(no subject)

[wolffyluna]

Some of you may remember the fact that months ago I got my bike stolen from my apartment's garage. I have not replaced it, because unfortunately I have been trapped in a cycle of indecision by The Dilemma.

You see, I could replace it with either another manual bike, or I could get an electric bike.

Advantages of a manual bike: I know I can use them, they are cheaper.

Disadvantages: ...I am surrounded by Fuck Off Hills, and there are some routes I would go by bike regularly if it were not for those hills.

Advantages of an ebike: presumably could get up those Fuck Off Hills?

Disadvantages: ...I don't actually know for sure that they could? Also, I would not keep this one in the garage (see: what happened to the last one, that didn't even have an expensive battery in it), so I need to know if I could lift the thing up the stairs to my apartment.

So, to make this decision, I need to know whether it can get up hills, and if I can Even Lift It Bro.

Of course, because this is a nested dilemma, there are two ways to do this.

My city has some of those app share electric bikes. They are expensive but less so than option 2. I couldn't take one up my apartment stairs, but I could experimentally lift it? Also, there's a bit of a 'scooters, scooters everywhere, but not a bike to drink' situation which might make finding one. tricky.My local ebike store also rents them. I could try the type of bike I'd like to buy, and even lift it up stairs! Store it in a convenient place instead of having to search for it! But of course, there is a catch. Even the special 'we are letting you rent this for a shorter time than usual because we think you might buy it' rate is... about 1/10th the cost of buying a new ebike.

Do people have any advice for escaping this dilemma?

Comments

[duckprintspress]

it seems like testing things out with the app-share bike might help? at least it'll help you figure out the carrying it and hills. You could probably find an outdoor staircase to test carrying it up.

[duckprintspress]

tho that rental price is insanely high, oof

[lb_lee]

Hey, I think I tabled next to you at Arisia a few years back! Didn’t know you went here!

[duckprintspress]

ah! LB! yes, you did! yeah, I putter around DW among other platforms, and I've moved in fandom circles with wolffyluna for years and years!

[lb_lee]

Talk about a small world! It’s good to see you again!

[duckprintspress]

right?! that's exactly what I was thinking!!

I wasn't accepted to Arisia last January - I gather their dealer's room was MUCH smaller - but I've applied for this coming year, so maybe...

[lb_lee]

You are correct; the dealers room was a lot smaller and I’ve heard rumblings as to how much longer the con will last. I applied too, so maybe we’ll see each other again in January!

[duckprintspress]

Yeah, people at Boskone were talking about how much smaller it was.

I really hope Arisia doesn't die, I had a lovely time in 2024, but I'll own I'm worried. The organization for the Jan 2026 one has seemed to be a mess, at least watching from the outside.

But yes, hopefully the con survives, and hopefully we'll both be in the dealer's room and can see each other again! I loved having you as a neighbor. :D

[lb_lee]

Fingers crossed! It’d be great to see you again!

Do you remember how much Boskone cost to table at? I need to get my foot on the door there!

[duckprintspress]

I think it's $120 for a table, iirc? I'll check. Okay no, it's $100!

I've done Boskone twice, and the first time (2024) it was *very* different from Arisia, with a much older crowd primarily interested in books, and especially "old school" SFF. I barely broke even and really debated going back. Last year, it definitely had a younger crowd - maybe because Arisia moved? and Boskone is at the same venue as Arisia was in 2024, only a month later? - and, based on my first time, I also focused on bringing primarily books. I did much better than in 2024, and so I'm definitely returning for 2025 with an emphasis on books. It's also a much less queer crowd, but again, it felt like that shifted a bit from 2024 to 2025. I'm honestly not sure what to expect in 2026 (assuming I'm accepted, but I expect I will be, I've been a reliable and low-key vendor and I paid my fees in advance as requested) but I think there's potential again. If more people like us are there, I think it'll also help shift the overall demographic, which will help it be a better fit, so... yeah, tl:dr, I think it could be worth a go for you!

[lb_lee]

It’s a four day event, right? That’s a reasonable cost for four days! I’m sure it’s too late for next year but I’ll keep an eye out for ‘27!

[duckprintspress]

It's three days, Friday to Sunday. :D fwiw I do still think they're taking applications? And their website says it's only $70 even tho I my own records say I paid $100 so no idea what's up there. Anyway, it's here, use it if it's helpful, ignore it if not! :D https://boskone.org/get-involved/vendors/

[lb_lee]

Oh wow, sweet, thank you! Applied! (We're sick and really slow-witted, so trying to find the "apply for vendor" thing would've been hard, so really appreciate you just putting the ball in front of us!)

[duckprintspress]

I hope you feel better soon!!!

[wolffyluna]

...I don't know why I hadn't thought of public stairs, but you are right, I could test out on a set of those.

(The rental price is very. Hmm. 'Vimes Boot Theory' isn't quite the thing, but it's close? They are very clearly targetting the market of 'people who want/need to do those app delivery gigs but can't afford an ebike straight up.' And if you are going to be riding for over 40 minutes a day, every day, for several weeks, it's cheaper than the app share bikes...)

[duckprintspress]

ooo yeah I could see that. that's extremely frustrating, that it's so obviously set up to be predatory of a specific single group while also thereby making people who might want to use it for other reasons priced out.

[lb_lee]

I am sick and dumb and thus unable to give GOOD advice, but my BAD advice is to get a skateboard for the hills!

[wolffyluna]

I will go NYOOM power entirely by one foot and a piece of plywood!

[lb_lee]

NYOOM WOLF! Peak nineties!