Sending a bike in a standard bike box, i recently found is not a very inexpensive way to send it. I recently sent a Bianchi NR 12vel. frame and fork through fedex. cheapest rate at $44. I thought they were too expensive so i went to the post office - $120! UPS - $60.
i was sending it from CA to WI. however, i have sent a frame in a smaller box to Chicago, where i had to remove the fork so it would fit, through fedex for $23. so basically to save, cut down the box to a more reasonable dimension.
I was 8 inches over the combined the measurement. that 8 inches cost almost $100. if the box were that much smaller my package would've only cost about $25.
Eric Acuna
Santa Rosa, CA