Friday, February 27, 2009

Bicycle Rental in Hamburg

This list has been edited and is now available in the "Cycling in Europe" blog of 28 June 2013.

3 comments:

  1. Thanks for the advice in regards to bike hire in Hamburg. Just wanted to give some feedback on Fahrradstation Dammtor/Rotherbaum who my partner and I hired two bikes from during our month stay in Hamburg. My advice is AVOID, AVOID, AVOID, AVOID hiring bikes from them. We have had nothing but trouble. Firstly the bikes are very poor quality and seem to have been falling apart since we got them. So far: my handbrakes did not work initially, my basket falls sideways going around corners and over bumps and everything in it falls out as it is only held on with one tiny plastic clip, my partners seat fell off his bike whilst he was riding to dinner and lastly my lights stopped working last night whilst out riding at night! On attempting to have these faults fixed the staff have been very unhelpful and even suggested I just make do with the foot brakes! My partner was told they couldn't replace the faulty seat bolt straight away so he would have to wait and they only replaced his bike when he insisted. Lastly today when returning one of the bikes I was met by the rudest, grumpiest man. He was huffing and puffing and slamming things on the desk from the moment I arrived (obviously having a bad day)! I got the impression he was not keen to speak English but no other person in Hamburg in the last month has reacted this way! He actually raised his voice and yelled at me when I asked him to explain his costs and then he and another staff member couldn't seem to understand why I wanted a receipt for the whole price of the hire (including the deposit that they had kept) and carried on and yelled back and forward in German making rude gestures to each other. Luckily a lovely customer helped me out and eventually I made it out with a receipt for the very high price I paid. I will certainly not be hiring a bike here when I return in January.
    Find anywhere else you can!!! The bikes are unsafe and the service is the worst I have encountered!

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  2. Hi!
    I am travelling to hamburg in August and plan on cycling to Berlin over 7/8 days. I need a bike which is easy to put panniers on.
    I am considering renting or buying a second hand bike.
    I will need to return or sell it in Berlin.
    Do you have any advice?
    Looking forward to it lots!
    Many thanks,
    Scarlett.x

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  3. Hi Scarlett,
    It is difficult in Germany to hire a bike in one city and return it in another. One idea is that you buy a bike from the Fahrrad Station Dammtor and sell it when you get to Berlin. Note the comment above however and check the bike before you leave. In the main second hand bikes are cheap in Germany.
    OR
    Take a train to Berlin from Hamburg - 4 hours each way using regional trains - Pick up a bike, go back to Hamburg with the bike. It will cost you about 44 Euros if you travel after09:00. I don't know whether you need a bike ticket as well.

    Neil

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