Ask Veloaded: shipping your bike, frame or wheels

Can I ship my bike to a bike shop for service?

Many shops accept shipped bikes, but always ask first. Veloaded Cyclery accepts bikes, frames and wheels shipped to the shop at 3420 W MacArthur Blvd Suite B, Santa Ana, CA 92704.

Before you send anything, call (714) 760-4908 or email [email protected] so we can open a service ticket. Tell us what you're sending (complete bike, frame and fork, or wheels), the make, model and groupset, what you want done and any symptoms, and how you want it back. Ask about return shipping details at that point, so it's agreed before anything is sent. A box that arrives without a ticket is much harder to match to its owner. See our ship-to-shop guide.

How should I pack my bike to ship it?

General good practice for shipping a bike:

• Use a proper bike box or bike travel case. Local shops often have spare boxes from new bikes.
• Mark your saddle height with tape, then remove pedals and, as needed, the front wheel, bars or seatpost.
• Protect the rear derailleur: remove it from the hanger and wrap it, since it's the part most often damaged.
• Fit axle spacers or protectors in the fork and frame, and protect disc rotors.
• Pad tubes and fill empty space so nothing moves.
• Put your name and service ticket number on the box.

Your carrier may have its own requirements, so check those too. Before shipping to Veloaded Cyclery, call (714) 760-4908 to open a ticket.

Can I ship a frame to you for a custom build?

Yes. Veloaded Cyclery accepts frames shipped to the shop for custom builds. Call (714) 760-4908 or email [email protected] first to open a ticket and send the full parts list, including anything you're supplying yourself, so we can check compatibility before parts arrive. Bottom bracket standards, brake and axle standards, cable routing and seatpost fit are the usual things to confirm.

Once everything's here, Edgar Rodriguez, our Founder & Master Builder, builds the bike on our bench. Ask about return shipping details when you open the ticket, or plan to collect the finished bike in Santa Ana, which also lets you book a full professional fit. Pricing depends on the build, so call for a quote.

Can I ship just my wheels for truing or tubeless setup?

Yes. Wheels are the easiest thing to ship, and Veloaded Cyclery accepts wheels shipped to the shop for truing, spoke repair, tubeless setup and hub or bearing work.

Call (714) 760-4908 or email [email protected] first so we can open a ticket. Let us know the wheel brand and model, tire and tubeless setup, and what's wrong: a wobble, a broken spoke, a noise or a bearing that feels rough. Pack the wheels in a wheel box or bags with the axles protected, and remove quick-release skewers so they don't damage anything. Ask about return shipping details when you call. For a price, call for a quote.