike, but is extremely cumbersome to transport around train stations and airports.

Having tried and tested most products on the market, we were blown away when we discovered the Evoc Bike Travel Bag, which we’ve actually enjoyed travelling with for many years now. The cunning German design means that you’ll have your bike safely packed away in under ten minutes, but more importantly, it will be built up and ready to ride within ten minutes of you arriving in our destinations around the world! While all your riding buddies are struggling with rear mechs and bubble wrap, you’ll be relaxing with a drink!

A couple of final points: check how much the airlines will charge to transport your bike before you book your flights; and make sure you check the fine print of your luggage insurance to see if it covers you for sports equipment. It’s likely that your bike won’t be insured and you may need to take special insurance to cover you for loss or theft of your bike in transit.

If you have any inspired tips on how to pack a mountain bike for flying leave a comment and share them with other mountain bike adventurers.

Found this useful? Why not read up on these posts too! “Why a 20 litre backpack?” and “What to pack for your mountain bike adventure“.