Just packaged up a bike in a bike box and arranged delivery through www.senditnow.com, but it's borderline on their size restrictions.
Not sure if I'll get away with it...?
I phoned round loads recently asking about shipping a Nomad. None of them would offer any lee-way with the size limits thing. City Link amongst others said no. I ended up using Interparcel, who would take the size (fnarr), and provide the right level of insurance. When it arrived - it was in a city link van.
by borderline do you mean over?
Try getting hold of a box from your LBS they should all meet postage regs and fit a whole bike + more just shipped 2 to oz in those boxes fine
I think its a case of ringing around.
Interparcel will be a customer of city link. As such the volumes they send will get tham a little leverage that a single poster won't get.
At the Mo you'll probaly find all carriers will give you a little allowance.....its all parcels in the network!
For instance a bike box is technically outside Parcleforce's Terms and Conditions. But they will, and do carry bikes reguarly.
I think the secret is to make sure its packaged correctly. The driver will get the hassle for picking up a badly packed parcel-its the damage it does to everything else as much as the damage it does to itself.
If its packed well it'll go.
They don't measure them, so if its "just" over don't write that down- say its within the sizes and no questions asked 95% of the time.
parcel2go.com. You don't need to declare size for domestic shipping - I've never had any problems - they actually go with DHL.
never had a problem before sending full size bike boxes.
parcel2go asked for the size when I sent something last week but I've 'underestimated' the weight of stuff before & theres been no problem.
I think my road-bike arrived via senditnow.com (Basically Parcelforce).
Wheels were off, bars turned 90deg, no pedals etc.
I reckon you'll be fine.