Second Hand Bicycles

Bicycles are a great thing to get second hand, for they are very durable and repairable, and often very classic in design.

Amir has a second hand Rossin road bike, bought online in 2011. It has curly drop handlebars and great small details like the beautifully designed shifters. He had the originally purple frame painted white when the bicycle was undergoing full maintenance and was taken completely apart. He spent some time deciding the exact shade of white, and ended up with a rather bright white. The silky matt coat of paint has endured well, with only some tiny chipping near the seat post. The bike is fast and light and is great for spring, summer and autumn, but sadly can’t fit winter tires. Amir is considering purchasing a second bike for winter use.

Daniel found his second hand Pelago Bristol online two years ago and since then has ridden it almost every day, even through the winter. It has been one of the most useful and beautiful things he has ever owned. It is a classic gentleman style utility bicycle, heavier and slower than Amir’s road bike, but fits winter tires and is sturdy and stylish in an old fashioned kind of way. It has only one gear and not a lot of other extras either, which makes it easier to maintain, for there are less parts that can break.

When Daniel was still looking for his bike we read some articles about choosing a bicycle, and they gave us a feeling that most bicycles are very specialized, and only good for certain things. We’ve since found out this is not completely true. While a folding bike is easier to take on a train, and a cargo bike easier to carry heavy things with, most bikes are good for most situations. We have carried loads and taken a bit longer trips on both of our bikes, they’ve been carried on stairs and taken with us on trains, and we’ve also pedaled them slowly in the city center. Sleek road bikes can go slow and sturdy city bikes can travel far.

So buy whichever you like. For us, aesthetic appeal has been one of the biggest reasons to choose the bikes we did. This might sound very silly for something as functional and essential as a daily transportation device, but we see beauty as a part of an object’s functionality. If something is ugly to you, it is not very functional either, because you might not enjoy using it, or have positive feelings toward it and want to repair it, but instead are just waiting to replace it. Riding a beautiful bike also makes us feel more stylish.

Feeling pretty is of course not the only benefit of bicycling. It also makes us feel good about our bodies, being able to move using our own muscles and energy. We also see places, plants and animals, often taking routes through woods and by fields. Bicycling is healthy, stylish, ecological, affordable, and enjoyable.

You can find second hand bicycles from your local used sports equipment shops or recycling centers, or anywhere online where people sell their used belongings. Our recommendation for people in the Helsinki area is Kierrätyskeskus.