How to Get a Bike in Pokémon Red: A Comprehensive Guide

Getting around the vast world of Pokémon Red can be a time-consuming process, especially in the early game. While walking is the default method, a bicycle offers a significantly faster way to traverse routes and towns. However, acquiring a bike in Pokémon Red isn’t as straightforward as simply buying one. It requires a bit of effort, some strategic gameplay, and a good understanding of the game’s progression. This guide will walk you through the detailed steps to obtain the coveted Bicycle in Pokémon Red, making your Pokémon journey much more efficient and enjoyable.

Why You Need a Bike in Pokémon Red

Before diving into the ‘how,’ let’s address the ‘why.’ A Bicycle in Pokémon Red offers several key advantages:

* **Speed:** The most obvious benefit is the increased movement speed. Traveling on a bike is significantly faster than walking, allowing you to cover more ground in less time. This is crucial for exploring new areas, backtracking to previous locations, and grinding for experience.
* **Efficiency:** With a bike, you can quickly navigate between towns and routes, reducing the time spent on mundane travel. This allows you to focus on more important tasks like battling trainers, catching Pokémon, and progressing through the storyline.
* **Accessibility:** Certain areas in the game are specifically designed to be more easily traversed by bike. While not strictly necessary for progression, having a bike can make these areas much more convenient to navigate. This can include faster routes through tall grass or easier access to certain items.
* **Overall Gameplay Experience:** Simply put, having a bike enhances the overall Pokémon Red experience. It makes the game feel less tedious and more dynamic, allowing you to enjoy the world and its challenges at a quicker pace.

Prerequisites Before Getting the Bike

Before you can obtain the Bicycle, you need to fulfill a few key prerequisites:

* **Defeat Brock:** The first major hurdle is defeating Brock, the Gym Leader of Pewter City. Brock specializes in Rock-type Pokémon, so having a Grass or Water-type Pokémon will give you a significant advantage. If you chose Bulbasaur as your starter, you’re in good shape. If not, consider catching a Mankey on Route 3 (just before Pewter City) or a Nidoran (male or female) also on Route 3. Level them up to a reasonable level (around level 10-12) before challenging Brock.
* **Obtain the Boulder Badge:** Defeating Brock earns you the Boulder Badge, which proves your strength as a trainer and allows you to control Pokémon up to level 20. While this badge doesn’t directly unlock the Bike, it’s a necessary step in progressing through the game.
* **Navigate Mt. Moon:** After defeating Brock, you’ll need to traverse Mt. Moon, a dungeon filled with wild Pokémon and Team Rocket members. Inside Mt. Moon, you’ll encounter various trainers and find valuable items. Your team should be around level 12-15 to comfortably navigate this area.
* **Defeat Team Rocket in Mt. Moon:** At the end of Mt. Moon, you’ll face two Team Rocket members. Defeating them is crucial to obtaining the next key item you’ll need. Be prepared for battles with Pokémon around level 15. Having a diverse team with different type advantages will be beneficial here.
* **Obtain the Dome Fossil or Helix Fossil:** After defeating the Team Rocket members in Mt. Moon, you’ll be presented with a choice: the Dome Fossil or the Helix Fossil. The choice doesn’t affect your ability to get the bike, so choose whichever fossil appeals to you (the Dome Fossil eventually becomes Kabuto, and the Helix Fossil becomes Omanyte). Make sure you pick *one* of the fossils. Picking neither will block progression.
* **Reach Cerulean City:** After exiting Mt. Moon, you’ll arrive in Cerulean City, a key location for progressing in the game and, more importantly, for obtaining the Bicycle.

Detailed Steps to Get the Bike

Now that you’ve met the prerequisites, here’s a step-by-step guide to getting the Bicycle in Pokémon Red:

**Step 1: Stop Team Rocket from Robbing the House**

* **Location:** Cerulean City, house in the upper left corner.
* **Action:** In Cerulean City, head towards the house located in the upper-left corner of the town. Inside, you’ll find that a Team Rocket Grunt is holding the resident at gunpoint. He’s stealing a valuable item. You must battle and defeat this Team Rocket Grunt to progress.
* **Battle:** The Team Rocket Grunt will have a level 17 Raticate. This Pokémon is a Normal-type, so Fighting-type moves are super effective against it. If you caught a Mankey back on Route 3, now is its time to shine! Otherwise, any solid attacking moves should get the job done. He might use a Hyper Potion, so be prepared for a slightly longer fight.

**Step 2: Obtain the Nugget from Bill (The Pokémon Fanatic)**

* **Location:** House north of Cerulean City on Route 25. This is inside of what is commonly referred to as “Bill’s Cottage”.
* **Action:** After dealing with Team Rocket in Cerulean City, head north out of the city onto Route 24 and 25 (it’s one long continuous path). This will lead you through Nugget Bridge (where you fight five trainers in a row) and into the house of Bill (the Pokémon fanatic).
* **Nugget Bridge:** On Route 24, you’ll encounter Nugget Bridge. Here, you’ll face five trainers in a row, each with Pokémon around level 13-16. Be prepared for these battles and heal your Pokémon as needed between fights. At the end of the bridge, a Team Rocket member will offer you a position in their organization and a Nugget as a sign-up bonus. Refuse their offer and defeat them in battle.
* **Bill’s Cottage:** Continue north onto Route 25, battling trainers along the way. Eventually, you’ll reach a small cottage. Enter the cottage.
* **Help Bill:** Inside the cottage, you’ll find Bill, a Pokémon researcher who has accidentally transformed himself into a Pokémon (specifically, a Clefairy). He needs your help to return to his human form. Help him by using the machine in his house to turn him back into a human.
* **The Nugget:** As a reward for helping him, Bill will give you a **SS Ticket**. This ticket allows you to board the S.S. Anne in Vermilion City. While the ticket doesn’t directly get you the bike, obtaining it is a crucial step, as it unlocks access to Vermilion City, which is near the bike shop.

**Step 3: Reach Vermilion City**

* **Route:** Head south from Cerulean City, back through Route 4. Follow the path east, which leads to Vermilion City. This route requires you to use the HM Cut, which you will obtain on the S.S. Anne later on. For now, you have two options:
* **Option 1: Cut Down the Trees (Requires HM Cut – obtainable later):** Once you have HM01 Cut, you can teach it to a Pokémon that can learn it (such as Oddish, Bulbasaur, or Ivysaur). Then, use Cut to chop down the small trees blocking the path east of Cerulean City on Route 6. This will lead you directly to Vermilion City.
* **Option 2: The Underground Path (No HM Required):** If you don’t have HM Cut yet (which is likely at this point), you’ll need to take the Underground Path. Head south from Cerulean City through Route 4. Before you reach the Saffron City gate, look for a building to the east. Enter this building to access the Underground Path. The Underground Path is a simple tunnel that connects Route 5 and Route 6, bypassing the blocked route.
* **Route 5:** The building south of Cerulean leads to Route 5. It connects Cerulean to Saffron City, but it’s usually ignored because of the lack of Pokemon in the area.
* **Underground Path (Route 5 – Route 6):** Inside the Underground Path, you’ll simply walk through the tunnel to reach Route 6.
* **Route 6:** From the exit of the Underground Path, walk south to reach Vermilion City.

**Step 4: Obtain the S.S. Anne Ticket and Board the S.S. Anne**

* **Location:** Vermilion City Port.
* **Action:** After exiting the underground path, head south into Vermilion City. The S.S. Anne is docked at the port. You need the SS Ticket from Bill to board.

**Step 5: Obtain HM01 (Cut) from the Captain**

* **Action:** Once on board the S.S. Anne, explore the ship. Battle trainers and find items as you explore. Your main goal is to find the Captain of the ship. He’s located in his room on the upper level.
* **Cure the Captain:** The Captain is seasick. Talk to him, and he’ll ask you to rub his back. Do so, and he’ll reward you with HM01 (Cut).

**Step 6: Teach Cut to a Pokémon**

* **Action:** Exit the S.S. Anne and teach HM01 (Cut) to a Pokémon in your party that can learn it. Bulbasaur, Ivysaur, Oddish, Gloom, and Meowth are some common choices. Open your party, select the Pokémon, choose “Move,” and then select HM01 Cut. The Pokémon will learn the move, replacing one of its existing moves.

**Step 7: Use Cut to Access the Bike Shop**

* **Location:** Vermilion City, west of the Pokémon Center.
* **Action:** With Cut learned, head west from the Pokémon Center in Vermilion City. You’ll see a small tree blocking a path. Use Cut on the tree to chop it down and access the area behind it.
* **The Bike Shop:** Behind the tree, you’ll find the Bike Shop.

**Step 8: Talk to the Bike Shop Owner**

* **Action:** Enter the Bike Shop and speak to the owner standing behind the counter.
* **The Price:** He will tell you that the bike costs 1,000,000 Pokédollars. This is far more than you will have at this point in the game. Do not worry. You won’t be paying anything.

**Step 9: Head Back to Cerulean City and Go To the House You Saved**

* **Action:** Go back to the house in Cerulean City where you battled the Team Rocket grunt to obtain the Nugget and saved the person living there.

**Step 10: Get the Bike Voucher**

* **Action:** Go inside and talk to the person who lives in the house. To show his gratitude, he will give you a **Bike Voucher**. This Voucher can be redeemed at the Bike Shop in Vermilion City for a brand-new Bicycle.

**Step 11: Return to Vermilion City and Exchange the Voucher for the Bike**

* **Action:** Return to the Bike Shop in Vermilion City and speak to the owner again. This time, instead of paying 1,000,000 Pokédollars, you’ll give him the Bike Voucher.
* **Claim Your Prize:** The Bike Shop owner will happily accept the Voucher and give you your brand-new Bicycle!

Using Your New Bicycle

Now that you have your Bicycle, here’s how to use it:

* **Register the Bike:** Open your Bag, go to the Key Items pocket, and select the Bicycle. Choose “Register.” This assigns the Bicycle to the Select button on your console.
* **Ride the Bike:** Press the Select button. Your character will hop on the bike and begin riding. Press the Select button again to dismount and return to walking.

Tips and Tricks for Bike Usage

* **Switching Between Bike and Walking:** Remember to switch between the Bike and walking as needed. Certain areas, like indoors or areas with ledges, may require you to walk.
* **Using the Bike for Training:** The Bike is excellent for training, especially in areas with high encounter rates. You can quickly move between battles, maximizing your experience gain per unit of time.
* **Exploring Hidden Areas:** Use the Bike to explore every nook and cranny of the Pokémon world. You might discover hidden items, secret locations, or shortcuts.
* **Navigating Tough Terrain:** Practice navigating different types of terrain with the Bike. You’ll become more efficient at dodging obstacles and finding the fastest routes.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

* **Cannot Find Bill:** Ensure you’ve battled the Team Rocket Grunt in Cerulean City who was in the house holding the resident at gunpoint. Bill’s Cottage is north of Cerulean City on Route 25.
* **Cannot Cut Down the Tree:** Make sure you’ve obtained HM01 (Cut) from the Captain on the S.S. Anne and taught it to a compatible Pokémon.
* **Cannot Board the S.S. Anne:** Ensure you have the SS Ticket from Bill. If you think you might have lost the S.S. Ticket, check your inventory by opening the menu, selecting “BAG”, and then scrolling to the “KEY ITEMS” pocket.
* **Forgot to get the Bike Voucher:** Go back to the house in Cerulean City and talk to the person who lives there to get it.

Conclusion

Obtaining the Bicycle in Pokémon Red is a significant milestone that enhances your gameplay experience. By following these detailed steps, you’ll be able to navigate the Pokémon world with greater speed and efficiency. Remember to complete the necessary prerequisites, explore thoroughly, and enjoy the ride! Happy Pokémon training!