A Bike

Buying a bike was one of the best decisions in my life. It gets me everywhere, while getting to see where I am travelling through, feeling the terrain and environment, riding through streets as if I was a car, but being able to pass through them like a motorcycle. You can park everywhere and going downhill is one of the best things ever.

How I Came to Have a Bike

Not so long ago a friend's sister had a German friend who was doing Erasmus in Lisbon and was about to finish her experience and leave the city. She had a bike that she wanted to get rid of, as she had bought it to enjoy the city, but it was time to say goodbye, and with it all the things that she could not carry with her to her home city. So she asked her friends who would like to by a second-hand bike in good state, my friend's sister saw this, talked with her brother, her brother with me, and suddenly I was in Martim Moniz Square taking a test drive and negotiating the price. Bought it for 60€ with a lock. After all this time I consider it a good deal!

The Beggining

Before buying this bike I was really more of a walker. I would walk everywhere I wanted, I would do kilometers and kilometers to go downtown, but it was ok, I like it. Yet, the thought of a bike was always passing my mind. Lisbon is full of them nowadays, specially the electric ones by Gira, a company that rents bikes to the public. I had a bike before, but it was to small and unconfortable to ride, and when I saw this bike's bench I was really convinced, it is really soft and comfortable. So when I started riding it it felt really good. I hadn't riden a bike for a while, and I felt like a child! At first it was strange how fun it was to use a bike, and gradually it became my main transportation mean, which was even more fun!

Riding One in Lisbon

To ride a bike in Lisbon is not for everyone. Starting with the weather, some days are very hot, which can make certain people sweat a lot. I usually do not sweat, and do not mind doing so. Secondly, it's a very highs and lows city, so you can expect a lot of fun going downhill, but not so much fun going uphill, as it can be really tiring. I like, it's like a challenge, and it's good exercise. You can always pick a public electric bike from Gira, and these problems can automatically dissapear, as you do not have to put so much effort in pedalling, or virtually none! I have a friend who some times has a hard time stopping the bike as it wants to move by its own. Seriously, those bikes can gain a lot of speed!

I love my city, and can not get tired of exploring it, even if it is to go to the same places I have been hundreds of time, there is always something new, or some tranquility they can bring, so I always search for them in times of need, and with a bike I can get there really fast! With a bike I can be downtown in 20 minutes, and these are all going downhill with almost no pedalling! Just wind and sun in my face! This is very good, as I like to take photographs of the city and it really gives me more mobility to move to more places and faster!

I remember I had one during my Erasmus in Warsaw and it was really good to visit certain spots outside the city, and also to experience the city in itself. The bike was really useful!

A New Experience

The best experience so far has been to learn how to ride without hands. It gave me such a feeling of being limitless that I do it 70% of the time I ride a bike. I always do it if I have a chance, although I do not recommend it for those who are not comfortable and experienced with it! I don't want anyone to get hurt!

So, again, riding a bike became an even more liberating experience. Not only was I going to places in a bike and feeling the environment that surrounds me, now I was doing it completely free of hands, and to do this while going down Avenida da Liberdade is such a great feeling. The fresh air, the speed, the ups and downs that the holes on the floor make, its adrenaline and relaxation at the same time.

Having to Fix It

After having so much fun with it, after going over so many holes and sideways, eventually it had to be repared. I had a malfunction with the back wheel gears, so I had to go to a place to fix it. Turns out I have other malfunctions, some gaps that need to be eliminated, breaks need to be changed, and some other things. In the end it would cost me a total of 67€, but to only fix the gear problem was 17€, so I just fixed the problem that immediately stopped my fun and was very happy!

So my advice is, buy a bike, enjoy it, and when you get bored with it, just sell it to another person, and give her the joy of riding a bike!

Check out my full article on Lisbon for more experiences and places in the city!