We have bikes

July 27, 2023

Certainly a full on day

Our train from Amsterdam left at 8.40. Amsterdam Station is very complicated in that you have to have barcodes to get into the area where the platforms are so we arrived particularly early had a small pastry and watched the world go by. We were certainly pleased we were not on bikes as there were lots of stairs and no lifts. I felt sorry for those I saw do that well Known struggle to get between platforms. The first part of our journey took us through a very wet and rainy Netherlands and then on to Osnabrueck where we had to change trains. The weather here was cold and wet as we sat and waited and our 23minutes transfer turned into over 2hours

Arriving in Bremen we wondered if we would have time to get to the BOC shop we wanted to. The cycle gods were smiling at us. Our hotel is directly across from the station and it is really fantastic. Half the price of the one in Amsterdam and incomparable. I had said when I booked that we had bikes so the have given us a suite so there will be plenty of room for bikes. Dropped our gear then called a taxi to BOC

Bremen hautbanhof is cycle friendly and that is very good news for you Robyn when you arrive on Sunday

Now for the main event we arrived at BOC and found a most helpful guy who spoke English The place is an Aladdin’s cafe for cycling enthusiasts The choice is enormous and I could get exactly what I wanted with a 500WH, hydraulic brakes, a very low step through and chain gears. Ken choose a yellow steed - he wondered about the colour but I think it is great and everything about it worked for him (not electric of course)

Then for the rest of the stuff. Panniers, front bags, locks, pump, spare tubes, mounts for our phones (in the great forgetting of our electrical gears we left them at home), a computer for Kens bike, better tires for mine and a few other oddments. Everything will be put on the bikes and we will be back at 2 to pick them up. Inside the shop they have a cycle track to try out your new bike

Getting all our bits and pieces together

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Robyn RichardsThis is very exciting indeed!
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9 months ago

Jill BrinsleyWow!! That would feel like Christmas Trish. I am impressed with the very sleek lines of your ebike and the colour of Kens ‘non’ ebike. I thought he might have succumbed to electricity this time but no !!!! Wow- he is made of very stern stuff. Looking forward to the next post!
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9 months ago

Suzanne GibsonYou are all set! New bikes - exciting! Off to a good start.
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9 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Jill BrinsleyCertainly like Xmas but really fabulous gear some of which we will take home. The elephant in the room how much did it cost? Actually not that bad eg my bike cost only just over 2000 euros with such a large range would be much more at home
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9 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Robyn RichardsIt was Robyn and we are now so well equipped. Hope you noted my comments of the bike friendly nature of Bremen Hautbanhof
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9 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Suzanne GibsonIt feels so good Suzanne. It was 2019 that we started on the Alps Adria with your encouragement this could possibly be foolish but we can just give it a try
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9 months ago

Robyn RichardsYes indeed! And of your Bremen hotel...though we will probably be keen to start biking on Sunday afternoon, if only a little way
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9 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Robyn RichardsIt is the Plaza Premium
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9 months ago

Scott AndersonI’m so excited for and proud of both of you! Congratulations for having the gumption and spirit to tackle this great adventure.
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9 months ago

Steve Miller/GrampiesWell played you two. Next up is the cycling part which is certain to be terrific. Hope you have a really great tour.
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9 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Scott AndersonThanks Scott now for the test. It is raining here in Bremen and I am failing to find a weather report that pleases me though my favourite YR site says it is fairly light around the time we have to pick up the bikes
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9 months ago

Kathleen JonesOoooh they’re beautiful. Hope you both find lots of tractors.
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9 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Steve Miller/GrampiesYou would have loved that shop. An absolutely amazing array of ebikes you could be so picky in what you wanted. The elephant in the room the price. We had of course done a lot of research on their web site My bike was 2300 E which is very good for one with 500Wh and it had everything I wanted feels good to ride. Kens magnificent yellow stead 800E - secretly he loves the colour
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9 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Kathleen JonesSo does ken!
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9 months ago

Carolyn van HoeveCandy shop indeed! How exciting! I’m looking at second hand bikes that are costing about €2000, so you’ve done really well! Main thing it feels comfortable. Can’t wait to read the next installment
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9 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Carolyn van HoeveBOC is a fantastic chain of shops, previously we bought bikes at their shop in Hamburg. They have. Shops all over germany including Frankfurt. The quality is excellent there were ebikes for under 2000E with 400Wh batteries but I wanted 500. Have a look at their web site which can be translated to English. There always seem to be some specials
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9 months ago

Jane WalaWhat fun to get yourselves all setup for cycling!!!! Amazing bit of retail shopping. Love the new bikes!!!! Remember not to try and cycle across the whole of Europe on the first day 😂😂.
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9 months ago