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Here is my Long Haul Trucker complete with Frost River soft bags that I used for touring about Nova Scotia this past weekend. There are many ways to go about packing a bike. Here is one way.

(disclaimer: It was late and I had a lot of free wine so the images are a bit woozy.)

Right side view of a tan Surly Long Haul Trucker bike, parked against the side of a bed

Remove Handlebars.

Downward, cropped view of a hand holding a hex wrench tool, removing the top bolt of a handlebar stem on a bike

Downward, cropped view of a hand holding a hex wrench tool, removing the side bolt of a handlebar stem, on a bike
Secure handlebars to frame. I used a Surly Junk Strap. Some people use zip ties. Junk straps do not require a cutting device, nor do they create unnecessary waste and they are dang useful when on the road.

Cropped view of a handlebar, attached to a tan bike frame, using Surly Junk straps

Downward view of a handlebar & stem of a tan Surly Long Haul Trucker bike, attached to the top tube, using a Junk Strap
Remove front wheel pulling the entire skewer and setting it aside to be packed in a separate plastic bag. Using a plastic bag ensures all your pieces are easy to find and clean.

A removed front wheel of a tan Surly Long Haul Trucker bike, in front of the frame with parts
Remove seat post with seat still mounted.

Cropped, right side view of a hex wrench tool, inserted into the bolt of a seat post clamp, on a Surly bike
Remove rear derailleur.

Cropped, right side view of a hex wrench tool, inserted into a bolt of a rear derailleur, on a Surly bike
Remove rear wheel pulling the entire skewer and placing into the plastic bag with the front skewer.

Right side view of a disassembled, tan Surly Long Haul Trucker bike, leaning against a bed in a room
Secure rear derailluer to the chain stay using another Surly Junk Strap.

Cropped, right side view a rear derailleur, from a Surly Long Haul Trucker bike, strapped to the frame chainstay
Remove pedals and place them in the plastic bag with the skewers.Now your bike is disassembled enough to be packed into a Pika Bag.

Right side view of a disassembled, tan Surly Long Haul Trucker bike, leaning against a bed in a room
Place front wheel in wheel pocket.

A bike wheel, packed in the wheel pocket of a bike carrier bag
Place rear wheel in other wheel pocket. Make sure the cassette is facing outward so it doesn't shred your bag and frame in transit.

Downward view of a rear bike wheel with cassette, on top of a bike carrier bag
Place your bike into the bag with the chain ring resting on the foam padding provided.

Cropped, downward view of the frame with crankset, of a tan Surly Long Haul Trucker bike, packed into a bike carrier bag
Secure the frame with the strap provided.

Cropped view of the frame on a tan Surly Long Haul trucker bike, strapped into a bike carrier bag
Turn your fork around 180 degrees to create a little extra room for zipping.

Front view of the forks of a tan Surly Long Haul Trucker bike, standing upright in a bike carrier bag
Place seat and seat post in one pocket.

Downward view of a bike seat and post, packed into a bike carrier bag
Place plastic bag of pedals and skewers in the other pocket.

Downward view of a hand, packing a plastic bag with bike pedals and skewers, into a bike carrier bag
Now you can pack in your soft bags or whatever you want in the free space. Keep in mind your bag will be thrown and bashed about because airlines hate bikes. Yes that's a blanket accusation. Make sure to protect whatever you pack and secure it if it could cause damage to your frame or components.

Left side view of a disassembled, tan Surly Long Haul Trucker bike, packed in an unzipped bike carrier bag
As you are closing up the bag be sure to pull the padding up and over the steer tube and seat tube.

Downward view of hand, pulling padding over a disassembled, tan Surly Long Haul Trucker bike, in a bike carrier bag
Finish zipping and clipping the bag together and you are ready to roll.

Downward view of an upright, fully loaded, black bike carrier bag
My entire set up weighed in at 52.8 lbs and cost $150 each way to fly Delta Airlines.

A screen from a luggage check-in terminal, showing the weight of a bag

Pricing for flying with a bike will vary. Check with your chosen airline on how much it costs to fly with a bike. With Delta it won’t matter if your bike weighs less than the oversize limit. If it is a bike, they will charge you for a bike. Be sure to check weight restrictions on the bike as well. Delta has an additional charge for bikes weighing more than 70 lbs at the time this blog was written.
Assembling your bike at your destination should be a cinch. You should only need a multi tool set of hex wrenches and a pocket knife or toe nail clippers if you chose to use zip ties. Boom. Done.