Packing frames, handlebars, wheels, for shipping
 

Ok, I asked this question regarding complete bikes, and got a fantasticly thorough answer, so I'm going again. When it comes to just a frame, I don't think I see any justification in a bike box, really. It seems like pipe lagging on the main tubes, then bubble wrap and/or cardboard ought to do the trick, but does anyone else have any cunning plans? What about bars? Bubble wrap and cardboard again?

An particularly, wheels. How the hell do you pack a wheel to ship to someone?

I've gotten wheels that were pretty much a cardboard sandwich with some foam padding around the rims and over the hubs. They made it fine, but I may have been a bit lucky too. On other occasions, I've gotten them in a box that's a little bit less than half the size of a frame box.

Remind me never to buy frames or wheels from you fellows ;)

-Kurt

Kurt, You know from experience that I pack more carefully than that. This is how I've received them. :)

This is why I'm asking. I want to do this properly. Any tips?

Just insure them for twice their value and pack them poorly....when theyre hosed, upgrade!

Classic frames, shipping to enthusiastic customers? Probably not going to work. Seriously, I have Cinelli bars, track cranks, Mavic aero wheels on campy hubs, and a 753 TT frame all to go out in the next few days. How should I pack them?

foam insulation around all of the tubes of the frame,
I received one frame that had 2 litre bottles taped between
the tubes as spacers (lightweight and fairly sturdy)
and stuck between the seat stays and chainstays.
Use spacers between the dropouts to ensure that they
don't get squeezed together, old axles with lots of spacers,
bolts etc. works well and won't bend like the plastic spacers
that you can get from LBS.
wrap cranks in bubble wrap, and if you want a thorough job
remove the chain rings and wrap everything individually.

that's a start.
I have a good pictorial somewhere will post it if
I can find it.

Marty

Thanks, that's excellent. Any ideas on wheels?

For wheels I've used both proper wheel boxes (which rims and wheels are shipped to shops in) and halved frame boxes. The most important thing is to ensure that there is some sort of a cap on the end of the axle to ensure it doesn't poke through the box. Wrap the rims in either bubble wrap or newspaper to stop them from getting scratched.

Depending on the value of the wheelset, I've also used thin plyboard to reinforce the box from crushing. The most important thing though - insurance and lots of bright orange "fragile" stickers! Also pick the right shipper. In Australia, anyone except Fastway Couriers.

- Joel

Thanks, that's really helpful. Much appreciated.

Insurance is a must but it's a hassle if you have a claim. I have received several wheels via UPS/FedEX in perfect shape but got one through the US Postal Service that arrived in sad shape...tacoed with a couple broken spokes. The box actually appeared to have been run over with a fork lift or some such device and was badly torn to boot. Complained to the counter person at our downtown post office & got their famous "shrug".