When it comes to bikes, I am a loyal soul. "Guida", my pink-coloured childhood bike, has been with me since I was a teenager and has already moved with me several times. Even in my current home town of Bonn, the old city bike transports me to business appointments, to the gym and to dinner with friends. Slowly, however, I have to admit that Guida is getting old: The chain is rusting, the mudguards are missing and the dynamo has also been broken for some time now.
A new bike is needed
I keep toying with the idea of getting a new city bike. But buying a bike is a bit like entering into a new partnership. It's exciting, but it involves work. You have to decide on a model from the wide range on offer - and if you want to get something out of the relationship in the long term, you have to look after it, maintain it and repair it.
Swapfiets subscription model - maintenance included
Then I hear about Swapfiets. The Dutch start-up offers a subscription model for bicycles. Customers pay a monthly rent, with maintenance and repairs included. The promise: If something is broken, a Swapfiets employee will visit you at home or at work within 24 hours. He repairs the damage or replaces the bike. Hence the name: "swap" for exchange, "fiets" for bike. If you change your mind, the contract can be cancelled on a monthly basis. An attractive offer at a time when you don't really want to commit yourself, when semesters abroad and relocations are on the agenda.
Share instead of own
"Similar to cars, there is a trend towards less fixed ownership of bicycles," explains transport researcher Dr Andreas Knie from the Berlin Social Science Centre. There is a wide range between owning and sharing. While providers such as "Call a Bike" or "Nextbike" supplement local public transport with bike sharing for the last mile, Swapfiets closes another gap: The subscription model means you don't have to make your Swapfiets bike available to others. As long as you pay the fees, you are the sole owner of the keys. Maximum flexibility with minimal responsibility. That's worth a try.
The decision has been made: Try out Swapfiets
I book a "Swapfiets Deluxe 7" on the website. Three days later, it's at the door. It looks stylish with its pistachio green frame and blue front tyre. The first lap along the Rhine at night is convincing: I don't have to worry about whether my old battery lights are charged, the dynamo light illuminates the way through the night.
After the ride out, I lock the bike outside my front door. It will wait patiently for me here until tomorrow. Unlike with bike sharing, I don't have to worry about someone else snatching it from under my nose. Thanks to a heavy Axa double lock, it is also theft-proof. However, if it is stolen, I have to pay 60 euros. If I can't produce the key after the theft, it will be quite expensive at 450 euros.
The wheel stands out
In Bonn, I will be asked about the Swapfiets bike again and again over the next few days. According to the company, there are already 35,000 Swapfiets subscribers across Germany, especially in cities such as Berlin, Hamburg and Cologne. "Our customers are people of all ages," says the press office - students, mums, pensioners. What they all have in common is that they want to cycle in a relaxed manner without having to worry about technical details, maintenance or repairs.
Robust and heavy
Over the next few days, I realise just how robust my new Swapfiets is - especially its weight. It weighs almost 20 kilograms. While this didn't bother me when I was cycling along the Rhine, I was panting quite a bit on the trip up the Venusberg and even ran out of easy gears at the end. Nevertheless, I learn to appreciate the reliability of the Swapfiets on my flat everyday routes. The fact that I accidentally roll through a pile of broken glass at the carnival has no consequences thanks to the robust tyres.
When to call: Service
It also reassures me to know who I can turn to in the event of damage. If the brake breaks or the chain snags, I can contact the Swapfiets branch in Bonn by phone, email or app.
A few weeks later, I meet up with Robin Krupa, the City Manager of Swapfiets Bonn. He expertly oils the chain. "Swapfiets is like your best friend, who you can call at any time to repair your bike," he tells me, explaining his employer's company philosophy. The most common reasons for repairs: flat tyres, rattling mudguards or even a figure of eight in the front wheel.
What does the all-round carefree package cost?
Before he drives on to the next customer, Robin offers to fit me with a bike basket. However, this would cost an extra two euros per month. I decline with thanks. In my head, I reassess what the all-round carefree package from Swapfiets will cost me. I pay 22.90 euros per month for my coreless Swapfiets and 19.90 euros for the one-off registration. That makes around 295 euros per year. After two to three years, I would have reached the price of my own bike. But then I would have to take care of flat tyres myself.
Can I still save my youth bike?
The next day, I get back on my old Guida bike for a change. The gears click, the brakes grind, familiar noises. The all-round service from Swapfiets is convenient and practical, I think, because I don't have to worry about anything. Whether the convenience is worth the price is another question. Wouldn't I rather learn the few steps required for maintenance and repair and give my old lady a second chance? Thirty minutes of YouTube study and a can of chain oil later, Guida is barely recognisable - and I'm happy about my sense of achievement. In the end, I might be too loyal for a replacement model after all.
How good is the Swapfiets Deluxe 7
The cables are routed internally, the drive, alternator and brakes are in the hubs - the Swapfiets "Deluxe 7" city bike looks elegant and tidy. But the almost filigree impression is deceptive: despite its slim silhouette, the subscription bike from Swapfiets is a heavyweight pedelec.
This is probably due to its use. The widespread view "Don't be gentle, it's a rental" (meaning "Don't treat it badly, it's only rented") forces you to do so. Everything about the Swapfiets is designed for low maintenance and robustness: The tyres come with puncture protection, the coaster brake and scooter brake hardly need any maintenance, nor does the seven-speed hub gear from Shimano. The solid frame and steel handlebars should also be able to withstand high loads.
During the test ride in a relaxed Dutch bike position, the hire bike proved to be flutter-free. Even with a lightly loaded pannier (costs two euros extra per month), the steering reacts smoothly. It is better not to load it with more than five to seven kilos because of the influence on the steering - the weight on the fork-proof carrier is balanced by the handlebars every time you change direction.
On flat, urban terrain, the weight of the bike and the moderate gear range of the favourable hub gears are okay. On undulating or even mountainous terrain, however, the bike is noticeably limited: It lacks easy uphill gears and braking power downhill. The coaster and roller brakes are low-maintenance, but neither easy to modulate nor convincingly powerful. For heavy riders at least, this may speak against a Swapfiets.
Swapfiets Deluxe 7 - Fact check
- Unisex frame: for riders between 160 cm and 200 cm
- Frame/fork: Welded aluminium/steel
- Weight: approx. 20 kilos
- Drive: 7-speed Shimano Nexus gear hub
- Brake: Rear coaster brake, front drum brake
- Lighting: Shimano hub dynamo, LED lighting system
- Lock: Ring lock + chain lock
- Subscription price: from 22.90 euros per month
- Price for students: 21,90 Euro
- Entry fee: 19.90 Euro one-off (not applicable for a 6-month subscription)
Plus: Carefree equipment, clear, modern design, complete equipment up to the lock
Minus: Unsatisfactory brakes, headlights on the test bike not adjustable without glare, heavy
More info: An overview of all Swapfiets models including the current subscription conditions at https://swapfiets.de/
