Posting bikes

On Sat, 8 Jan 2005 21:13:03 +0000, Steve Hodgson <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Is there a good low-cost way to ship bikes within the UK. I was looking at
what possible options there are but could only think of the likes of Parcel
Force. Presumably this would require that things be boxed and the volume
minimised to keep weight down.

Local bike shop may provide a box. Ask also for the plastic axle which
stops the forks from being pressed together.

Remove front wheel and pad the axle to prevent it from scratching the
frame.

Remove pedals.

Turn handlebars sideways - You may need to remove the stem (or just
the bars on an ahead-set)

Fix handlebars perpendicularly to the top tube and pad well (perhaps
using bubblewrap).

Place frame/bar combination in box, then drop front wheel down the
side so that the axle is within the main triangle. Pad/secure well.

Stick pedals in jiffy bag and drop in carton.

*****

As an alternative, leave the bike assembled except for pedals, and
shroud it in cardboard.

The package is then roll-on-roll-off. Parcelforce used to quite
happily deliver bikes like this

HTH

--
Amazon: "If you are interested in 'Asimov's I-Robot',
you may also be interested in 'Garfield - The Movie'.
... erm, how do they figure that one out?

On Sat, 8 Jan 2005 21:13:03 +0000, Steve Hodgson <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Is there a good low-cost way to ship bikes within the UK. I was looking at
what possible options there are but could only think of the likes of Parcel
Force. Presumably this would require that things be boxed and the volume
minimised to keep weight down.

I've justed posted something incorrect. Hopefully I've cancelled it in
time.

What I should have said is this:

***

Local bike shop may provide a box. Ask also for the plastic axle which
stops the forks from being pressed together.

Remove front wheel and pad the axle to prevent it from scratching the
frame.

Remove pedals.

Turn handlebars sideways - You may need to remove the stem (or just
the bars on an ahead-set)

If bars were removed then fix handlebars PARALLEL to the top tube and
pad well (perhaps using bubblewrap).

Place frame/bar combination in box, then drop front wheel down the
side so that the axle is within the main triangle. Pad/secure well.

Stick pedals in jiffy bag and drop in carton.

*****

As an alternative, leave the bike assembled except for pedals, and
shroud it in cardboard.

The package is then roll-on-roll-off. Parcelforce used to quite
happily deliver bikes like this

HTH

--
Amazon: "If you are interested in 'Asimov's I-Robot',
you may also be interested in 'Garfield - The Movie'.
... erm, how do they figure that one out?

"Steve Hodgson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Is there a good low-cost way to ship bikes within the UK. I was looking at
what possible options there are but could only think of the likes of

Parcel

Quoted message said:

Force. Presumably this would require that things be boxed and the volume
minimised to keep weight down.

Any other clever options I should consider?

How far? Ask your local taxi firm for a quote.

Look in the paper for 'man with a van' ads.

Else, one of the couriers -- but its box time and a dent in the credit
rating with them.

T

On Sat, 8 Jan 2005 21:13:03 +0000, Steve Hodgson <[email hidden]>
wrote in message
<[email hidden]>:

Quoted message said:

Is there a good low-cost way to ship bikes within the UK.

See, I read the title and thought: bikes are binaries, you can't post
them, news.individual.net won't carry the binary attachment...

Guy
--
"then came ye chavves, theyre cartes girded wyth candels
blue, and theyre beastes wyth straynge horn-lyke thyngs
onn theyre arses that theyre fartes be herde from myles
around." Chaucer, the Sheppey Tales

Steve Hodgson said:

Is there a good low-cost way to ship bikes within the UK. I was
looking at what possible options there are but could only think of
the likes of Parcel Force.

www.senditquick.com

www.parcelflash.com

Quoted message said:

Presumably this would require that things
be boxed and the volume minimised to keep weight down.

That can be worth doing. Size is more of a problem than weight. The
courier will allow the parcel to be a bit over if you're lucky or you
negotiate first.

~PB

Tony W said:

Else, one of the couriers -- but its box time and a dent in the credit
rating with them.

Dent in the credit rating? Dent in the bike more like! I've yet to find
a courier firm that I would trust to carry something that didn't have at
least 2" of rigid foam around it!

Jon

Richard Bates twisted the electrons to say:

Quoted message said:

As an alternative, leave the bike assembled except for pedals, and
shroud it in cardboard.

The package is then roll-on-roll-off. Parcelforce used to quite
happily deliver bikes like this

I saw a (non-Royal Mail) bicycle in my local delivery office which hadn't
even had that much work done to it ... Merely a large lable hung off the
crossbar with the address and postage on it!
--
These opinions might not even be mine ...
Let alone connected with my employer ...

"Steve Hodgson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Is there a good low-cost way to ship bikes within the UK. I was looking at
what possible options there are but could only think of the likes of
Parcel
Force. Presumably this would require that things be boxed and the volume
minimised to keep weight down.

Any other clever options I should consider?

Check the Yellow Pages for local couriers. I shipped my Strida bike to
Herts. for 15 quid via a local courier. They pick it up from your home as
well.

--
Simon Mason
Anlaby
East Yorkshire.
53°44'N 0°26'W
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net