Bicycling

The Box

A proper bike bag is best, but expensive so cardboard bike box from your local bike shop will suffice - and in most cases it's free. Just call in advance to make sure you can get one. Write your name and contact info on each side of the box.

The Parts Bag

Skewers, pedals, seatpost/saddle and any other small parts go into this bag (a plastic bag works, though a large, padded envelope offers added protection).

Pedals

Remove, wrap with bubble wrap and place into the parts bag.

Front Wheel

Remove the wheel, deflate the tyre until it's soft, and put the skewer into the parts bag; zip-tie the wheel to the non-drive side of your frame. If you have disc brakes, don't let the rotor touch the frame, and put some padding around it if it will hit the side of the cardboard box.

Bar/Stem

Remove the faceplate and handlebar, then replace the faceplate so it doesn't get lost. Loosen the top cap, turn the stem around and retighten the top cap. If you do not have a removable faceplate, loosen the top cap and slide the bar/stem off the steerer tube as one piece. To pack, angle the bar around the fork with one end at the fork legs and the other at the head tube.

Fork

Attach a fork spacer - ask the bike shop about one when you call about the box - into the dropouts (or use an old hub). Got discs? Place a spacer (a clean piece of plastic or hard cardboard) between the pads to keep them from moving.

Seat/Seatpost

Remove the seatpost with the seat attached. Place into the parts bag. Make sure to retighten the binder after you remove your seatpost so it doesn't get lost. Place a piece of marking tape on the seatpost where it is meant to go for your set-up. Otherwise you will have to measure yourself again.

Rear Wheel

Deflate your tyre. Remove the rear wheel only if fit is an issue. If you have to remove the rear wheel, you'll also have to remove the rear derailleur (but don't detach the chain or shift cable); protect it with padding and zip-tie it to the chainstay. Put the skewer into the parts bag.

Padding

Rags, bubble wrap and foam pipe insulation are the top picks here. Protect all essential parts of the bike (frame, fork, wheels, rear derailleur, between hub ends and box, etc). Go overboard, both now and when you place the bike in the box - it's the easiest way to protect against stupid handling mishaps.

Pack it Up

Slide your well-padded bike - with front wheel zip-tied to the non-drive side - into the box. (If you had to remove your rear wheel, pack it after the frame is in the box.) Double-check that everything's in your parts bag before sealing it, then tuck it in. Add additional padding so nothing rattles around in the box when you give it a good shake.

Some Tips

Remember to bring along the tools to put your bike back in one piece, as well as packing materials (zip-ties, padding, parts bag, tape) to get it home. Don't pack extra gear in the box. Most airlines have baggage weight restrictions, even for bike boxes; plus, you don't need all the extra stuff banging into your bike.