Equipment Tips from B+L Bikes

Here's a couple of equipment tips from Scott Porter and the team from B+L Bikes. Thanks, Scott, for the tips! Be sure to check out the B+L website.

Tip from the B+L Newsletter Tech Corner:
Traveling out of town for the Holidays and can't be without your bike?

While it can be pricey to fly with your bike, sometimes it is worth the cost if you will be traveling for a long period of time and don't want to miss riding YOUR bike. Shipping via UPS or FedEX has also become a popular option due to rising airline costs. You can use a cardboard box, however a hard travel case is preferred because of the added TriCoprotection it provides your bike. B+L carries TriCo Sports IRONCASE bike boxes, check out the website.

How to pack your bike:

Mark your seat height by wrapping a piece of tape around the seat post at the clamp.
Remove the pedals and seat post
Remove the handlebars by loosening the 4 bolts on the faceplate of the stem (put faceplate back onto stem, leaving bars loose)
Remove both front and rear wheels and take out the skewers, put front and rear fork spreaders where the wheel/skewers were
Place frame in box on its side, derailluer side facing up (any extra padding from clothing, towels, etc can go around your frame to protect it from any scratching/rubbing that might occur)
Put the pedals/skewer in a small bag and on the bottom layer with the frame
Put the seatpost/seat in an empty space
Any extra clothing, shoes, can fit into any space around the frame and will help eliminate any potential shifting around the box
Put foam piece ontop of the frame
Put wheels on top of that, cassette side facing UP
Place the last piece of foam ontop of the wheels


Of course if you do not want to do it yourself, or don't have time, the B+L Service Department will happily pack your bike for you in either your bike case or a cardboard bike box.

There's never too much help for flats
If you want a primer on fixing flat tires, we've got help in San Diego. B&L Bike & Sports hosts an open and free clinic on the first and third Sunday of every month at 4pm.

Stop in and check out the San Diego store at:

San Diego B&L
3603 Camino Del Rio West
San Diego, Ca 92110
Tele: 619.294.9300
Mon - Fri 10am - 7pm
Sat - 10am - 6pm
Sun - 11am - 5pm