Slightly more serious question related to lust

i mean, a good solid bet is the Surly CrossCheck. You might even be able to order one through Yojimbo's Garage here in Chicago, and get it custom spec'd and built so that it's ready for your arrival.

don't think this is out yet, but it's dreamy:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1146/1449464700_19fdc1af55.jpg?v=0

Surly Traveler's Check. Identical to the CrossCheck except that it comes with S&S couplers, for easy traveling. for a guy like you, Ed, that would seem ideal, what with your jetsetting and all

definitely worth considering. I love the cross check anyway. SS couplers are better for smuggling in any case.

I'm definitely going to be back in the states at xmas and probably in the new year as well. Considering doing a tour of upstate NY or western Pennsylvania in the spring and was looking at hiring and then thought, what the hell I could probably afford to buy.

I will talk to them when I am over.

Yojimbo's? Marcus is an odd duck, but good people.

Yeah, from the look of the surly blog the TC isn't available till jan/feb next year but this will give time for turkey to invade iraq and the US to bomb iran and I will be able to buy an entire city block with pocket change.

otm :(

ed, let's try to get a ride in while your are here!

That would be good, I will probably die though as my fitness is low. If someone can find me a bike, I will pack my helmet, shoes and pedals.

do you go to new york AND chicago?

A dodge for evading import fees that I heard once: take a shitty bike out with you when you go. Dump it when you're there and bring a shiny new bike back. Dunno if this works and perhaps the extra you spend on luggage will negate any savings but err, there you have it.

All y'all will smoke me, bike-wise, but I'll meet up for a ride. Sorry, Ed, cannot offer a loaner unless you want the Western Flyer (do not recommend).

yes

17-21 Nov Chicago
22-25 Nov NYC

22-26 Dec Chicago
26-30 Dec On the Road, via Pittsburg in a ryder truck
31-02 Dec/Jan NYC

My GF is doing a Phd a UofC but moving to NYC for research purposes (then to London thereafter)

As far as importing goes, I have only once encountered a customs officer at Heathrow coming in from long haul. Once , my dad coming in from hong kong with a new camera wanted to declare it and pay tax as he is an accountant and could get struck off if he got caught. he went down the red channel, found noone, rang up the customs on the red phone, they took no details and told him to wait there. After 20 minutes of waiting he gave up and left.

BA is pretty good with the baggage as well. 2x 23Kg bags for free. increase them to 32kg for £25 a bag and they are pretty lenient with sports equipment anyway.

BTW, I know the vagaries of airline baggage allowances because I have to for professional purposes. I can also lay my hands on large flight cases as well, I should check the internal dimensions.

Are you some sort of smuggler?

I spent last week speccing a demo system that we could take as checked baggage on as many airlines as possible. At the weekends I go down the coast with my lantern and wait for the brandy from france.

It appears my knowledge was incomplete. Bikes travel free on BA and while I don't always travel BA I can make sure I do when travelling with a bike. the SS system is super neat but also super expensive. It is going to nearly treble the price of a Cross check frame. Might as well spend that money elsewhere.

So

Surly Cross Check
Surly LHT
Soma Double Cross

anything else I should take a look at?

Also how to build out? Triple group, 9 speed, what wheels? Actually could run my old campy wheels for a bit.

you could try searching america's ebay, find a killer deal, have it shipped domestically to where you are staying (perhaps before you arrive, even), and then take it back on the plane

the man speaks a deal of sense

2 well specced cross checks of the right size to be watched.

So I am thinking of bidding on this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200168192168&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=010

Any thoughts.

Yes. (is 60cm a bit big for you?)

My 58cm merckx is a little small but the geometry of this is different. The stand over height seems to be about right though (taken from the geometry on surly's page). It is difficult to say though. I can always wait for something else to come up. There was 58 that went yesterday, which I should have bid on, it had more sensible wheels.

Woah, bike won for $634, which was less that I was expecting. Hope I'm right about the frame sizing.

Hey, congrats Ed! That's about £300 right? Just as a comparison, this one went for £450.

Yeah is about right. Gonna keep it in the states till the new year and bring it back then. Although depending on what space my GF has when she moves to NYC I may keep it there as we have a plan to tour somewhere in the spring. (although I am gonna say right now that that back wheel doesn't look up to taking a rack and panniers).

I now have too many bikes. (OK only for the space available to store them). Although I can fit another one up by the ceiling in my flat if it lives with the wheels off and I can think of a good place for the wheels. Or I could ditch the Ralliegh because I would be happier leaving the surly outside work.