Some other things I’ve learned,

- Large bike shops often sell bikes on a weekend and will be assembling. Ask when’s a good time to get a box.

- Get 2 boxes, cut the side walls off of one to use as liners for that box with the bike. Helps in the event the airline punches holes in the box.

- Use packing tape to reinforce the handle holes so they don’t rip open.

- Ask the LBS for the plastic wheel axle protecters. They sit on the axle ends of the front wheel from which you removed the QR, or TA. Tie wrap the protectors on

- Remove the R derailer and tie wrap it to the chainstay. This way it doesn’t take a hit and bend the hanger.

- Get some foam tubing to wrap around the frame in all the exposed places, Sometimes the LBS has these off of new frames.

- The LBS should also have the fork protector which is a piece of plastic that sits in the fork dropouts, helps prevent the fork blades from getting crushed together.

- Get a small box to place, pedals, QR, etc... that box can live in the bike box.

- I’ve used a plumbing hose clamp to put on the steerer tube to hold the fork in place after I had removed the stem and h-bar.