Salamanca-Guarda... Any tips on buying cheap bikes in Spain or Portugal?

[Riverman]

I'll be in Spain next week and I'm quite curious to see whether I can cycle any of the journey. I'm going by ferry, so could take a bike fairly easily but would like to take the bus whilst I'm there. I'm going for two to three weeks. Given this I'm thinking about buying a bike or bicycle shaped object whilst there. I'm arriving in Santander and taking the train to Villadolid where I'm doing some work for the organisation I volunteer for. From there I have an appointment at Salamanca which I'll take the bus to but I'd like to perhaps cycle from there into Portugal. it's about 100 miles.

My Spanish is improving but it's poor. I've scoped out the Carrefore and El Corte Ingles and it seems I can pick up a bike for about 100 euroes and a foldable one for 120 euros. Does anyone know where I could get a cheap one from somewhere else? Perhaps I need to somehow discover the second hand market. That would be great! Any tips? Can anyone speak good Spanish here and knows which are the best websites to check?


http://www.elcortein...t=9004:999.1451

http://www.carrefour...itemId=83301348



Thank you

 

[vernon]

I believe Decathlon has a presence in Spain and Portugal. It sells higher quality BSOs.

 

[monnet]

Definitely a Decathlon presence in Iberia.

Plenty of independent bike shops too and alot have second hand stuff. Admittedly I had it in a bike bag, but the buses and trains never had any issue with me taking it around with me when i lived out there.

 

[mangaman]

I'll be in Spain next week and I'm quite curious to see whether I can cycle any of the journey. I'm going by ferry, so could take a bike fairly easily but would like to take the bus whilst I'm there. I'm going for two to three weeks. Given this I'm thinking about buying a bike or bicycle shaped object whilst there. I'm arriving in Santander and taking the train to Villadolid where I'm doing some work for the organisation I volunteer for. From there I have an appointment at Salamanca which I'll take the bus to but I'd like to perhaps cycle from there into Portugal. it's about 100 miles.

My Spanish is improving but it's poor. I've scoped out the Carrefore and El Corte Ingles and it seems I can pick up a bike for about 100 euroes and a foldable one for 120 euros. Does anyone know where I could get a cheap one from somewhere else? Perhaps I need to somehow discover the second hand market. That would be great! Any tips? Can anyone speak good Spanish here and knows which are the best websites to check?


http://www.elcortein...t=9004:999.1451

http://www.carrefour...itemId=83301348


Thank you

Hi Riverman - El Corte Ingles will definitely be overrpriced. It is the premium department store chain in Spain.

Carrefour will be cheap as will be Decathalon (my preferred option in Spain), although Carrefour stuff is a bit crapper in my experience.

There is a Decathalon in Salamanca (hope this works) http://maps.google.c...ved=0CCQQtwQwAQ

(Prices will be the same / cheaper than any other Decathalon)

As for 2nd hand - I doubt you'd get anything useable for less than 100 Euros - although there are some sites here.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&nfpr=1&&sa=X&ei=YFVkTaPOBcGbhQfa4vCLDg&ved=0CBUQBSgA&q=%
22bicicletas+de+segunda+mano%22+salamanca&spell=1

Tough going unless you are confident - and I suspect Decathalon is cheaper anyway for what you need.

Hope that helps.

 

[Riverman]

Hi Riverman - El Corte Ingles will definitely be overrpriced. It is the premium department store chain in Spain.

Carrefour will be cheap as will be Decathalon (my preferred option in Spain), although Carrefour stuff is a bit crapper in my experience.

There is a Decathalon in Salamanca (hope this works) http://maps.google.c...ved=0CCQQtwQwAQ

(Prices will be the same / cheaper than any other Decathalon)

As for 2nd hand - I doubt you'd get anything useable for less than 100 Euros - although there are some sites here.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&nfpr=1&&sa=X&ei=YFVkTaPOBcGbhQfa4vCLDg&ved=0CBUQBSgA&q=%
22bicicletas+de+segunda+mano%22+salamanca&spell=1

Tough going unless you are confident - and I suspect Decathalon is cheaper anyway for what you need.

Hope that helps.

Might be a bit tough on the hills but that is awesome. Thanks.

http://www.decathlon.es/montana-ciclismo-vitamin-id_MAN_15280_8124240.html

 

[mangaman]

Might be a bit tough on the hills but that is awesome. Thanks.

http://www.decathlon...80_8124240.html

Looks OK!

You can buy it pre-ordered and pick it up at Salamanca Decathalon if you want, looking at the website.

If you need any help with the Spanish I can get by and you're welcome to PM me.

 

[ThePainInSpain]

Hi Riverman - El Corte Ingles will definitely be overrpriced. It is the premium department store chain in Spain.

Carrefour will be cheap as will be Decathalon (my preferred option in Spain), although Carrefour stuff is a bit crapper in my experience.

There is a Decathalon in Salamanca (hope this works) http://maps.google.c...ved=0CCQQtwQwAQ

(Prices will be the same / cheaper than any other Decathalon)

As for 2nd hand - I doubt you'd get anything useable for less than 100 Euros - although there are some sites here.
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&safe=off&nfpr=1&&sa=X&ei=YFVkTaPOBcGbhQfa4vCLDg& ved=0CBUQBSgA&q=%
22bicicletas+de+segunda+mano%22+salamanca&spell=1

Tough going unless you are confident - and I suspect Decathalon is cheaper anyway for what you need.

Hope that helps.

I agree (see my location).

I use Decathlon all the time, and not only for cycling stuff. They are reasonably priced and usually very helpful (unlike most other shops in Spain).

As for second hand..........probably no chance. Certainly not in the English speaking papers. As most of the ex-pats have gone back to the UK and sold everything last year when they departed back for the dole.

Also the second hand market here is somewhat different than the UK insofar as it's a rip-off. It's often cheaper to buy new than secondhand.

 

[Riverman]

Had to delay this trip until the 30th of March. Was looking into folding bikes. I'm quite surprised to see that they're cheaper to buy from decathlon UK than ES.

http://www.decathlon...grey-141401716/

http://www.decathlon...83_8136534.html

Can't quite believe that to be honest, although there is a cheaper model only available from the Spanish website for 159 euros.

http://www.decathlon.es/plegables-ciclismo-b-fold-20-id_MAN_15283_8067819.html

Doesn't come with a rack or a bag so is a bit of a false economy.

 

[mangaman]

Had to delay this trip until the 30th of March. Was looking into folding bikes. I'm quite surprised to see that they're cheaper to buy from decathlon UK than ES.

http://www.decathlon...grey-141401716/

http://www.decathlon...83_8136534.html

Can't quite believe that to be honest, although there is a cheaper model only available from the Spanish website for 159 euros.

http://www.decathlon...83_8067819.html

Doesn't come with a rack or a bag so is a bit of a false economy.

I think that's just the current appalling exchange rates Riverman. A few years ago the 299 Euros would have been cheaper than £250.

Unfortunately, the Spanish economy is even worse than ours, and Decathalon is the best you're likely to get over there.

I'm lucky in that I can speak Spanish - and reading the local paper and offering cash - I have got some amazing bargains, but you have to be pretty confident.

 

[Riverman]

I think that's just the current appalling exchange rates Riverman. A few years ago the 299 Euros would have been cheaper than £250.

Unfortunately, the Spanish economy is even worse than ours, and Decathalon is the best you're likely to get over there.

I'm lucky in that I can speak Spanish - and reading the local paper and offering cash - I have got some amazing bargains, but you have to be pretty confident.

Thanks for your reply mangaman. My Spanish is getting a bit better but not quite that confident yet. I have however managed to book a hotel over the phone lol and speak to people at renfe about train tickets but it was very hard going. My pronunciation is definitely there, so sometimes I can literally just read out questions and be understood but I really struggle to understand people.

I see winstanley bikes have got a sale on at the moment. Not sure how much better these are.
http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/category/1303/Oyama

 

[mangaman]

Thanks for your reply mangaman. My Spanish is getting a bit better but not quite that confident yet. I have however managed to book a hotel over the phone lol and speak to people at renfe about train tickets but it was very hard going. My pronunciation is definitely there, so sometimes I can literally just read out questions and be understood but I really struggle to understand people.

I see winstanley bikes have got a sale on at the moment. Not sure how much better these are.
http://www.winstanle...gory/1303/Oyama

MM - not sure.

I think you're best of going to Salamanca and trying Decathalon.

The other option is trying an English speaker over there. For example try somewhere like here and see if there isa cyclist there who will help

http://community.jus...-Leon_Salamanca

 

[Riverman]

Thanks magnaman.
I've only just gone and bought a Dahon D7 second hand for £110. Not sure if I paid too much but it's in reasonably good condition and I'm told these things hold their value quite well. Like the way it has a large sproket on the front and 7 gears. To be honest, I don't need more than that unless I hit a megahill.


Now I just need a bag.


Hmm the padded ones ain't cheap. £60! Wonder if there are any good alternatives to the branded Dahon stow bag.

 

[Riverman]

Cycled around a bit but decided against doing any touring on the folding bike. I'm in Portugal at the moment near Viseu. Turns out you can buy BSO's from the local intermarche for 99 euros.

Off to Coimbra tommorow, then onto Lisbon. Starting to get used to using a folding bike. With the panniers, the bike becomes wheels for my suitcase (panniers).

I think the Dahon heavy duty bag is a bit OTT. Too heavy and bulky really for touring, best to go with the cheap light one that fits under the back seat and take the risk that the bike may get some minor damage on bus journeys etc.

Went on the ferry to Santander, then took the train from Santander to Valladolid. Spent a day there, then went to Salamanca on the bus. Then finally crossed over into Portugal on an ALSA bus. Getting a lift into Coimbra tommorow and staying the night there, then will get the bus to Lisbon.

I think touring is perfectly possible on a folding bike but I'm too rushed to bother this time round. The folder is very useful for short commutes round cities quite obviously. I must have spent about three hours cycling in Salamanca when I lost the directions to the hostel. Certainly put my Spanish into practice.

 

[Riverman]

Had a bit of a mare in Madrid train station yesterday. I didn't realise they don't allow bikes on high speed trains and the baggage allowance is 20kg. Fortunately for me, I managed to get the bike on board as it's a folding bike and once sealed in a bag, no-one other than the people who operate the metal detector scanners know what's in the bag.

As for AVE high speed trains. They're like rockets on wheels. I'm in Barcelona at the moment. Great city, their underground really makes ours look poor. You can take bikes on it although it's restricted at rush hour.

 

[Riverman]

Finally finished my mammoth journey, bit out of pocket but travelled about 3000miles, of which I'll admit not much was on a bike. Time to get back to work but to be honest I'm absolutely shattered. Think I might just take the plane next time afterall, but then taking the ferry enabled me to visit students at universities along the way overland, like Valladolid and Salamanca. Was a great experience, met loads of great people.

I really enjoyed Barcelona too. It's hard to pick a favourite city but Barcelona definitely has a lot going for it. The metro is fantastic, whereas the Paris metro sucks as do many of the really unhelpful French people I met. I swear people in Spain and Portugal were so much more helpful than those in France, and oddly the vast majority of people I spoke to in Portugal spoke English whereas in Spain and France this was rare.

No bikes on the Paris metro too, and they don't just tell you they have a go at you about it the moment they see the bicycle.