Remove rear derailleur when packing into EVOC bikebag?

Should I or shouldn’t I remove my rear derailleur when packing a bicycle into an EVOC bikebag?

TLDR: Better safe than sorry. The video suggests to remove your rear derailleur when packing into an EVOC bikebag.

How to pack a MTB in an EVOC bike bag

5 simple steps to secure pack your pack into an EVOC bikebag…

1. Typically, you need to do the following. Remove the pedals. Remove the front wheel. And for disc brakes place a spacer between the front brake caliper to prevent the pads from coming together. Shift your rear gears into the smallest cog and then remove the rear wheel. Then remove your rear derailleur.
2. They also suggest in the video to remove disc brake rotors so that they cannot get bent during the transport process. And they even go as far as to remove bottle cages. But I don’t do the last two steps and have touch wood never had any issues with it. Removing discs and bottle cages just seems a step to far. Then lower your saddle to the minimum height setting. And loosen your handlebars at the stem.
3. Now you can protect the frame with either cardboard inbetween any potentially moving or touching parts. Or using bubble wrap or insulation foam strips, like that pool noodle material. You can also use spaces in your dropouts both front and rear to prevent damage from external forces during transit. Even a cut to length PVC pipe or rolled cardboard can be used for this purpose. After all, we have seen how strong those pieces of rolled paper can be during our recent primary school build-a-paper-bridge-that supports-2kgs-of-load project.
4. Secure your handlebars (I usually bubble-wrap them – or you can use the included EVOC pads with your EVOC bikebag) to the frame to prevent movement. And then take all the small parts like the pedals etc that you took off and either slide them into one of the EVOC bikebag internal pockets. Or add them into a small box to be placed inside, or bubble-wrap. To prevent loose items from moving around in your bikebag during transit.
5. Now place your frame inside the bikebag. Use the integrated straps to secure your bike into the bag. Some EVOC bikebags also have mountain points for your frame in the front and or rear so you can either use a QR skewer or similar to tie down the frame. Finally place the wheels in their separate wheels pockets and then you are good to go. Attach your PDF waybill (also a good idea to tape it around one of the handles of the bikebag). And then you are good to go.

TADA!

Off to your next adventure. Now where can we send your boxed bicycle next?