downtube42

On the heels of a 2 week business trip to Nijmegen, it looks like an offer for a 1-2 year stay is a strong possibility. Cycling wise, the infrastructure and bike-friendly culture is fantastic but the terrain is boring AF. But then Belgium is just a train ride away.

It's not a done deal, and I might not like the financials, but still can't help thinking about the logistics of a global move at age 63. Like...

My recumbent has been hanging neglected for ~3 years, after serving as my main randonneuring bike for a decade. I was about to sell it, but flat windy terrain is 'bent friendly to say the least. Do I take the bent?

Aside from the 'bent, I have a hardtail, fixie, CX bike that serves as my primary commuter, Soma Fog Cutter build that's been my rando bike the last 3 years, and a new Trek Domane that will replace the Fog Cutter, relegating the Fog Cutter to gravel work with its 650b wheelset. What do I take, what do I store, and what do I (gasp) sell? We'd likely get an apartment, which I understand tend to be small.

The non-bike items follow the same pattern. Home, car, furniture, other various belongings.

Then there's the question of do I retire at the end of the stint, which is pretty attractive timing. But it's really about the bikes; everything else will fall into place.

DiabloScott

This sounds like a wonderful adventure... assuming you've thought out all the other details like family stuff.

One idea is to sell literally everything and buy what you need once you get there. Not cheap, but neither is storing or moving things - and you've probably got too much stuff anyway.
You could probably buy an electric-assist recumbent that would be perfect!
Then sell all your new stuff in a couple years when you're ready to move back, and start again, again.
Think of it as being unencumbered.

_ForceD_

I’d forgotten I was in the 50+ forum, and as I read your first couple of sentences, thinking you’re a younger individual, I was thinking “He’ll figure it out and have a good adventure.” But then I saw that we’re essentially the same age and I thought “Oye! I had enough of that during my 20 years in the Navy during my 20s to early 40s.” We (military) often try to arrange our last tour of duty to be in a region/location where we want to retire. That doesn’t always work out. But anyway…WRT to your bikes. Moving bikes with household goods when I transferred was always a bit of a hassle…packing them myself instead of the movers, to make sure they wouldn’t get damaged in transit. But, maybe choose one (type) to take with you. Then once you get to your location, if you decide you also want the other types…buy used. Three years really isn’t that long (usual approximate length of military assignment). You’ll be back with your regular bikes in no time. Good luck.

Dan

MinnMan

Go for it. I just returned to the states after 9 months living in Germany. Though no place is without its problems, there were so many things about living in Europe, and leaving the tribulations of the US behind, that were such a relief.

For example, never once while cycling there did I have a driver do something verbally or physically aggressive. Here it happens about every other day, even though I live in Minneapolis, which is one of the most bike-friendly cities in the US. Motorists in Europe respect cyclists and understand that we have a right to be on the road.

I'm 62, btw.

I-Like-To-Bike

Will your employer pay for the cost of movement of your household goods to NL and return to wherever you designate in the U.S. or just to your departure residence. Is there a weight limit for reimbursement? These are questions that you should get firm answers for before you move or sell your stuff and/or U.S. residence. It is unlikely that any NL apartment will comfortably contain a typical American's lifetime of possessions, especially a gaggle of bicycles. I'd recommend not taking all the bicycles regardless of available storage and ride what works for umpteen Dutch cyclists, unless you want to standout as a foreigner.

MinnMan

That's an interesting point. I brought my Canyon to Germany. Of course, Canyon is a German brand. On one of the very few group rides I did whilst there, my companions were very surprised that the bike came with me from the US. They didn't know that Canyon is marketed internationally.

But the brands of bicycles one sees in Europe are quite diverse. Treks are available and seen, though not as common as in the US. And Soma is a relatively obscure brand in the US anyway.

Shipping a bike to Europe isn't that expensive. Just a few hundred bucks. That's a whole lot less than the expense of replacing one over there.

Storage could be an issue, but where there's a will, there's a way.

Jughed

Since you can get all over Europe via train... the Alps are calling, the Pyrenees are calling...


100% Bucket List items.

downtube42

Yeah, though my wife wants to travel Europe without hauling a bike and my subsequent disappearance.

But that's no different than here and now. We'll work that out.

Who knows, the VP might decide on a whim to do something completely different, as they tend to do.

downtube42

Of course, that's all the non bike not fun but important details we'll work out if/when this happens.

Jughed

She can paint your name on the roads up the climbs and hand you bidons, ring a cowbell when you go on by...

philbob57

1) Don't expect to be welcomed back, unless - maybe - you get promises in writing. I remember coming back to the US in my 50s and hearing my boss say to me, 'S--t! Now I have to find a new assignments for you. That was not uncommon among my colleagues.

2) Everything is negotiable. Decide how many bikes you want and how many you need. Ask for what you want. Don't go unless they agree to (willingly) give you what you need.

downtube42

My wife and I have moved twice in the last 8 years, and downsized significantly each time. But in 5 years here we've re-accumulated. We've discussed the next move would be done with suitcases only. Small caveat by me that I'll ship a bike, but yeah I'm there.

The hard decisions are condo (sell, rent, leave empty), car (sell, store), and a few family heirlooms (ug). Honestly I'm leaning toward sell everything, and store the heirlooms in 8x8. That'll take some spreadsheet calculations.

downtube42

I'm not saying it aloud, but 24 months is the beginning of my retirement window. I'm curious what kind of clause they'll have about commitment to stay. I'd be quite happy to come back and turn in my badge, if we stay that long. If it's just a year... even then I'd be okay walking away and working elsewhere to retirement.

john29400

Age is just a number when it comes to such exciting possibilities. This opportunity to spend a few years in another country sounds like it could be an incredible experience. Enjoying the advantages of life in a new place can be so enriching.

nomadmax 

As someone who has had cancer, twice, and am the OPs age; what about health care and major illness? Does where you're going to have state of the art cancer/disease care? Will your health plan cover it? Will it allow you to go back to the states and get covered for top of the line treatment to survive? At the OPs age, one diagnosis can wreak havoc on cash reserves and retirement accounts. As someone who who has survived cancer and the bills that go with it, I don't want to be dead broke and forced to work at my age. Everybody is bulletproof, until they ain't.

50PlusCycling

I know a lot of expats here in Japan, and many use “Asian Tigers” for international moves, and not just in Asia.

downtube42

OP here. The big guy nixed the move. Hiring a local is cheaper, and he likes to have me in his timezone to pull into meetings at a whim. Oh joy.

BobbyG

Sorry to hear about that. But your bikes will be happy about it.

indyfabz

You reminded me of the time I was touring on my Cannondale in Andalusia. I was sitting on a park bench dead tired after an exhausting day, wondering where a certain hostal was. A kid rode up to me to show me his Cannondale MTB. Turned out that his parents owned the hostal, and it was directly across the street from where I was sitting. That’s how knackered I was.

Don’t worry about standing out. Bring the bike(s) that make(s) sense to you.