Value of Bike = 650

A 15 year old, fully rigid MTB is worth 650 dollars.  That's what the bike-friendly folk at Qatar Airways were wanting to charge to get my jalopy to the UK. And no, they don't service it or deliver door-to-door. I could have spent a third of that price and send it international express courier (which is door-to-door), but. . .it's a 15 year old bike!  

Suck it up Martin, and vote with your wallet when next flying to Europe. 

I was hoping to hold out on an upgrade until I got  back from Bangkok in a couple of years, but what's not to like about perpetuating your poverty with a two-wheeled purchase?

Wary of the cost of shipping the bad boy back, I figure that a folding bike will earn it's premium price back in one flight. 

The problem with a folding bike is that I can't see one of the usual suspects ( above right) getting me and my gear across Western Europe. Add to that the unique parts, and attendant difficulty in servicing, and they don't look so great.

Then I stumbled on an ebay listing for a "normal" MTB which also folds. 

All the running gear is standard stuff, so there's no concern with what to do if gear breaks. 

The funny thing is that it's also worth 650. . .pounds.  

The auction got away from me, but the UK importer was changing over their 07 demonstrators, and gave me a deal on a similar model for 450. An upgrade to road tyres, and I think I have a bike.

OK, so it's not as light as it could be, not my favorite colour, and not as keenly priced as they are in the US, but it's a good solid bike that, I'm assured, will be delivered to Chris's house on Monday. 

Fitting panniers is a challenge to be solved another day.