Amsterdam on bike
As everyone knows, Amsterdam is a city of bikes. I actually read somewhere that there are more bikes than habitats and every year many bikes end up in the canals:)
How to get Bike in Amsterdam
Well, of course, the first thing to do was to find a bike. I joined many Facebook groups to find a second-hand bike. The decision to get second-hand bike was made based on recommendations from colleagues who told me that the bikes are stolen all the time, so the worst bike better. It might not be stolen so fast.
Anyway, I searched for bikes with handbrakes as I was not so sure about the pedal brake. In the end, I bought a pedal brake bike in the second-hand market. I made a good deal 80 EUR including two locks.
Of course, you can always go to a bike shop in Amsterdam and buy a new bike. There are plenty of bike shops and you will be able to find the best bike based on your needs.
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Bike Experience in Amsterdam
Bike Experience in AmsterdamI was so excited to use it the next day to get to work. When I took my bike in the morning, of course, my tire got flat so after one day from purchase, I already had to go to the bike shop and pay to get the whole new tire for 40 EUR.
Let’s say that I did not check the bike properly when buying at the market as the tire was quite old.
Well, the first lesson learned.
For some days, my bike was working fine but one day I wanted to use the bike to go to the park, but I could not open my lock. Weird enough, I realised that someone was actually trying to open it without a key!
Of course, I could not open it with the key either because someone destroys the lock. OK, the second visit to the bike shop within one month. The guy told me that I can bring the bike to the shop so he can open the lock for me.
Obviously, my bike was connected to the bike rail so no possibility to move it anywhere. Then he said that if he has to come to my bike, it will be 40 EUR (it was like 20 meters from the shop). The last thing he suggested when he saw my face was to go to the shop and get something to open lock myself.
Great!
I did not have much choice so I got tools in the shop and ask my partner to help me to open it. In the end, he managed and I had to invest another 50 EUR in a new lock.
Overall, within a month I already spend more money in the repair shop than buying a new bike!
I guess this is part of Amsterdam life experience:)?
How was your experience with bikes in Amsterdam?
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