Is it better to ship bicycle from Egypt to Leipzig, Germany or to buy/rent one?
I'm studying going to Germany and specially Leipzig this summer for around 100 days. Personally I am very interested in cycling as a sport and as a means of transportation. I have a good bicycle here in Egypt and I am planning to use the bicycle as a main transportation means inside Leipzig as well as for small rides, maybe from Leipzig to cities nearby. Hence I will need a good bicycle.
I have three options to have a bicycle there
Renting a bicycle in Germany costs usually 5 euro per day. If I am going to stay for 100 days it will cost a fortune I can buy a good bike with that money instead, also bicycles being rent in Germany Road bikes are not suitable to make large distances with.
Buying a used bike in Germany, I'm seeking something less than 100 Euro, because most probably I won't be able to spend more money to get it back to Egypt.
Shipping my bicycle to Germany and back to Egypt. This shouldn't cost more than 100 Euro also the price of a used bike there.
Best Answer
As already said, the best option would be to buy a used bike. You can find very good offers on eBay kleinanzeigen. You can find a good bike even for under 50 EUR.
Another option is wo-bleibt-mein-fahrrad.de. They buy, sell and repair old bikes in Leipzig. I'm not sure if that would be useful for you, but maybe there are some interesting cheap bikes.
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How much does it cost to rent a bike in Germany?
Monthly rate: 10 \u20ac / month. Includes 30 minutes per rental (standard bikes only) for 365 days and is valid in all German cities (except Bremen, Kiel, Nuremberg and Usedom). In all other cities the local basic rate will apply.How can I rent a bike in Germany?
Rent a bike via app: simply scan the QR-code or enter the bike number. The frame lock will open automatically. Therefore never rent a bike from afar! Alternatively you can rent a bike via terminal or hotline: +49 (0) 30 69205046.How can I buy a bike in Germany?
Where can I buy a bike? Buying a new bike from the shop can be quite pricey. But you can find affordable second-hand bikes at the flea markets or second-hand shops. You can also try your luck online on websites like ebay kleinanzeigen or in various donation/exchange/sales groups on Facebook.Do people ride bikes in Egypt?
Cycling used to be common in Egypt, before being phased out by cars and motorcycles. In recent years, young people in Cairo have started to turn to cycling again. But because of traffic, air quality, and absence of separate cycling lanes, it remains very rare to see someone riding a bicycle on Cairo's busy streets.How to Buy a Bike in Germany
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Answer 2
Another recent option is a Swapfiets. You pay a monthly fee of currently 17.50 Euros (15 for students) and get a decent bike, repairs included. Contract duration is one month. They're not sport bikes, but should be sufficient for inner-city transportation and occasional longer trips.
(No affiliation, I just think this is one of the cases where their offer actually makes sense. For permanent residence, getting your own bike is cheaper, and for shorter trips you're better off with short-term rentals like nextbike).
Answer 3
In 2008, I shipped a bicycle from Germany to Sweden. I don't remember the exact price but at the time it cost me less than €50. I did this primarily because I was moving to a small Swedish town in winter and was unsure if I would be able to buy a bicycle locally.
If you fly to Germany (which seems very likely), you can bring your bicycle on the plane (boxed). Shop around, you should be able to find an airline where it costs (much) less than €100. If your bike is indeed good, it should be worth it, for a secondhand €100 bike will be an OK bike but not a good bike. I did this when moving from Sweden to Canada and from Canada to the UK.
A final option, which for most people is in fact not an option at all, would be to find a ferry across the Mediterranean and ride your bicycle, but this would be a highly adventurous option, in particular since you would apparently need to cross Libya to reach any operational ferries in the first place, so this is currently not to be recommended.
Answer 4
You could pay 10 EUR a month to the Leipzig based company Nextbike for using their rental fleet within the city as often as you like (30 minutes of biking included in every lending process, afterwards extra fees apply).
(No affiliation)
If you are interested in taking longer trips outside the city, buying a used bike and selling it later is your best option.
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