How we build & ship. How you assemble & ride.
Here’s exactly what happens between the moment you place your order at Campfire and the moment you swing a leg over your new ride.
What Happens After You Order
When you order a bike from Campfire Cycling, you’re not getting a random box from a warehouse. Every bicycle passes through our shop in Tucson, where we build it, ride it, and make sure it’s dialed before it ever gets to you.
Here’s the timeline:
- We order your bike from the distributor — Most of our bikes ship to us from one QBP’s warehouses. Some come direct from manufacturers like Kona, Otso, or Tout Terrain. Either way, we get it here as fast as we can.
- Your bike arrives at our shop — It shows up partially assembled in the manufacturer’s box.
- We build it with care — This is the part that matters. We don’t just slap the wheels on and call it done. We give your bike a full professional build. More on that below.
- We re-box for shipping — Once your bike is built and tested, we partially disassemble it for safe transit and pack it with care.
- Your bike ships to your door — We ship bicycle via UPS, and you’ll get a tracking number as soon as it’s on its way.
How We Build Your Bike
This is what you’re really paying for when you buy from Campfire. Here’s what our mechanics do with every single bike:
Full Professional Assembly
- Install and align the front wheel, checking spoke tension
- Mount and adjust the handlebars and stem to proper torque specs
- Install the seatpost and saddle
- Install pedals (if included with the bike — see note below)
- Mount tires and tubes if shipped separately, set pressure to spec
Drivetrain Tuning
- Full front and rear derailleur adjustment
- Shift through every gear to ensure clean, precise shifting
- Check chain length and verify proper chain line
- Adjust cable tension and confirm limit screws are set correctly
Brake Setup
- Align brake calipers (disc or rim)
- Bed in brake pads on disc brake bikes
- Adjust lever reach and bite point
- Confirm full stopping power at both wheels
Safety & Quality Checks
- Torque all critical bolts to manufacturer specifications (stem, headset, axles, brake mounts, seatpost clamp)
- Check headset bearing adjustment
- Inspect frame and fork for any shipping damage
- Verify quick-release levers or thru-axles are properly secured
The Test Ride
- One of our mechanics takes your bike for a test ride
- We check for any noise, vibration, or shifting issues under real riding conditions
- Final adjustments are made based on the ride
When your bike leaves Campfire, it’s not just assembled. It’s ready to ride.
How We Pack Your Bike for Shipping
After the build, we partially disassemble your bike for safe transit. Here’s what that means:
- The front wheel is removed and secured alongside the frame
- Handlebars are loosened and turned to fit within the box (cables stay connected)
- Pedals are removed and packed separately (if we installed them)
- The frame and components are wrapped and padded to prevent scratches and damage during shippingd
What Arrives at Your Door
When your box shows up, here’s what you’ll find inside:
- Your bike (frame with rear wheel, drivetrain, brakes, and saddle all attached and adjusted)
- Front wheel (removed for shipping, already trued and tensioned)
- Handlebars (loosened and rotated, cables still connected)
- Pedals (packed separately, if included with the bike)
- Any accessories or small parts that came with the bike
Everything that requires real mechanical expertise — derailleur tuning, brake setup, bearing adjustment, torque specs — is already done. What’s left is straightforward, and we’ll walk you through it.
How to Assemble Your Bike at Home
You’re close. The hard part is done. Here’s what you need to do to get riding.
Tools You’ll Need
- 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm hex (Allen) wrenches — or a multi-tool with these sizes
- 15mm pedal wrench or a 6mm or 8mm hex wrench (depends on your pedals)
- A floor pump with a pressure gauge
Don’t have tools? A basic bike multi-tool covers most of what you need and costs around $20 to $40 at any bike shop.
Step-by-Step Assembly
1. Unbox carefully Open the box and remove all packing material. Lay everything out and make sure nothing is missing. Keep the box — it’s useful if you ever need to ship or travel with your bike.
2. Install the front wheel
- Flip the bike upside down or use a work stand if you have one
- For thru-axle bikes: slide the wheel into the fork dropouts, insert the thru-axle, and tighten until snug (don’t over-torque)
- For quick-release bikes: open the lever, slide the wheel in, close the lever firmly (it should leave an imprint on your palm — that’s the right tightness)
- Spin the wheel and check that it’s centered in the fork and the brake rotor sits between the pads without rubbing
3. Straighten the handlebars
- Loosen the stem bolts just enough to rotate the bars back to their normal position
- Align the bars perpendicular to the front wheel
- Re-tighten the stem bolts evenly in a cross pattern (the gap at the front and back of the faceplate should be equal)
- If your bike came with a torque spec card, follow those values
4. Install the pedals
- This is the one where people strip threads, so read carefully
- The right pedal (drive side) threads in clockwise — normal
- The left pedal (non-drive side) threads in counter-clockwise — opposite of what you’d expect
- Pedals are usually marked “R” and “L” on the spindle
- Start threading by hand to make sure you’re not cross-threading, then tighten firmly with a wrench
- A tiny dab of grease on the threads helps (and makes future removal easier)
5. Set your saddle height
- The seatpost is already in the frame — just adjust to your preferred height
- A good starting point: sit on the saddle and place your heel on the pedal at its lowest point. Your leg should be fully extended. When you clip in or ride on the ball of your foot, you’ll have a slight bend at the knee.
- Tighten the seatpost clamp
6. Inflate your tires
- Check the sidewall of your tires for the recommended pressure range
- Inflate to the middle of that range as a starting point
- Mountain bike tires: usually 15-30 PSI
- Gravel tires: usually 30-70 PSI depending on tire width
- Road tires: usually 60-90 PSI depending on tire width
Pre-Ride Safety Checklist
Its almost time to head out on your first ride! But before you do, take two minutes to run through this:
- Front wheel secure — Thru-axle or quick-release is fully tightened
- Handlebars aligned — Straight with the front wheel, stem bolts tight
- Brakes working — Squeeze each lever firmly. The bike should not roll. Wheels should spin freely when released.
- Tires inflated — Within the range printed on the sidewall
- Pedals tight — Give each one a firm tug
- Quick visual check — Nothing hanging loose, no packing material stuck anywhere, reflectors and accessories in place
- Saddle height set — Comfortable for you, seatpost clamp tight
Take a short, slow ride around your block first. Get a feel for the brakes, shift through the gears, make sure everything feels right before you head out on a longer ride.
What If Something’s Not Right?
It happens. Bikes can shift slightly in transit, or something might just not feel the way you expected. Here’s what to do:
Contact us first. We built your bike and we know it. We can usually troubleshoot over email, a phone call, or a quick video chat and walk you through a fix in a few minutes.
If you’d rather have a professional look at it, take your bike to any local bike shop and ask them to do a quick safety check. Most shops will do this for a small fee, and it’s a great way to get peace of mind if you’re new to bike assembly. [JOSH: Do you reimburse for this? If so, mention it — that’s a strong trust signal.]
Our goal is simple: you should be completely confident in your bike before you ride it. If something isn’t right, we’ll make it right.
Questions before you order? Contact us — we’re happy to help.