How do you get your knives and tools sharpened in Beijing? In the US, of course, you could bring them to a cutlery shop or a hardware store, maybe. In Beijing, the knife sharpener comes to you. These crafty gents travel by bike and go neighborhood to neighborhood announcing their presence by clanging a strip of metal plates on a rope.
I was lucky enough to come across one of these bikes while the owner was otherwise engaged. It is a Forever. Although it looks like he carries his tools in the front basket, often these bikes are equipped with a leather pouch tied over the top bar
The package rack serves as the work platform. Various whetstones are used and his strop appears to be a piece of old carpet.
The whetstones also serve as a bike stand. Note the interesting tool used as a kickstand. The plastic bag around the seat is standard wet weather practice. You've got one tucked away on your bike, right?
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