happy to hear you are gonna do a tour, i love to tour, it is the ONLY way... i have just packed up my bike to ship tommorow (via plane) the bike box is a carboard box from the LBS and i just padded it down with lots of bubble wrap and old t-shirts. the cost on southwest airlines is 50.00 which is way cheaper then UPS at 148.00. call your airlines and find out there requirments, southwest has been very pleasing to work with on this.

instead of using a duffle and either tossing it or sending it one, just use another card board box. CHEAP!

make sure you keep them both open until you check in then tape it up (i always bring my own duct tape and do it myself, that way i know for sure it got taped up REALLY REALLY GOOD.

have a great tour, enjoy every moment even the suckkieeee ones! happy day, happy happy day