Posting a 29er to Europe

[renaldo]

I need to post a 29er to Europe and I'm struggling to find a good method. The bike is packaged in a proper bike box but its too big for lots of the usual suspects (Parcelforce, Interparcel, Parcel2go, Interlink), or its UK only or business to business only or there are other drawbacks such as no insurance offered (Parcelsplease), or its just ridiculously expensive.
I did arrange delivery through Parcelmonkey which was to be with DX, but nobody showed up to collect it and looking at their (DX) reviews online I'm not keen to try them again.
I'm wondering if this is a 29er issue as the box I've got is a proper 29er box and I can't see the bike fitting in a smaller box but its too big (just), even for companies that offer specialised bike services like this:
directcouriersolutions
Doing their calculation, my girth is just a bit too big (ooh-errr missus) at 3.53m.
Does anyone have any suggestions or experience doing this? I'm beginning to wonder if I'm going to have to split it into two boxes.....
Any ideas much appreciated.

Ross

 

[Andy R]

Tried FedEx? I used them (via our local agents, FCX) to send a Genesis Alpitude from the Isle of Man to Greece last year - cost about £130 and took about a week.
You might be able to get costs down by taking both wheels off (not just the front), packing them alongside the frame/forks and shortening the box to suit. I started with two boxes and cut and shut them to get the smallest dimensions that I could get away with.