A special elevator ride
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor) on March 14th, 2007 at 9:40 am
I'm having a great time with my tikit.
This little folding bike is going everywhere with me here in DC.
My bag finally arrived (over 24 hours late), which means I had to scoot from the Summit back to my hotel. It only took me about 90 seconds to get there, and that's where the fun really started.
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The weather here is fantastic so they had the front doors to the hotel open. I decided to ride right in. Then I decided to keep going into the elevator. I fit no problem! The small footprint of the tikit lets me feel like I can ride just about anywhere.
I had still not left the saddle since leaving the Summit and there I was riding up to the 8th floor.
When I got to my stop, the door opened, and I pedaled down the hall to my room! Nothing like door-to-door cycling.
And taking it through the X-ray machine has been a joy. I love the look on people's faces. I'm working on them to let me take a photo. Yes I am a geek.
[I just posted a bunch more photos.]
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Ahhhh, and the zoobomber in Jonathan is born. Welcome to the family Jonathan!
Recommendedyes you are a geek... I love it. I would love to do the same thing... I know it just gets my heart rate going thinking about it. ¡¡¡¡I would REALLY love to take a tikit on my next business trip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!~!~!!
RecommendedJust like "The Shining." Well, except it's not a Big Wheel, and there isn't any blood pouring out of the elevators.
RecommendedI think Bike Friday better give you a commission on every Tikit they sell and maybe they should start developing the national ad campaign right now (with your photos of course). I know I want one. So how about a BikePortland.org discount Bike Friday sales team?
RecommendedPaging Walter L. You there, Fixed Friday Guy?
RecommendedBike Friday is crazy if they don't let you keep that thing. I know they advertise on the site, but I also know that your enthusiasm for their product is genuine. You're a publicity gem! I'm ready for the "Mr. Maus Goes to Washington" TV ad spot...
RecommendedA few days before you left for points East, we saw you at the corner of Rosa Parks and Michigan astride your Tikit. Judging by the curb hops you did as you waited for traffic, the thing looks to be a lot sturdier underfoot than one might expect from a folder. Can it handle the steps down into the Metro stops?
_DA
RecommendedYou don't mean you took the Tikit through the airport x-ray machine, do you? The Tikit travels as checked luggage, right?
Recommendedyes. the tikit goes as checked luggage. I'm referring to x-ray machines at all the buildings.
RecommendedDo the airlines charge you the bike fee to carry the Tikit?
The photos are a hoot.
RecommendedI don't believe the airlines charge the bike fee for the Tikit or any other bike if they fit in standard luggage size containers. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that has been a long standing tenet of Bike Friday's design specs.
RecommendedJonathan...if the Tikit fits thru the Federal buildings' scanner machines then it should fit through the TSA scanners at airports.
This means you can travel a little lighter (sans hardshell) and gate check it on Horizon Airlines - like a Brompton. Give it a try on your next trip.
Kiran...perhaps you can use your pull at Horizon to introduce a more folder friendly gate checkin area.
RecommendedAh, Washington DC - land of the X-Ray machine. 20 years from now, we'll have a study of increased cancer rates among DC politicos as a result of the post-9/11 X-Ray Xtravaganza.
The photos are great - I'd be trying to get a picture of the Tikit in the machine, too.
RecommendedWhen flying internationally I have always been able to avoid the fee by claiming my bike in a box was international freight, I don't know the rules but in general neither do the people at the counter and if you push it they won't charge you, saves 150 bucks round trip on united. I know another traveler who claimed their bike was art and after some arguing was also able to talk them out of the fee on a domestic flight.
bjorn
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