ISpyShanghai

Following the success of renting a couple of bikes in Suzhou, Emma has finally been convinced that this (and not the stupid ‘bus as she has previously insisted) is the only right and proper way to get around Shanghai. Yes there are scores of roads you can’t ride down, yes you have to have a bit of brass neck to be on the bottom rung of the Shanghai traffic ladder (blue trucks driven by shirtless workmen, finishing off a 12 hour shift being at the top of the pile)- but it’s still more fun than a barrel full of wet monkeys, and the best way to get to know your neighbourhood.

People I talk to are amazed that I still haven’t had my ride stolen in, what, 7 months? So I told her what I’ll tell you know- the secret to not getting your bike stolen in Shanghai: put loads of crap in the basket.

Old popcorn, broken chopsticks, empty carrier bags- throw the lot in there, you’re aiming for a look that’s somewhere between the front lawn of a council house, and a Jackdaw’s nest.

And with that, we loaded up our bikes and headed off through the streets, ringing out a peal on our bells in the clear Autumn air.

A woman collecting boxes. Jing-An district, Sunday afternoon.

Bike, 160RMB (plus basket) from Carrefour

You know, when I’m getting ready to go out, it takes me longer than a woman. I can’t help it, I have to change into about 3 pairs of virtually identical jeans, then do that thing where you wear a different shoe on each foot to see which one looks better, one watch on each wrist, one aftershave on each cheek- the lot.

It pays off though, and Craig was spitting feathers of envy on Saturday night as we sat in the British Bulldog watching our mighty Lions teach Estonia what Association Football is all about. He even took a photo of my fresh Autumn threads so he could enjoy them at his leisure upon returning home (which he did at 11:30pm, for cocoa and an early night. The narcoleptic nincompoop).