After spending half a year in China, I finally got a bicycle. I got an entry level mountain bike from Shanghai Bicycle Rental near Xintiandi. The shop, which just opened last month, has an English-speaking staff and the owner, Billion (yes his name is Billion), is the most laid-back guy you’ll ever meet. Seriously, go take a look. He’s fun to watch.
Yǐjīng zài 中国 dāile bànnián, zuìjìn zhōngyú mǎi 了 yibù 自行车. 是个 entry level mountain bike, 在 Xīntiāndì pángbiān 一家 diàn, 叫 Shanghai Bicycle Rental, mǎi 的. 这家 diàn 上个月 cái 开的. Owner hé staff dōu 会说英语.
I expected the ride home (I live by Qibao) to take twice as long as bus/metro, but it actually turned out to be about the same – about 90 minutes. And that’s partly because I got lost. If I rode fast and knew the way, probably barely over an hour.
Qí 回家 zhǐ yòngle 90分钟. Rúguǒ 没 zǒudiū dàgài zhǐ 要一小时多一点.
They’re located at 128 Middle Fuxing Road, just a few minutes walk from Line 8 Laoximen Station, or about 15 minutes walk from Line 1 South Huangpi Road Station.
他们在复兴中路128号, cóng 地铁8号线老西门走5分钟, huòzhe 1号线黄陂南路走15分钟.
Pics of my bike, which I dragged up the stairs to my home on the 3rd floor because I know people will want to steal the beauty:
我的美丽的自行车:
looks nice! is it a 12 speed mountain bike? when i was in beijing during summer 2006, i had my mountain bike stolen.. on the day right after the tires were fully pumped.. well, i locked it alright but they took the entire bike and lock altogether.. so watch out for thieves
then after that incident, i borrowed an battery powered bike for the rest of the summer. it was faster than bicycles and you don’t need to keep on pedaling it.. but it was kinda dangerous cuz the city has allowed cars to drive in bike lanes, and some drivers in bejing were such bullies.. i probably shouldnt say that cuz when i tired a mercedes ml350 in bejing, i just hated random jaywalkers and bikers who always run the red lights in front of my sight><
It’s 21 speed (3x7). Yeah I’d never lock just the wheel. I’d chain the bike to a pole or rail for sure.
Hehheh when I’m in cars I don’t like how bicycles just pop out of nowhere and run lights, but I did the same thing when I was riding. :P It’s tiring to stop and go all the time.