We can fly across the Atlantic (and Pacific) in less than a day but we still send cargoes by ship.

It will take about 2 weeks to get to GEO using the space elevator.
Getting to LEO orbit using the space elevator is also very slow.  The climber has to get to a height of about 25,000 km before release and then perform a circulization burn.

A bolo less than about 4000 kilometers long also means attachment must occur at about 50 kilometers altitude and at several times the speed of sound to avoid extreme air friction heating of the portion in Earth's upper atmosphere. High G forces mean the bolo must be very thick and heavy or made from CNT = carbon nanotubes with great specs. Radius 3822 kilometers times 6.28 = 24,000 kilometers circumference. The center of rotation is 178 kilometers from the counterweight. Altitude of center of rotation is 3872 kilometers. If the bolo completes two rotations per day = 48000 kilometers per day divide by 24 = 2000 kilometers per hour add 1600 kilometers per hour for speed of Earth's rotation and subtract from 17000 kilometers per hour = orbital speed at 3872 kilometers; the connecting tip moves 13,400 kilometers per hour with respect to Earth's surface. G is low. Release of cargo speed is 2000 kilometer faster than orbital speed adjustable by release before or after highest altitude. Faster rotation of the bolo produces more G, but less air resistance and easier attachment of the pay load. I have made some simplifications: The tether will assume a lazy S shape due to air resistance, It will stretch and slow in earth's upper atmosphere and stretch and slow more after the payload is attached. Somewhat later, there will be a jerk when the stretching stops, and the pay load and tip begin catching up the speed lost. Stretch transients will travel on the tether for hours following each attachment and release. These transients may be useful in optimising the release and pick up of pay loads. The bolo can be in semi polar orbit so that it provides occasional service to most of the countries of Earth. The air friction losses need to be made up or the bolo rotation speed will slow and the altitude of the center of gravity will move lower (higher?) and/or become less circular. A tip motor is likely desirable to fine tune the attachment, release of the pay load, modify transients, reduce the jerk (which could break the tether) and make up for air friction losses. Most of the payloads may be fuel for the tip motor. An Edwards type climber needs to travel the tether to repair damage caused by space trash, atomic oxygen, and micrometeors. The climber can also be helpful in providing telemetry, keeping track of transients and managing transients by changing speed and direction. The climber can also deliver fuel to the counter weight which may have a winch to reel in and out some tether to help manage transients.   Neil