With so many bicycles on the road in China, you will have breakdowns, and somebody is going to have to fix them. In Beijing and most other Chinese cities you'll find regular bike shops that do repairs, but there are just not enough of these t handle the volume. Bike doctor to the rescue! On street corners and side streets you'll find these men and women with their carts or parts, read to fix a tire or replace a pedal.
If it is early, and the Doctor is NOT in yet, you can sometimes tell where they will be by some carefully placed tires.
But when the doctor is in, He'll be more than happy to help. Tube replacement costs about 35 RMB, or $5. Air is 1 RMB and to have a new cotter pin driven in is 2 RMB.
Of course, the bike doctor has other skills besides fixing bikes. Sometimes they watch a bicycle parking lot making sure nobody makes of with your ride. This will set you back 1/2 RMB. Seemingly, they often make keys and of course sell bike accessories. They will also fix electric bicycles and scooters. Check out the signage below.
Often they combine their trade with other street vendors, such as cobblers and food vendors to make an ersatz street corner Mini mall. In the picture below, you can see a street cobbler at work. Fix your shoes while you fix your tires! Now you're ready to go anywhere!!!
Hi,
I love your website.
I've had a Flying Pigeon (PA-02 2D) for about a year now and, while I love riding it, I have endless trouble correctly adjusting the brakes (front in particular) -- they're nothing like anything I've worked with before. Have you got any tips? I live in Switzerland and the "Bike Doctor" is definitely not "in". Even a photo of how you've got your brakes set up would help, I think.
Many thanks,
Ben
Posted by: Ben | April 14, 2009 at 06:04 PM
wait,
is there any other eps on this besides Rising and EATG?
Posted by: eve isk | June 21, 2009 at 02:56 PM