The hotel for cyclists in Barcelona
STORES
1. TO DRESS THE LAST
RAMONES BARCELONA (_Carrer dels Carders, 51) _
In the Barrio del Born, inside the Convent de Sant Agustí, we find a small fashion boutique on wheels: Ramonas Barcelona. A place that flees from the typical tracksuit and offers the coolest accessories to go to the latest while you pedal. Ramonas Barcelona sells personalized products made by and for cyclists: designer helmets, Brooks saddles, saddlebags and saddle covers with a retro look... Llúcia Bernet and Daniel Sluckis are the two restless heads behind this project. “ We do not want to dress up in a fluorescent jersey to go to work , go out for a drink with friends or do the shopping by bicycle. We just want to move with it”, they say.
The tracksuit is no longer worn
two. TO SET UP YOUR BIKE
BICYCLE _(Bonavista, 20) _
"If the bike is used daily, it should be checked at least every six months." This is how they advise us from Bicitecla. With 12 years of experience in the repair of urban bikes , this workshop in the Barrio de Gracia is a benchmark in Barcelona for "doing the ITV" on our bike. They offer from express repairs to a 'renewal plan', where they buy your old bike as a ticket to purchase a new one. Also, They are specialists in custom frame painting, custom bike assembly and two-wheeled vehicles for XXL sizes. . And all with a close and personalized treatment. Bicitecla is also a store and offers an interesting range of folding, urban and touring bikes, along with a good selection of accessories.
3. FOR LOVERS OF FIXIES
MY BEAUTIFUL PARKING _(Carrer de la Boria, 17) _
A German graduate in theater and cinema sciences met a former Chilean journalist who was an expert in Italian soccer and they created My Beautiful Parking in 2004. a shop specializing in fixed gear bikes (known as fixies) . And they did it because they were tired of removing so many cables and so many useless gears on what they consider to be the 'rococo' neighborhood bikes. "We are specialized in fixed gear bikes because we value their simplicity, their technical economy and because of the relationship that is created between the cyclist and the machine, which, being fixed, is much more direct", explains Nico. In addition to designing custom bikes, this couple boasts a " strong vocation for the urban and for vindictive and beer cycling , for bike trips and for keeping up to date". In addition to a shop, they rent all kinds of bikes: mountain, fixed gear or fixies, tandems, longboards, cruisers and city bikes,
love for fixies
Four. FOR THOSE LOOKING FOR A MORE BEACHFRONT LOOK
HOODBIKE SHOWROOM _(Carrer de Pujades, 77 3rd 4) _
Hood Bikes is a young bicycle brand born in Barcelona by four young people who are passionate about two wheels and urban fashion. Inspired by the Californian beach cruisers with a beach aesthetic, the objective of Hood Bikes is to enjoy bicycles as a true lifestyle. . His creations are designed for day to day and to comfortably pedal around the city, without haste and with freedom. All models are stylish and their aesthetics quickly attract attention . There are some with retro and custom touches, like the Barcelona Hak 3V; with ergonomic cork grips, like the Barcelona Dark Side 1V; or with the most refreshing colors, such as the lime green or the yellow of the Hood One Horus 1V. Although they sell mainly online, Hook Bikes has a store and showroom in Barcelona where it is possible to get on a model and pedal.
Give your bike a second life
5. TO RESTORE YOUR BIKE
MONSIEUR VEIL _(Round Guinardo, 27) _
Never give up that old and rusty bicycle that you keep in the storage room. You can give it a second life. In the workshop specialized in bike restoration ** Monsieur Vélo ** they take care of precisely that. With great care, they turn old disassembled models into true jewels of two wheels. They polish each piece and take care of every detail to give it more life and more color. The last thing we find in her store are the bikinis - wooden racks to hang the bikes -, various vintage models and vintage accessories. A true marvel.
6. OTHER ADDRESSES TO KEEP IN MIND
** Barceloneta Bikes , if you want to customize your bike; ** C.r.e.a.m. Bikes & Things, if you have a weakness for the fixie culture; ** Pavé **, if you are into design megastores (with a cafeteria included); ** Espaibici **, if you are looking for experience and good advice on urban mobility; and ** Cyclo Bicycles **, if you like Italian design made in Barcelona.
A hotel to pedal
LOCAL BIKE FRIENDLY
7. TO SLEEP SURROUNDED BY BICYCLES
SANT JORDI HOSTEL GRACIA _(Carrer Terol, 35) _
In ** Sant Jordi Hostel bicycles are considered as one more guest**. Here they welcome all customers who arrive on pedals with open arms. This modern accommodation in Barrio de Gracia is fully customized around two wheels. And for more detail: they have a weakness for fixed gear. There are cycling motifs in every corner , like wheels that hang from the stairs with messages, and even a fixie decorating the wall of the cafeteria. To store the bikes, they have an outdoor parking lot and a little space in their storage. They collaborate with the bicycle rental market and in projects such as “Pedal or burst”.
A hotel to pedal
8. TO LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC
BAR THE CYCLIST _(Mozart, 18) _
One of the bars most frequented by fans of two wheels is El Ciclista , a cocktail bar that organizes live performances and monologues every Thursday, Friday and Sunday . In addition to its name, the place makes other nods to urban cycling with e l Recycling of old bicycles that end up as part of the furniture : bikes on the walls, shooters made with handlebars, tables made of wheels or cycling posters are some examples. The bar is located in the Barrio de Gracia and is a good place to order a mojito and listen to good music live.
9. TO BLOOD WITH CRÊPES AND GIN-TONICS
33/45 BAR & GALLERY _(Joaquín Costa, 4) _
33/45 Bar & Gallery is a multi-space where we can go in for a drink without having to leave the bike parked on the street. Here we can order a coffee with homemade cookies, enjoy an exhibition or read a book on one of its comfortable sofas. And all with our bike next to us. With two different spaces decorated with design lamps and vintage furniture, this bar admits to being a fan of fixed gear bikes -in fact, they have organized some other exhibition in their gallery-. Of his menu, the best are his crepe festivals and their flavored gin and tonics . And all accompanied by good music.
The best crepes in Barcelona
10. TO TASTE THE BEST COFFEE IN BARCELONA
SATAN´S COFFEE CORNER _(Moon, 3) _
Satan's Coffee Corner is a place where they serve coffee to go and where they have a true cult of bicycles. Located in the Raval neighborhood, caffeine addicts say it is one of the best cafes in the entire city. The place barely has a couple of stools to wait while Marcos Bartolome, the owner, prepares the coffee. Of course, on the wall there is no lack of hanging bikes that announce that we are in a bike friendly place . “We have a bike parking next to the cafeteria. Inside the premises, we admit about eight bikes”, tells us this young man from La Rioja who lives in Barcelona. "In addition to preparing a team for urban races like Red Hook, we also organize meetings in Barcelona to pedal," adds Marcos.
eleven. FOR THOSE WHO HAVE A WEAKNESS FOR RETRO
LA TALENDA - LIFESTYLESTORE _(Codols, 23) _
La Talenta - Lifestylestore is a surprising multidisciplinary space. Located in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, its owner converted an old carpentry shop into an open space full of furniture, objects and vintage bicycles. Her passion: recover and recycle these old objects that are later put up for sale with great creativity . Here you can find from a classic bicycle, to a piece of furniture from your grandmother or an original souvenir from Barcelona. It is also a space dedicated to the latest product designs and local and international talent, a meeting point for creatives who love art . How could it be otherwise, the place admits the entry of bicycles.
Little vintage jewels
12. FOR DESIGN CRAZY
SEA OF CAVA _(Valencia, 293, down) _
Another place where you can pedal to enjoy art is Mar de Cava, an old building over a hundred years old that has been converted into a design shop in the heart of Barcelona's Eixample. “ The premises are divided into two floors of 260 square meters and here there is enough space to leave the bicycles . There is no problem to enter with them”, tells us the designer Mar Gómez Espriu. Mar de Cava is a surprising space, full of products with original designs, different clothes and fun decoration items . A good place to find an original gift. As well as a shop, Mar de Cava organizes exhibitions and has a very cute café-restaurant at the entrance. By the way, it is also a dog friendly space.
A pure design store
13. AND TO CONTINUE EXPANDING THE LIST OF BIKE FRIENDLY PLACES...
THE FIXED LOVER PROJECT
In Barcelona there are more and more places that allow the entry of bicycles. To locate them, the project Fixed Lover recognizes all these places with its distinctive. If you see it at the door, you can be sure that your bike is welcome. On their website they often update new bike friendly places.
*You may also be interested
- Survival guide for the urban cyclist in Madrid - Look mom, without walking! Europe by bike with the 'City Cycling' guides - Guide to finding the bicycle you need - Cafés addicted to bicycles - Cicloviajeros: the world seen from a bicycle