Now, whenyour bike’s chain jumps off the sprocket,you get a flat tire or lose air pressure mid-ride, or if you need a replacement part, instead of parking your bike and waitinga few days for a specialized shop to fix it, there’s a spot in the Portuguese capital where you’ll take on the role of mechanic.
Cicloficina dos Anjos operates as a hub of self-reliance; here you won’t find traditional service counters where you leave the repair work to others.
As soon as you enter this space, you’ll immediately have access to the workbenches and be encouraged to get your hands dirty with chain oil. It’s the true embodiment of the expression “getting your hands dirty.”
The “do-it-yourself” philosophy
The concept is as simple as it is revolutionary: teaching people to repair their own bikes.
When you arrive here, you don’t leave your bike in the hands of a mechanic to pick up the next day. Instead, it’s you yourself, with the help of other novice “mechanics” and the staff at Cicloficina dos Anjos, trying to fix the problem with your two-wheeler.
The approach is based on sharing practical knowledge. Volunteers guide you through each step of the assembly or tune-up, whether it’s adjusting brakes, patching inner tubes, or replacing broken spokes.
The project provides the appropriate tools and recycled materials, equipping each person with the necessary means to master the maintenance of their own bike.
The focus is strictly on promoting the technical independence of cyclists.
Circular economy and donations
And using this mutual-aid space costs nothing. The model moves away from profit-driven logic and ensures its continuity through the circular economy.
The entire service operates strictly on the basis of voluntary donations and the donation of used parts, which are given a second life on the shared workbenches.
To learn how to assemble and tune up your sustainable mode of transportation, the meeting spot is located on Rua de São Bento, open just two days a week, after work hours.
Useful information:
Address: Rua de São Bento 246
Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Price: free
