On my way there, usually a 20 minute ride, I had to stop abruptly, 4 times, because my bike's chain came off. The fourth time it happened, was once I entered the small city's main street, that also has a bicycle shop, since a couple of months. In fact, this bike shop is located right next to the building where I rent my studio.
Fun fact: my previous bike, an E-bike, was gifted to me by the guy who owns that shop. We used to be neighbors, for a year or two, up till Spring last year.
At my neighbor's shop, I recently bought a bicycle helmet and a waterproof backpack. The latter, not the helmet haha!, can also be used as a bike bag, attached to the frame.
All in all, after having spend quite some time getting the chain in the right place again and getting plenty of greese on my hands, I decided that this was a sign to visit his shop, once again, to get my chain checked and possibly repaired.
9 days after bringing my bike in for repairs. I had learnt, the day before, that it was a bigger problem than just a broken chain. What was supposed to be a 20 to 30 Euro repair job, was going to cost me close to 500 Euros ( if I chose to install a secondhand motor ). A new one would cost me almost double the amount. A lot of money for a bike.
So, after letting all of this sink in, I decided to hand in my old bike at my neighbor's shop and told my neighbor to do with it what he wanted. Take it apart for parts or install another motor and possibly re-sell it.
After about half an hour in there, I walked out with a brand new BTT bike (Bicicleta de Todo Terreno/All Terrain Bike) that cost me quite a lot less than the cheapest of repairs possible on my previous bike.
I went for a short test drive and I already liked this new bike more. Not just the colors ( blue is my favorite ) but also the tires ( nicer than on my E-bike ) and the overall height and feel of it. My former bike was a little too low for me and this one is just perfect for a 6 foot 1 Dutchmen in Portugal.
I took it to the park ( where I had some lunch, bought at my favorite bakery )
And then cycled to the city's river beach...
from where I looked at the city itself, from a distance
My wheels and I also spent some time staring at some grazing sheep and enjoying the sight of the mountains in the distance.
Back in the city, I felt a little nervous, having a quick drink in this bar with a friend, whilst my brand new bike was parked outside, ready to be taken by any passerby.
To be more precise: it came without a lock and the bike shop didn't sell any
haha!
Bem-vindo em Portugal!
(Welcome to Portugal!)
or at least, to the Portuguese countryside, where many people don't lock bikes or even their cars or leave their phone or laptop on the table, while they are inside a café or bakery.
Lots of old men and ladies keeping a sharp eye on things, I guess, so it's pretty hard to steal something, without the entire town knowing about (who did) it.
I am Dutch though and many bikes have been stolen from me in the past. Therefore, even after 6 years in Portugal, I still like to have a lock on my bike.
So I ordered one that hopefully arrives next week. I also asked my ex-neighbor to order some click on LED-lights for me. If I'm lucky, both will arrive someday next week.
Meanwhile, I will be careful where I stall my bike, keeping an eye on it, when possible. It also helps that there will be a week or so of rain. Not having rain gear and being 'traumatized' of getting soaked in the rain, on a bike, way too often, back in The Netherlands, I probably won't go on that many bike rides though until the sun returns to our area...
