Flying from Portland to San Fran cheaper that shipping? Doubt that. Portland REI to San Fran REI using bikeflights.com assuming my large case and 60 lbs. total weight is $23 one way for two-day delivery. And you can track the shipment through FedEx. Last year I shipped Philly to Rapid City, SD for $47 for four-day shipping with $1,400 in insurance with a 10% discount for repeat business but a $5 surcharge for pick up at a LBS. Had I taken it to a FedEx location, I would have saved that $5. After I purchased the shipping and printed the labels I did a face palm when the LBS reminded me that there was a FedEx/Kinko's right around the corner from the shop. My airline wanted $150 or $175. Cannot remember which. Even Southwest, had it been an option, would have been $75.

Just priced Philly to Missoula for my tour in June. $47 for four-day shipping. (No additional insurance priced.) I can have the bike packed, shipped and re-assembled for about what my airline charges to fly with the bike. Not only that, I am flying first class. That entitles me to two free checked bags. However, the last time I did that with a bike, U.S. Air refused to credit the regular cost of a checked bag ($100) against it's $200 fee for flying internationally with a bike.