How do I pack my mountain bike for shipping?
How do you pack your MTB correctly? What should you pay attention to? Here you will find a clear guide. So nothing can go wrong during shipping!
The buycycle MTB Pack Guide
Congratulations, you have decided to sell your mountain bike on buycycle and give it a second life! Now we will send you the necessary packing material so that your bike reaches its new home safe and sound. When packing, you should follow this guide or our explainer video: Let's get wrapping!
1. check the box
We have sent you all the necessary materials to properly pack your MTB. Be sure to check that our shipment is complete. You should have received the following:
- 1 folding carton 1600 x 200 x 800mm
- 2 Protective cardboard round VE
- 3 folding boxes 250 x 180 x 125mm
- Filler material
2. prepare cartons
Set up the large folding box. Make sure that it is aligned correctly (see arrows) and also set up the three small boxes.
3. one last check
Make a final check that the condition of the bike corresponds to the description in your ad, so that there are no complaints. Make sure that all components that were specified are also shipped (e.g. pedals, bottle cage, on-board computer, etc.). As a tip: Shift front on the small chainring and rear on the largest sprocket, so that the rear derailleur is as close to the frame as possible.
4. down with the individual parts
In order for the bike to fit in the box, you will need to remove or at least modify some components:
Seat post: Remove the seat post and the saddle. Pack this in one of the three folding boxes. You can wrap the seat post securely and store it later next to the frame in the large box.
Pedals: Unscrew the pedals on the right in the direction of travel in an anticlockwise direction and the left pedals in a clockwise direction. Put the pedals also in a small folding box. Of course, this step only applies if you sell your road bike with pedals.
Handlebars: Now open the screws of the stem cap to turn the handlebars to the side or remove them completely. Pay attention to the brake lines, if attached to the outside. To protect the handlebar even better, wrap it with the supplied protective film and attach it to the frame if you need to remove it completely.
Front wheel: Unscrew the front quick release or the thru axle completely and take the front wheel out of the fork. In the case of disc brakes, you should clamp a piece of cardboard between the brake shoes, so that they are protected. The dismounted wheel you can clamp between the two round protective cardboard.
5. off into the box
Also wrap your frame well in the protective packaging provided. Now put a small box in the front end of the big box and put your road bike in it so that this box serves as a support and protection for the fork. For bikes with disc brakes, you may have to remove the quick release or the thru axle from the rear wheel so that the bike fits well in the box.
Now place the packed front wheel to the left of the frame in the box and add the other small boxes that will further stabilize your box.
6. close and go
Now that your bike is stored in the best possible way, you close the box with the help of the self-adhesive inner surfaces. You can close it additionally with adhesive tape.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact our buycycle team, we are ready to help you with words and deeds. Until then: Happy wrapping, happy cycling!
How to ship a mountain bike | buycycle
As soon as a buyer for your road bike or gravel bike has been found and he has chosen the shipping option, we will send you packing material. We ask you to pack your bike according to our guidelines so that the bike can be picked up at your home by our shipping company. If you have sold a mountain bike, please have a look at the following article: How do I pack my mountain bike?
Just follow the steps below. Alternatively, you can simply watch the explanation video.
Step 1: The packing material
To be able to pack a racing bike properly you need the following utensils, which we require from you buycycle you provide:
- Folding carton 1600 x 200 x 800mm
- 2 Protective cardboard round VE
- 3 folding boxes 250 x 180 x 125mm
The boxes are still folded to facilitate transportation.
Step 2: Cardboard folding
As a first step, set up the large folding box and bend the lower end so that the bottom closes. Make sure that it is aligned correctly (see arrows), as the box will be transported accordingly at the end. In addition, fold the three small folding boxes that serve as supports inside the box.
Step 3: One last check
Now dedicate yourself to your bike. Make a final check and make sure that the condition of the bike corresponds to the description in your ad. This way you will avoid complaints and possible returns. Make sure that all components that were specified in the ad are included in the shipment (e.g. pedals, bottle cage, on-board computer, etc.).
As a tip, we also recommend shifting to the small chainring at the front and the largest sprocket at the rear. Thus, the rear derailleur is as close to the frame as possible.
Step 4: Down with the components
Now it's down to the nitty-gritty. In order for the bike to fit into the folding box, you will have to dismantle or at least modify some components, depending on the type and size of the road bike. It is best to start with those components that do not affect the stability of your road bike:
Seatpost
Remove the seat post together with the saddle and stow it in one of the 3 folding boxes. Then put it aside for the time being.
Pedals
If you have decided to sell your road bike with pedals, unscrew them now. The right pedals screw in the direction of travel open counterclockwise. The left pedals open clockwise. In both cases you have to turn in the direction of the rear wheel. Put the pedals also in a small folding box.
Handlebar
Now open the screws of the stem cap to remove or turn the handlebar. Depending on the type and length of the stem, it may be sufficient to turn the handlebars to the side without removing them completely. Screw the stem cap back on afterwards so that no parts are lost. Pay attention to the brake lines during these steps, if attached externally.
If you need to remove the handlebars, secure them to the frame so that they do not move during transport. To protect the handlebars even better, wrap them with newspaper or with the supplied bubble wrap.
Front impeller
Unscrew the front quick release or the thru axle completely and take the front wheel out of the fork. In the case of disc brakes, you should clamp a piece of cardboard between the brake shoes, so that they are protected. If available, put plastic protective caps on the right and left side of the axle. The dismounted wheel can be clamped between the two round protective caps, so that it is protected. Put the impeller aside for the time being.
Step 5: Final preparation
Now place one of the two small boxes in the front end of the large folding box. This serves as a support or protection for the fork.
Step 6: Off into the box
Now put your road bike into the box and make sure that the fork is well supported on the small box. For road bikes with disc brakes, you may have to take the quick release or the thru axle from the rear wheel so that the wheel fits well in the box.
Now place the front wheel clamped in the two round protective cardboards to the left of the frame in the box. Then put the other small boxes with accessories and/or pedals into the box. These serve to provide additional stability to the box. To protect the frame as best as possible, use the bubble wrap provided. Then place the bubble-wrapped saddle incl. seat post next to the bike.
Please note that we have omitted the bubble wrap in the pictures for clarity.
Step 7: Closure and departure
As soon as you feel that you have stowed your road bike in the box in the best possible way, close the box and use the self-adhesive inner surfaces. You can seal it additionally with adhesive tape.