Budapest Cycle Culture

Good example of a Budapest "fixie" bike

As I mentioned previously, Budapest has undergone something of a revolution in the numbers cycling in recent years. These numbers perhaps reflect a trend throughout Europe and it would interesting to find out if similar change has taken place throughout the continent. 

As a result the city has a strong and vital cycling sub-culture, which is now moving increasingly into the mainstream. How is this culture evident to the outsider?  Well you simply have to spend a little time in downtown Pest to come across any number of customised “fixie” bikes like the example above. There a a lot of bike workshops (some examples below), often hidden below street level and giving the cycle addict endless opportunities to further personalise their bike.

 One of the real success stories of this cycling revolution has been niche clothing and apparel manufacturers, particularly Bagaboo http://bagaboo.hu/. Hugely popular in Hungary the company formed by former cycle couriers began producing quality bags for cyclists a few years ago as the popularity and reputation of the company has grown the manufacturer has begun increasingly to diversify The unique selling point for Bagaboo is that the customer has a great deal of control over the look and build of the product, having the ability to specify colours, patterns and even extra pockets!

What is clear that regardless of the roots of this surge (or perhaps resurgence!) Cycling in the city has really taken hold. 

The cycle couriers

Being a cycle courier and let’s face it risking your life on a daily and sometimes hourly basis means that this quickly becomes not merely a job but a way of life! As such it is unsurprising that the cycle couriers are an important influence in new trends, spawn new fashions and even new leisure activities (so called “alley cat” races and bike polo) and network in some of the many workshops around the city along with favoured bars and cafes.

 There are currently around 6 cycle couriers firms working in the city but the original and most well known is Hajtás Pajtás http://hajtaspajtas.hu/, established back in 1993 “Buppa”, the owner of Bringa Angyal and who  worked for Hatjás in 90’s recalls that businesses treated the idea of bicycle couriers in the city with disbelief! But with time the company went from strength to strength. When the company was first formed the city was a much different place, virtually no cycle lanes and roads full of unsympathetic drivers.  until being affected much like everyone else by the financial crisis.

 Perhaps unsurprisingly Hajtás staff have been influential in improving the conditions for cyclists in Budapest with one of the founders (name) going on to introduce critical mass to the the city. 

Alley Cat Races
They first appeared in Toronto around 1989 and are now a fixture in many major cities throughout the world the race have number of different forms but perhaps the best loved of these is the classic version.

In this classic version competitors place their bikes at an agreed collection point where shortly before  the start of the race a a list of checkpoints is attached to each. The racers then navigate their way across the downtown pedestrians and oncoming traffic! The races are open to everyone either confident or misguided enough in their cycling abilities! Of course the post race party is an essential part of the experience.

Below is a link to the European cycle messenger championships that was held in Budapest 2010 with some nice clips not only of the races but also in turn helps to illustrate  this idea of a sub-culture

http://youtu.be/l63K_6i4D1k

http://youtu.be/S8fUW6SEQKE

Recommended bike shops

• Bringa angyal http://akerekparbolt.hu/ - The owner “Buppa” speaks good English and really lives for cycling, having worked for the original cycling couriers “Hajtás Pajtás” and also done the job in New York too and will give good advice and doesn’t seek simply to sell you as many Things as possible. The shop operates a call out puncture repair service between 8am-10pm.
• Kerekparbolt http://akerekparbolt.hu/ -  (XIII) Very good and honest service at low cost the guys also sell quite a few second-hand bikes but unfortunately speak little English.
• Recikli Bicikli http://reciklibicikli.blogspot.co.uk/– Formed by two former cycle couriers the shops focuses on creating bespoke bikes from second hand frames, many of which have been imported from Italy.