Several Prague companies will spend a month trying out loaned company bikes provided by the partners of the May Challenge

eBay is based in Prague’s Karlín district, and its employees cycle fairly regularly even outside the May Challenge. “Of the 15 people who signed up, about four or five have their own bikes, while the others use Rekola,” says Tomáš Soukup, who came to the Tokyobike shop to pick up a city bike to try out for himself and a colleague. eBay has been taking part in the May Challenge for years, and this will be Tomáš’s third time participating. His commute is 13 kilometers each way, and he is looking forward to making the uphill journey home a little easier and more enjoyable on the lightweight Tokyobike.

Onto the Metro in No Time

Václav Stránský from Tokyobike points out that with a bike, part of the journey to Stodůlky can also be made by public transport. “Urban cycling isn’t about having to cycle the entire way. It’s about combining different modes of transport. And you can take this bike onto the metro in no time.” His long-term goal—and the reason he is offering his bike for a free month-long loan—is to encourage companies to motivate their employees to cycle to work. “If a company buys twenty bikes instead of one Octavia, suddenly it will have happier, healthier employees, while also helping the environment,” he explains. And especially in flat Karlín, it makes perfect sense.

Loan No. 1

I Don’t Have to Buy Diesel

Today’s second “customer” at Tokyobike is Janek Hruška from CASALE PROJECT. He owns a mountain bike, but would like to try commuting on a different type of bike. His employer has also been supporting the May Challenge for years and pays the participation fee for its employees.

Janek, however, cycles to work all year round. “I don’t have time to do it at any other point,” he jokes. “Besides, I like being active, it makes me happy, and I don’t have to buy diesel,” he says.

CASALE PROJECT specializes in technologies for fertilizer production, and sustainability is a major focus for the company. “I really like this bike. It reminds me of a Favorit, and I like that it has a steel frame,” he says enthusiastically before setting off on it into the afternoon rush hour.

Loan No. 2

Thanks to AutoMat

We then head over to CityBikes in Vršovice, where we meet Jaroslav Lhota from CK Adventura. He will be riding a Bastille folding city bike for a month and, of course, sharing it with six other colleagues. After a quick lesson on how to fold and unfold the bike, he too heads out into the streets.

“I’ve been cycling around Prague for 35 years, and I think the conditions have improved a lot. I’d like to thank everyone who has helped make that happen, especially AutoMat,” he tells us before setting off.

We’re naturally delighted to hear that and wish all the temporary riders plenty of enjoyable experiences with their new city bikes.

Zápůjčka č. 3

May on a Folding Bike

At the beginning of June, we received a little “review” from Mr. Jaroslav about his month in the saddle. We’re very happy to share it with you.

“In May 2026, I had the opportunity to try out a Bastille folding bike. I rode about 80 km on it around the city, on cycle paths and over some light terrain. Here are a few of my observations.

It’s impressive how the designers managed to achieve the best possible compromise between a folding bike and a full-sized bicycle. The engineering and workmanship are excellent. And folding and unfolding it really does take just a few seconds.

The bike is suitable for cycle paths in the city and relatively flat terrain, and its performance is essentially comparable to that of gravel bikes. The only difference is that gravel bikes offer a wider range of gears than the gearing integrated into the rear hub. That is a certain disadvantage; on the other hand, the bike is completely maintenance-free. Unlike a chain, the toothed belt doesn’t leave smudges on the rider or their clothes when the bike is being folded or transported.

I can imagine it being ideal as a city bike for people who don’t have a bike storage room in their building, can’t fit a regular bike in their apartment, and/or don’t have anywhere to store a bike at work.

When folded, the bike fits comfortably even in a car with a tiny boot, so there’s no need for a roof rack or rear bike carrier.

And one final tip: In the hillier parts of Prague, you can easily take the folded bike on a tram, because at first glance nobody will realize that it’s a bicycle rather than a folded wheelchair.”

Mr. Jaroslav really made the most of May

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