| So you're going on a mountain bike holiday? To the | | | | me then you can just put it in to stop the fork legs |
| Alps, Spain or the Basque Country? Are you going to | | | | being squeezed together, make sure that the lever |
| take your own bike or hire one when you get out | | | | lines up with the fork leg to stop it being damaged. If |
| there? Well, hiring sometimes seems like the easy | | | | you have a front QR then you'll need to cut a |
| option, but it can be very expensive, at up to | | | | wooden spacer as for the rear dropouts and tape it |
| EUR400 a week, and then there's the time it takes | | | | in place. |
| you to get used to a new bike which can put a | | | | 7. Remove the handlebars leaving the stem on the |
| damper on your first few days. Taking your own | | | | steerer tube. We're going to tape these to the |
| bike might seem like a hassle but it's not really that | | | | downtube later. I slacken all my clamps and this gives |
| hard, especially if you follow the guide below. | | | | enough slack to do this. If you don't have enough |
| I always totally over pack my bike. People laugh but | | | | slack to do this then you'll need to remove the |
| I've never had a scratch on it. It takes a bit longer | | | | clamps from the bars. |
| and you end up carrying a bit more weight but this is | | | | 8. Use the pipe insulation to cover the frame and |
| how I do it, you can always decide where you want | | | | forks. You'll need to cut it to length and shape it to |
| to cut the corners when you're doing it yourself. | | | | fit around the disc mounts etc. Tape the protection |
| So, what you'll need: | | | | into place to stop it moving about. |
| 1. A good quality bike bag, including wheel bags. I | | | | 9. Fix the handlebars to the downtube, outside the |
| really recommend getting one with little wheels | | | | insulation. Make sure that the brake levers and |
| because you're bike's going to be heavy once it's all | | | | shifters are in a position that ensures they're |
| packed up! | | | | protected; if you're not sure take them off because |
| 2. Some pipe insulation, which you can get from | | | | a broken brake lever is going to be expensive! |
| B&Q or similar. It's a bit expensive but you can | | | | 10. Tape the front calliper in between the fork legs. |
| use it again and again. | | | | Make sure that the tape isn't going to touch your |
| 3. Tape. | | | | disc pads. Put a spacer between your pads to stop |
| 4. Some wood. | | | | them being compressed, some brakes come with |
| Step by Step: | | | | spacers but a couple of 50p's taped together works |
| 1. Clean your bike and put it in a work stand. The | | | | for me! |
| workstand obviously isn't essential but it makes it so | | | | 11. Fit a spacer between the rear dropouts to |
| much easier. Cleaning your bike is a good time to | | | | prevent them being crushed. I use a section of wood |
| inspect everything to make sure you're going to be | | | | which I cut to shape and tape in place. I'm going to |
| sorted for your holiday. Do your brake pads need | | | | drill a hole through it next time and use my QR's to |
| replaced? Is your BB and headset working nicely. No | | | | keep it in place. |
| frame damage? | | | | 12. Add your pipe insulation to the rest of the bike. |
| 2. Remove your cranks. Remove your pedals, wrap in | | | | Tape the rear mech and brake calliper into the rear |
| bubble wrap and put into your bike bag. Wrap your | | | | triangle so that they're protected. Remember to fit |
| cranks and the axle in bubble wrap and put into your | | | | your pad spacers, I always forget. |
| bike bag. Now is a good time to grease your BB and | | | | 13. My bike looks a bit like this at the moment! The |
| service your pedals! | | | | dropouts are spaced, all the main bits of frame are |
| 3. Take your wheels off. Remove the QR's and put | | | | covered, nothing sticks out to get caught and |
| into your bike bag. Remove the discs, put each one | | | | damaged and all the insulation is fixed in place. |
| in a poly bag and tape together for strength. I put | | | | 14. Cover the rest of the bike in the bubblewrap. I've |
| the bolts in tinfoil and stuff into the centre of the | | | | only shown the forks here but I wrap it all over the |
| discs. Put discs into bike bag and wheels into wheel | | | | frame too so that it's totally enclosed. Now fit it into |
| bag. | | | | your bike bag. Make sure that it's all quite evenly |
| 4. Remove your rear brake caliper, save the bolts | | | | spaced and that there's nothing sticking out too |
| somewhere safe in your bike bag! You can either | | | | much that is likely to get damaged. The test for me |
| disconnect your rear mech and tape the cables to | | | | is would I be prepared to throw it about and stand |
| the frame or you can do what I've done and just | | | | on it, because that's what the baggage handlers |
| disconnect it and we'll tape it somewhere safe later. | | | | might do. |
| Remove your mech hanger and put it somewhere | | | | All that takes me about 45 minutes the first time and |
| safe. | | | | about 30 minutes on the way back. A beer helps. |
| 5. Turn your front mech so it sits safely. If this can't | | | | Good luck. If anything does go wrong and you're |
| be done remove it. You can draw round the outline | | | | travelling with a good bike company then they'll help |
| of the mech with a non-permanent pen to make it | | | | you fix it when you get there. In fact a really good |
| easier to put back in the same place if you want! | | | | bike company should help you unpack your bikes, or |
| 6. Remove the front caliper. If you have a maxel like | | | | at the least offer you a beer when you're doing it! |