lymbzero

Anyone been there? done that?
Is there a FG thing going on there?

I'll be moving there come May.
I am debating on whether or not to bring my bicycle.
I am thinking that since it's such a huge international city,
there is bound to be some decent bike shops there.

Opinions , comments and flames welcome.

Offhoff

Shanghai, you need a license to have a bike on the street and the cops are definately extra vigilant towards westerners on bikes and making sure that there IDs/Licenses match up. I know that there is atleast one Ganwell pro there owned by a dear friend of mine and its what I rode when I was there. BUT it is NOT a city for a track bike, especially one without brakes, I almost died a good 9 or 10 times while riding around. No FG there, basically all the same as the rest of the china, really heavy utilitarian single speeds among the locals and the occasional piece of international flair from one of the ex pats.

One of the best cities in the world though I'm going to enjoy visiting from Tokyo via the ferry.

Spartan300

According to this article, bikes have been banned from the streets in some parts of Shanghai to ease traffic congestion.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main...21/ixnews.html

Wambat

I haven't been to Shanghai, but if it's like other big cities in China, there's a lot of people riding, and they ride very sedately. In Beijing you'd occasionally see someone with a multi-speed road bike and drop bars, but almost all of the bikes were the flying pidgeon cruiser/rattlers. Most people I talked to (primarily expats) had their bikes stolen at least once a year--they treated it mostly an irritation. I didn't see a single FG there. So, I'd say, don't bother, at least not at first. If you get there, and think it'd work, go for it.

ps:enjoy

wroomwroomoops

Easing traffic congestion the inverse way. How sad.


But, Shanghai is not a good place to cycle - or to spend time out, at any rate. It's one of the most polluted cities in the world. Not for nothing have my expat colleagues there installed air-filtering devices in their apartements.

wroomwroomoops

HAH!! The second picture from the top is titled "The Vedgie King".

sohi

I would not recommend to bring your own bike. It is not worth the hassle and if anything
should brake you will have a hard time finding replacement parts. I was there just as a
tourist and bought a bike locally. You can get bikes from $20-$80 brand new. They are very
low quality but good enough for the slow paced cycling there. If you like riding brakeless
an old skool bike with singlespeed freewheel and barely working rod brakes will be a nice
challenge.

Here is what I wrote after I have been there in 2005
https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...light=shanghai

I have been there in 2006 again and I think I noticed the car traffic getting worse.
wroomwroomoops is right about the pollution. That didnt bother me in the 2 weeks there but
if you stay longer you might want to bring a pollution mask.
Bring a small lock, the first one I bought stopped working the next day!
You can really have a lot of fun cycling there.

wroomwroomoops

The pics in that thread are awesome - expecially the 9 pics you're linking to. Fantastic! You're a gifted photographer.

lymbzero

Oh Wow! thanks for the re-post ...

It gave me some insight into the craziness of the city.
I really hope the pollution isn't as bad as people say it is.

Funny because you posted that article on my birthday

Doggus

It is. I'm here now and I can't believe how bad the air is here. The local english paper had an article yesterday about how China is choosing economic development at the cost of their environment. I would like to know what the lung cancer stats are here. My colleague who grew up here lost his mother to lung cancer. There is no way I would want to cycle 'roadie' style in Shanghai. I would cycle with a mask for sure. Lots of locals wear the mask. You can feel it in your lungs. I haven't got over the feeling of needing to come up for air when I'm outside yet.