Kyle’s European Adventure

I DID IT! I picked up my bike this afternoon, and I am completely in love. I got really lucky on this one – I was wandering around, and found this bike shop near my gym. I went in and, in my best broken German, asked if they sold secondhand bikes. They said no, but to check the repair shop up the street. When I got there, I met a young fellow who only spoke a little english. Between our two broken languages, he told me that he takes in broken and useless bikes and fixes them up to sell. He took me in the back to show me a tall black frame he’d just found, and said he’d put it in good working order for me.

The price? €80. I’ve looked in every bike shop I’ve seen since arriving, and haven’t seen a single bike for cheaper than €150, used or not. This kid put new brakes, gears, splashguards and a light on this puppy, and the frame fits like a glove. I took it out for a spin by the shop, and it was absolutely perfect – the gears are smooth, brakes are sharp, and not a sqeak to be heard. And, to say “Welcome to Germany”, he threw in a new lock, gratis.

I love this country.

Now that I’m mobile, I can’t wait to really start exploring. I realized I’ve spent almost all of my time here in the eastern side of the city, so I think tomorrow I’ll ride as far west as I can, and see some of that side of the city.