You can get a bike in Pokémon Alpha Sapphire after defeating the second Gym Leader, Roxanne, in Rustboro City and receiving the Mach Bike from a man in Cerulean City. While a bike isn’t immediately available, obtaining one is a key step in your journey across the Hoenn region, opening up new areas and making travel much faster. This guide will walk you through the simple steps to get your hands on this essential mode of transportation, and even discuss how to get different types of bikes later on.
The First Step: Progressing Through the Early Game
Before you can even think about obtaining a bicycle, you need to make some progress in the game. Your journey begins in Littleroot Town, and the initial path is relatively linear.
Heading to Rustboro City
- Start your adventure in Littleroot Town. You’ll choose your starter Pokémon and have your first battles.
- Travel north to Route 101. This route is where you’ll encounter your first wild Pokémon.
- Continue to Route 102. This route connects Littleroot Town to the city of Petalburg.
- Reach Petalburg City. Here, you’ll meet Wally and assist him in catching his first Pokémon.
- Head east on Route 104. This route features a trainer school and leads to the sea.
- Enter the Petalburg Woods. This is a short, forested area.
- Navigate Route 104. After the woods, you’ll reach a bridge where you can go north or south. Go north towards Rustboro City.
- Arrive in Rustboro City. This is the first major city in the game.
Challenging the First Gym Leader
Rustboro City is home to the first Gym.
- Roxanne’s Gym: Roxanne is the Gym Leader of Rustboro City and specializes in Rock-type Pokémon. Your starter Pokémon, especially if it’s Torchic, will have an advantage here. Water and Grass-type Pokémon are also effective.
- Defeating Roxanne: Once you defeat Roxanne, you’ll receive the Stone Badge and TM39 Rock Tomb. This victory is crucial as it often signals the next stage of your journey.
The Journey to Obtain Your First Bike
After your victory in Rustboro, a new path opens up.
The Importance of the Devon Corporation
After defeating Roxanne, you’ll likely be directed towards the Devon Corporation building in Rustboro City.
- Meeting Mr. Stone: You’ll meet the president of Devon Corporation, Mr. Stone. He will give you an important task related to delivering a package.
- Heading East: Your next destination is Dewford Town, but you’ll first need to travel east from Rustboro City.
Route 116 and the Tunnel
- Exit Rustboro City to the east onto Route 116. This route is known for the Rusturf Tunnel.
- Enter the Rusturf Tunnel. Inside the tunnel, you’ll encounter a Team Aqua Grunt who has stolen something from the Devon Corporation.
- Defeat the Grunt: You’ll need to battle and defeat the Team Aqua Grunt to retrieve the stolen package.
- Deliver the Package: Return the package to Mr. Stone in Rustboro City.
- Receive the Devon Goods: Mr. Stone will reward you with the Devon Goods.
- Continue to Slateport City: Mr. Stone will then ask you to deliver the Devon Goods to the Captain Stern in Slateport City.
The Coastal Route to Slateport City
- Return to Route 116 and head east.
- Travel through Granite Cave. This cave is on your way to the coast.
- Reach Route 107 and Route 108. These routes are coastal and will lead you towards Slateport City.
- Enter Slateport City. This is a bustling port city.
Obtaining the Bicycle in Slateport City
Slateport City is where you’ll finally get your first bike.
The Bicycle Shop
Slateport City has a dedicated bicycle shop. This is where you can acquire your very own bike.
- Finding the Shop: The bicycle shop is located in the northern part of Slateport City.
- Meeting the Owner: When you enter the shop, you’ll find a man who is the owner. However, he won’t give you a bike right away.
The Missing Bike
The shop owner explains that his bicycle is missing. He needs your help to retrieve it.
- The Item: The stolen item is actually a Scooter. This is a slight misdirection; the game refers to the stolen item as a “Scooter” but it’s essentially the bike you need.
- Where to Find It: The Scooter has been taken by a Team Aqua Grunt. He can be found in the Market area of Slateport City, often near the fountain or outside the Contest Hall.
Retrieving the Stolen Scooter
- Explore Slateport City’s Market Area. Talk to everyone you see to get clues about the stolen item.
- Locate the Team Aqua Grunt. He’s usually easy to spot.
- Battle the Grunt: Challenge the Grunt to a Pokémon battle.
- Retrieve the Scooter: After defeating him, you’ll get the stolen Scooter back.
Returning the Scooter to the Bicycle Shop
- Go back to the Bicycle Shop.
- Give the Scooter back to the owner. He will be very grateful.
- Receive Your Bike! As a reward for your help, the shop owner will give you a bicycle for free. Congratulations, you now have your very own ride!
Maximizing Your Bike’s Potential: Upgrades and Types
While you get one type of bike initially, the world of Pokémon Alpha Sapphire offers variations and improvements to your cycling experience.
The Mach Bike
The Mach Bike is the first bike you receive, and it’s a significant upgrade over walking.
- Speed: The Mach Bike allows you to travel at twice the speed of walking.
- Maneuverability: It’s agile and can make sharp turns.
- Special Ability: The Mach Bike can quickly go up steep slopes, but it requires a bit of momentum. You need to hold down the “B” button (or the equivalent action button on your device) to make it go faster.
- Cracked Floors: The Mach Bike is also essential for navigating cracked floors, where you need to build up speed to break through them.
The Acro Bike
The Acro Bike is the second type of bike you can obtain, and it offers a different set of abilities crucial for certain areas.
- Bouncing: The Acro Bike allows you to hop over small obstacles and trainers.
- Wheelies: You can perform a wheelie to cross narrow bridges or small gaps.
- Jumping: The primary function of the Acro Bike is its ability to jump over specific gaps in the terrain.
- Obtaining the Acro Bike: To get the Acro Bike, you’ll need to visit the bicycle shop in Acropolis City. However, you can only get it after obtaining the Mach Bike and progressing further into the game. You’ll need to swap your current bike for the Acro Bike from the shopkeeper.
How to Get the Acro Bike
- Progress further in the story. You generally need to have completed some major events, possibly including reaching Fortree City or even later milestones.
- Return to the man in Cerulean City. The man who gave you the Mach Bike previously will also be the one who can give you the Acro Bike. However, you can only get one at a time.
- The Choice: When you speak to the bike shop owner in Acropolis City, he will offer you the choice between the Mach Bike and the Acro Bike. You can only hold one at a time. If you already have the Mach Bike, he will exchange it for the Acro Bike. If you want to switch back, you’ll need to return to him.
Bicycle Upgrades Alpha Sapphire
While there aren’t traditional “upgrades” in the sense of buying parts to improve your existing bike, obtaining the Acro Bike is essentially an upgrade in utility. The choice between the Mach Bike and the Acro Bike depends on what you need to do.
- Mach Bike Usage: Essential for speed, navigating cracked floors, and going up slopes quickly. You’ll use it a lot for general travel and accessing specific routes.
- Acro Bike Usage: Crucial for accessing hidden areas, reaching specific platforms, and overcoming certain environmental puzzles. Some trainers and routes are designed specifically to require the Acro Bike’s unique jumping ability.
When to Choose Which Bike
| Situation | Recommended Bike | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| General Travel and Speed | Mach Bike | Faster movement and ability to go up slopes. |
| Navigating Cracked Floors | Mach Bike | Requires speed to break through. |
| Reaching Platforms Over Gaps | Acro Bike | Ability to jump across small chasms. |
| Crossing Narrow Bridges | Acro Bike | Can perform a wheelie to cross. |
| Certain Puzzle Areas | Acro Bike | Specific routes require its jumping or hopping capabilities. |
| Traveling through dense grass quickly | Mach Bike | Increased speed helps cover ground faster. |
Exploring Bike Routes
The Hoenn region is designed with bike routes in mind. Certain paths and shortcuts are only accessible or efficient when using a bicycle.
- Route 117: This route, leading to Verdanturf Town, features a race track where the Mach Bike’s speed is beneficial.
- Jagged Pass: This mountainous route requires the Mach Bike to navigate the steep slopes effectively.
- Other Areas: Many caves and routes have small gaps or uneven terrain that necessitate the Acro Bike for full exploration and item collection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can I get a bike right at the beginning of Pokémon Alpha Sapphire?
No, you cannot get a bike immediately. You must defeat the first Gym Leader, Roxanne, in Rustboro City, and then complete a series of tasks for the Devon Corporation before you can acquire a bike in Slateport City.
Q2: What do I do if I lose my bike?
You don’t lose your bike. Once you receive it from the bicycle shop, it’s a permanent item in your inventory that you can call upon at any time. You can switch between the Mach Bike and Acro Bike at the bicycle shop in Cerulean City.
Q3: Is the Mach Bike or Acro Bike better?
Neither bike is definitively “better” than the other; they serve different purposes. The Mach Bike is faster for general traversal and navigating slopes and cracked floors. The Acro Bike is essential for navigating gaps, narrow bridges, and specific puzzle areas. You’ll often find yourself needing to switch between them to access different parts of the game world.
Q4: Where is the bicycle shop located?
The first bicycle shop where you can obtain your initial bike is located in the northern part of Slateport City. Later, you can find another shop in Cerulean City where you can exchange your bike for the other type.
Q5: What is a Scooter in Pokémon Alpha Sapphire?
In Pokémon Alpha Sapphire, the “Scooter” is the item that was stolen from the bicycle shop owner in Slateport City. Once you retrieve it and return it, you are rewarded with your first bicycle.
Q6: How do I make my Mach Bike go faster?
To make your Mach Bike go faster, hold down the “B” button (or the equivalent action button on your device) while riding it. This will allow you to build up speed and tackle inclines and cracked floors.
Q7: Can I have both the Mach Bike and the Acro Bike at the same time?
No, you can only possess one type of bike at a time. You will have to choose which one to keep at the bicycle shop. If you want the other type, you can return to the shop to exchange it.
By following these steps, you’ll be cycling through the beautiful Hoenn region in no time, enjoying faster travel and access to new areas that were previously unreachable. Happy adventuring!