[Kitty]

Same here. I woke up sick as a dog (er… Kitty?) and don’t even think I’ll be able to do a sleaze ride!

I’m super bummed to miss it. :c

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[Kitty]

@Bob James 184182 wrote:

Kitty;
I will act as Deputy Droop-a-long Coyote to your Sheriff “ping ping ping” Ricochet Rabbit for the Michigander. It would be fitting for someone who is actually riding in Michigan during FS2019 to give out prize if needed.

Bob

Thanks Bob! The nice thing is because I’m now a Fed, I’ll be able to know whether HQ was snow-shuttered from a hemisphere away!

[Kitty]

Welcome welcome! I’ve found this has done wonders for pushing me outside, not just in the Winter, but in the other months as well!

Suddenly a windy day in October or a washout in July don’t seem so bad when you think about what you survived in January…

[Kitty]

I really enjoyed doing the “Michigander “You call THAT a snow day?” Prize” these past couple of years, but I’m not sure whether I will still be in the country at the end of FS. Unless I can deputize someone to give out the award in my stead in March I’ll have to bow out.

[Kitty]

Since I’ll still be in the country, I’m in! We’ll see if I can pull Mr. Kitty there too… will update.

[Kitty]

Welp. I honestly thought I was going to be in Brazil by now and miss out on winter entirely. Since that’s not the case, I’m in! (albeit in a limited capacity)

[Kitty]

So life is crazy! Two days after I said my “see you laters” to family over Thanksgiving (and bought a foldy bike), and the day before I was going to formally kick-off the government moving process, change of plans!

The invitation to join the career foreign service came through in the nick of time! Despite all of the crazy that’s going on right now nationally/internationally, this is a dream come true. (15 years in the making.)

In short, that means I’m not going to Brazil this month. Instead I’m chilling out here until “Diplomat Boot Camp” starts up in January. From there, who knows? (Probably Brazil, but we’ll see.)

My apologies with not sharing the news earlier. The training treadmill plus this drastic change of gears has made the typical holiday lead up even more crazy!

[Kitty]

Thanks guys! This has been some great advice. The more I’ve been thinking about it, a folder is really the N+1 that I need. I’m frequently traveling and agonizing over whether there will be a bike for me on the other end. This would help solve both problems.

The challenge I need to sort out is whether I’m in a position to “invest” (ie: spend more than $500) or just need something that will fit my specs (small enough to sneak into Brazil in a suitcase) and call it a day. With this particular move we’re hitting a number of unusual expenses (like spare Rx glasses) that are eating into my bike budget. Knowing that there are places in town I can get something used is a relief!

@n18 182920 wrote:

Typing “bike shop” in Google Maps shows more than 15 bike shops. Trek has a dealer there.

Also, Sao Paulo seems to have gotten their own docked and dockless bike sharing service earlier this year. I am not sure if it’s fully implemented, but you can download the app(Apple/Google) to find out:

Your point is well taken. I actually noted when I received my housing assignment that there are a bunch of shops near our new place. However, much like the shipping issues, we run directly into the challenges of the most closed non-communist country in the world: the costs on anything imported are exorbitant.
We’re talking like 70%+ of the cost of the bike:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]18596[/ATTACH]

I just did a one-to-one comparison of the new 2019 Trek FX2 (not a beater, but what I had data for) at Trek Clarendon and the Trek Store in São Paulo. In Clarendon: $600, in SP: $932, pre-sales tax.(Today’s exchange rate) As a result, even cheap used-Huffies are going for the equivalent of about $300. That’s largely what’s spurring my desire to resolve this before I take off.

That said, I’m super glad to hear that there are more sharing options as a last-last resort. When I got the assignment the dockless hadn’t launched yet and neither of the non-integrated docked systems actually bridged the gap between where I’ll live and where I’ll work. It’s a relief to know there’s light at the end of the tunnel regardless.

[Kitty]

Kitty is sending you all good-vibes from her sickened state. Have a great time guys! I wish I were there…

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

[Kitty]

Oh man oh man, the plot thickens! I wrote to the shipping maven at post and was warned NOT to attempt shipping it via a private service. It will just stuck by customs and they will get pissed and charge me an arm and a leg to get it back! Glad I got that warning…

@LhasaCM 182862 wrote:

If the airport/airline is strict on the oversized baggage limits, then you’re most likely restricted to a folding bike with 16 inch wheels like a Brompton or getting a specially-made piece of luggage or getting creative…

One extreme option to minimize spending money on new stuff but maximize workload: if you have a small enough frame (which in of itself is a bit of a longshot), you theoretically could disassemble your bike so that the frame fits into a box/case that is just within the size limit, have a second box/case for the wheels, use available space in either for the parts you took off, and travel with it that way.

Thanks for the dimensions info for the wheels. That’s really helpful.
As for the disassembly, I’m looking into that option tomorrow morning. I’ve just gotten the dimensions for the Unattended Air Baggage shipment (we’re alotted one UAB for a portion of our stuff that follows us a few weeks later after arriving in-country). I’m going to see if there’s any hope of shoving Kali in there…

@bentbike33 182864 wrote:

So the State Department provides you no assistance with moving your personal possessions to your post?

They do, but the main solution is it goes on a ship and you’ll get your stuff in 6 months. I’m just trying to find a way to not be bike-less for that long… They also will ship some of the more urgent things by air, but that comes with very strict size restrictions. This is ostensibly to save you, the tax-payer, money.

@hozn 182867 wrote:

If you don’t expect to use it beyond this tour, I would probably just start the search for a second-hand bike there and selling (or donating) it when you leave.

That’s my last resort. So far though the online searches haven’t been promising. A basic-basic commuter is going used for the cost of a cheap folder new. The tariffs are real and have the market pretty skewed.

@drevil 182871 wrote:

I don’t have a case for it, but I’ve put directly in the overhead bin without any wrapping on a Southwest flight from Charleston, SC to BWI. (The BWI guys wouldn’t let me do the same on the flight down to Charleston, but they did let me bring it down the runway like a stroller.)

I love that photo so much right now!

@Boomer2U 182886 wrote:

I use a top-end hard-case Thule that I bought (~ $400) used off of Craigslist a few years ago that has served me well crossing the Atlantic with carbon-fiber framed bikes (see pic below). My UK housemate also used it to transport a steel framed touring bike to Sweden with great results.
But it is bulky, overweight limits even carrying carbon bikes, and airlines are all over the map on charges. WOW Air fly it for free across the Atlantic. KLM charged me $225 to bring it back. Go figure!!

That is exactly what I had been hoping to invest in, but it sounds like this post, that’s a no-go. Alas.

[Kitty]

Thanks guys! The more I dig into it, the more complex the situation is becoming. United’s bike shipping policies aren’t terrible (if its >50 lbs no extra “bike” fee) however, it looks like there is a restriction imposed by Brasil for the Sao Paulo (and Rio) airport against oversized baggage… I’m going to have to make a phone call or two.

I’d looked into the BikeFlights, but their quote was something akin to the cost of a tricked-out Brompton. Brazil further complicates things by having an extremely closed economy that makes imported goods (like bikes and bike parts!) stupid expensive so buying a bike there might be similar in cost to a tricked-out case. If I could get the plane to take a case, it would have been a good investment since I’ll have to do this a minimum of every-other-year, but no dice. 😡

Sooooo… any thoughts on folding bikes? ^_~

[Kitty]

I know I’m late to this, but I’m reading this now for the 1st time. I am also stunned and saddened. He was a wonderful guy and though I only saw him in person every-once-and-again, we were frequently in the same cyber-spaces.

When I was starting my Climate Ride attempt and afraid of fundraising, he gave me invaluable encouragement and advice. Including: “You receive what you ask for.” God bless him…

[Kitty]

11/9 is a great day for a birthday! I should know, it’s mine too. 😮

Unfortunately to that end, I’m afraid I can’t attend. Otherwise I’d love to join! Happy Birthday to the Birthday Girl who wasn’t born in the 80s! 😎

[Kitty]

Too cool! I’m sorry to miss it going to be out of town for my birthday (the 26th minute of the 14th hour, of the 9th day, of the 11th month). If it were on the holiday I could join up, but the symbolism of the armistice anniversary is just too awesome to not commend and endorse!

Thanks for visiting the Merchant Marine memorial! Its an unsung part of the service. In order to sail my dad had to pledge an oath to the constitution, and should we go to war, his ship could be “drafted” and sent to the front at any time. (In fact, one the ships in the fleet he sails with ended up serving in WWII because of this.)

[Kitty]

After a 30 minute debate, Mr. Kitty and I have decided that he’s still sick and I’m at risk. Because taking time off from training is “not advisable, ” I need to not be my usual stubborn self and put aside 30 miles of “Rule 9” today. (We might yet get on the bikes together later, but for a shorter jaunt)

I’m sorry to bail, but hope you guys have an awesome time! I really wish I cold be there.

[Author]

Posts