Bogota: Renting Bikes & Informal Guides

Hi all.

Been enjoying reading through the forum. I'm coming to Bogota this Sunday for a few weeks in the big city, my second time there. I'm a travel writer and will be pulling together a few things to try to break through some outsiders' false impression of what the city, and country, really's like.

I'm wondering about a couple things:

* Ciclovia's amazing -- I got to bike a bit a couple years ago -- but I don't have access to a bike this time. Are there places in La Candelaria that rent bikes? Or around Parque 93?

* My Spanish is way out of practice and I thought it'd be fun to try and find someone who knows some English and hire them to accompany around the city a few days. Any idea how much something like this would cost? I have pretty much a miniscule budget, so I'm ruling out hiring a expensive 'travel guide' who anyway usually have a overly formal take on what 'tourism' is, and how to present the city. I'm just looking for someone who loves the city and is willing to explore a few place, including somethings off the normal travelers' radar.

* Speaking of which, everything I read about Bogota is Candelaria, Monserrate, Parque 93, Usaquen and daytrips. Are there other places -- in the west or south -- that are interesting to see (tejo, new parks built by Penalosa etc), perhaps some of these 'dangerous' neighborhoods I always hear about have gotten safer etc?

Any suggestions?

Thanks all.

By oklahomazeppelin on Oct 17, 2008, 14:56 in Friendly Talkzone.

webmanco says on Oct 17, 2008, 16:31:

You can rent a bike in Los Heroes "shopping mall" Autopista and 82 street more or less. They do bike trips as well. To rent a bike could be a little expensive.

There are too many activities to do in Bogotá and in surrounding towns.

No hay extremo cierto o verdadero, porque los extremos opacan, enruedan, (lavan cerebros) verdades. Yotas

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adrimm (Moderator) says on Oct 17, 2008, 21:04:

If you contact the IDRD (Instituto Distrital para la Recreación y el Deporte) in Bogota they may be able to arrange to loan you a bike for Ciclovia (the Sunday event, not to be confused with Ciclorutas, the 330 km+ off-road bike network).

They are crap bikes, but it would be free and may come with a tourguide from one of the many staff & volunteers that run the event.

If they can't loan you one they will likely have a good list of locations of where you can rent one.

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La_Huella says on Oct 18, 2008, 02:10:

They are going to start a program where bikes are for rent all along the cicloruta, but it hasn't quite materialized yet.

As for neighborhoods, the more you get OUT of the Zona Rosa 93 and Candelaria the safer you will be, as well as the more fun you will have.

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oklahomazeppelin says on Oct 18, 2008, 09:01:

Thanks for the responses.

La Huella, where in particular in Bogota is worth seeking out? I've been to 93, Zona Rosa, Candelaria, up Monserrate and Usaquen -- and that's it? Sorry if it's an obvious question.

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La_Huella says on Oct 18, 2008, 10:07:

I could go on for hours, but your best bet is pick up a Cartel Urbano. They are free and they are all over the place and are an excellent guide to whats going on in the city that week.

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miamimike says on Oct 18, 2008, 10:25:

Did you ever think about picking up a Folding Bike in the States before your trip and bringing it with you? You could use it and sell it, probably for decent profit before leaving Colombia. You of course could do the same with a non folding Bike, buy it here, take it to Col, use it during your stay and resell it for a decent Profit. Bikes are pricey in Colombia. Why rent a junker for big $$$?

Lots of Folders on eBay like this one $129, some even cheaper, some more costly,,,

http://cgi.ebay.com/2009-Vilano-Light-20-Folding-Bike-5-Speed-Suspensi...

http://sporting-goods.shop.ebay.com/items/Folding-Bikes__W0QQ_sacatZ15...

"You can take the Banana Out of the Republic but you Cannot take the Republic Out Of The Banana"

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pedro says on Oct 18, 2008, 10:26:

Fun nightlife around Plaza de las Americas (aka Primero de Mayo).

"Pedro: Pease stop sounding like a pompous and arrogant ass." -- darloup

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La_Huella says on Oct 20, 2008, 22:00:

Bikes in Colombia are about 1/2 the cost of what they are in the USA. I wouldn't try selling a bike down here, you'll be VERY disappointed. Plus, it can take a LONG time to sell stuff here, if you don't live here you won't have enough time. It's not always easy to find someone interested who actually has the money available.

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