I'm an American moving to Barcelona at the end of November. Most likely I will not be working legally, therefor am doing my stay in approximately 6 mo intervals. I'm considering repainting my bike & getting new rims, but that will cost me nearly $500.

So the question is - kit out the bike & take it with me or pack it up & buy a used one when I get there? Does anyone know anything about the ss community in Barcelona? I've not looked yet, thought I'd ask in the meantime.

i brought a bike from australia to the UK (on the plane) and it wasn't a hassle. i say do it.

maybe be careful about posting your intention to work illegally on a public forum, though.

then again, Barcelona has a subscription based (cheap) public bike scheme which might tide you over.

I suppose you're right. Though I wonder if maybe spending the money to get it there & possibly have to return home in 6 mos is as good an idea as finding one there? But then it wouldn't be <i>my</i> bike!

f you're thinking about how much it'll cost, it'll vary depending on the airline. From America to the UK I know British Airways and Virgin Atlantic don't charge anything, Iberia (don't know what other arlines do America to Spain) charge 75 euros. They'll probably all want it boxed or in a bike bag (though I've seen an assembled bike on top of a pile of luggage at an airport) Probably best to check the airline's website and if that's not clear about it phone or email them.

Bet it's probably a nightmare if it's not a direct flight or there's more than one airline involved though, but I dunno.

jayloo. I have friends in barcelona. It's a beautiful place to visit / be (think amsterdam / glasgow) with better architechture, weather and a cafe culture. But unless you not only speak catalan, but are catalan, you're unlikely to find work out there, of any shape or form, maybe not even bar work.

People are generally very friendly, though there is a recognition that you're a foreigner. There's also quite a lot of low level crime (if you were catalan, you might say that this is caused by the young castilians - who can't get work) - bag snatches and so on. My experience is that this does not extend to violent crime, but I would guess that this would include bike theft. In addition, if you do lose your bike, it's almost impossible (as in many southern european countries) getting officials moving when you're not local.

So, if you're going to actually live there, I would get a very cheap used bike when you're there, until you're settled or whatever.

i was in barcelona a few weeks ago. it's a perfect city for cycling. there are only about half a dozen people (guys, of course) who ride fixed in barcelona. but they're pretty welcoming and cool. bring your bike.

+1

Get a cheap bike that you would consider disposable. An OTP Pista or Charge Plug perhaps. That way if anything does happen it doesn't have to hurt that bad.

unemployment is high in spain and unless you speak the lingo your chances of getting a job are slim.
I have a good friend who works out there but she is a language teacher so the lingo is not a problem, the cost of living is nearly as high as london, rents are very high out there.

And get used to people only smiling at other people's misfortunes (the worse the accident, the more the merriment, like an old lady getting run over by a tram would probably make several of them laugh) or when someone gets "gored" by a bull.
They fucking love bulls and anything to do with the angry horned beasts will cause a frenzy of excitement an interest in an otherwise apathetic and indolent people.
Try to avoid going to the toilet for the duration of your stay, this is dangerous and should only be attempted by seasoned travellers, such as Alan Whicker or Michael Palin. It is also customary to run into the street, covered in fake (or someone else's ) blood , at 3am every Wednesday and shout "Toreador!"

Other useful facts can be found in the LFGSS planet guide.

i once witnessed someone in a small car hoot at a cat in the middle of a small street, it was eating something. the cat failed to move, so the cunt just drove over it. i heard the crunching. it was horrific..

in barcelona

did onlookers fall about laughing at that point?

they cheered and ran down the narrow lane, covering themselves in the cats blood.
then they all went to sleep as it was 2.30 in the afternoon.

more like

Big Frank Drake

The Big F

no, we're deadly serious, clearly

:-) now your post makes no sense ;-D

I wasn't being serious either, but I thought someone might take me as another torpid, which is why i deleted it

sneaky edit monkey

anyone seen Rik?

you think thats fucked up? watch this...

I'd like to take this opportunity to out myself publically...

I was kinda hoping he'd see this ;)

wow, that's brave. anything else to add whilst you're at it?

well...

Well, I'm a nearly white-blonde with blue eyes, so I don't think I am able to blend in very well. But I speak quite a lot of Spanish and am going to learn more. I know about the Catalan thing, that's why I'm taking it in 6 mo intervals. I plan on teaching English, doing massage (I'm licensed in the States and I've heard it's better there now, from someone who is Spanish-American and also a massage therapist), doing whatever else. I keep running into people who know people in Barcelona, so I'll have a few contacts.

Basically, it seems my best option but getting there may put the lie to that idea.

Thanks for your thoughts! Maybe not spending $500 & buying a beater there really would be the best idea.

I'm savin' a ton of money before I get out there and am used to NYC rents so won't get sticker shock. In fact, I'll probably be paying less than I do where I live right now ('course I'll be making less, too).

spain is a country with rich cycling culture. Im sure youll find better bikes there, but I reckon the geared varierty would be more suitable for hot weather & hilly areas. (Ive never been to barcelona, excuse me if its flat & cool)

the bit by the sea is flat but it's surrounded by hills. when i explained to my friends partner who was really into his mtb's that i rode SS mtb he thought i was mad. next day i went for a walk in the hills directly behind the city (to the south of tibidabo) which involved walking up escalators in the street and a furnicular railway, it's that steep. i could see why a ss mtb wouldn't be much use there.
you will be fine for rolling round the city as long as you don't have to visit the far north suburbs above the diagonal.

your near the mountains take a geared bike you twit........and enjoy it

.

I live in Palma de Mallorca, the arse end of Cataluna. You can easily buy a bike on compraventa the gumtree of Spain. Dunno 'bout fixed riding there, never seen anyone here on fixed, it's mostly weekend lycra clad white bidon boys on carbon orbeas.
People think you are a freak if you ride a bike for non sporting purposes, but I am so I'm not that bothered. It is dangerous and you could well find yourself squashed like that cat.
Spanish is fine you don't really need catalan unless you work in a govt position.
Good Luck