What do we do with the bikes every 48 hours?
At Cryptoreporter, we don't wait for a bike to break in the middle of a route. Each of our 187 vehicles undergoes a mandatory inspection every two days, because we know the Łódź cobblestones on Piotrkowska do not forgive loose constructions. We check 11 key points, from tire pressure to the city card reader electronics.
11 checkpoints at every rack
Every morning we start by visiting 47 points in the center of Łódź. Our team, including Marek and Robert, has a strictly scheduled graphic. There's no question of skipping any station. When a technician approaches a bike, they start by checking tire pressure. We maintain a constant 3.8 bar in our bikes, which ensures easy riding on asphalt and proper cushioning on worse roads. This is key so you don't have to put too much effort into pedaling uphill on Pomorska street.
Next, we check the brakes. A city bike is heavier than a standard mountain bike, so the pads must grip immediately. If the brake lever reaches the handlebar, the bike is locked in the system and immediately goes into the service van. In the last 11 days, we replaced exactly 22 sets of brake pads. We only use reinforced parts that withstand rain and mud, because we know weather in Łódź can change in 15 minutes. User safety is more important to us than saving a few PLN on replacements.
If the brake lever reaches the handlebar, the bike immediately goes to the workshop. We don't risk our customers' health.
Łódź cobblestones vs our wheels
Piotrkowska is the city's showcase, but for bike wheels, it's a real testing ground. Riding on historic cobblestones causes vibrations that weaken spokes over time. That's why at Cryptoreporter, every 48 hours each bike undergoes a spoke 'ringing' test. The mechanic runs a wrench over the wheel and listens to the sound. If any spoke is loose, the wheel loses alignment and starts to wobble. We fix it on the spot so the ride is smooth and doesn't hit your wrists.
Interestingly, we record the most faults near tram track intersections. Łódź tracks are a trap for thin tires, which is why our bikes have specially selected 42 mm wide tires. They are puncture-resistant and handle gaps better. Since introducing this tire model in March 2024, the number of punctured tubes has dropped by 27%. This is a real time saver for us and less stress for you when rushing to a meeting in Manufaktura.
Electronics that don't fail
Most people think bike service is just grease and wrenches. At Cryptoreporter, a large part of our time is dedicated to digital diagnostics. Each of the 187 bikes has a built-in GPS module and NFC reader. We check if the antenna is dirty and if the signal reaches the base without delay. This is why you see exactly where a free bike is on the app map. If the system shows 4 bikes but there are 3 on-site, a mechanic must find out what happened to the missing one within a maximum of 34 minutes.
A separate matter is the integration with the Łódź Migawka. Our terminals at stations must read city cards instantly. Once a week we clean the contacts and check if the touch screen reacts even in the rain. Oh, I forgot to add – we replace bells most often because residents like using them at crossings, which actually pleases us because it means you care about pedestrians. Last quarter we installed 43 new bells because the old ones simply wore out from intense ringing.
The GPS signal must reach the base without delay. Thanks to this, you see the real state of bikes in your app.
Hygiene and chain lubrication
The final stage of the inspection is cleaning. We don't use pressure washers because high-pressure water destroys bearings. Instead, we use damp cloths and special biodegradable preparations. We wipe the saddles and handlebar grips with a disinfectant. This is important, especially in summer when hundreds of people use the same bike during the day. A clean bike is simply a more pleasant ride, and we want you to feel comfortable going to work or university.
Finally, we grease the chain. We use Teflon grease, which doesn't pick up street dust and dirt as quickly. This keeps your pants clean, even if you don't have a trouser guard. The entire service process for one bike at a station takes us an average of 8 minutes. If a major repair is required, we take the gear to the base. Thanks to this discipline, in July 2024 we only had 3 reports of failure during a ride out of 1456 rentals. This shows that these 48-hour cycles really work.
