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Buying bicycle spare parts in Africa

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Buying bicycle spare parts in Africa

Hello,

I have a plan to cycle in Africa. maybe I will cycle along the east coastal countries(Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia etc).

I wonder if I can buy some brands bicycle spare parts in those counties. for example, Shimano(sprocket, derailleur, BB, Crank, Chain), Schwalbe(Tire), Mavic(Rim).

I think there is no way to buy it except South Africa. nevertheless, I would like to ask about it. if anyone know it, please let me know. thanks for reading.  

Kim

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WS Member Piotras's picture
In Windhoek, Namibia, the

In Windhoek, Namibia, the outdoor magazine CYMOT has a bicycle workshop on its second floor.

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Thanks for helpful

Thanks for helpful information. I marked there on the map.

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re: Buying bicycle spare parts in Africa

hello Kim, 

I can speak only about Namibia.  I have no experience of any countries in Africa besides Namibia and South Africa. 

CYMOT is a chain of hardware stores in Namibia.  they -do- stock simple components for bicycles -- spare innertubes, a limited selection of tire sizes, 7-speed cassettes, chains, brake pads.  (NOTE: brake pads for v-brakes or side-pull brakes.  I do not think they stock replacement pads for disk brakes.  With the exception of the store in Windhoek.)  

You should know that, in Namibia, only about half the roads are surfaced.  The other half are simple gravel roads.  That can often have mixtures of soft sand alternating with road corrugations(!)  I suggest avoiding skinny tires.  

Have fun! 

WS Member WS Member's picture
re: Buying bicycle spare parts in Africa

hello Kim, 

I can speak only about Namibia.  I have no experience of any countries in Africa besides Namibia and South Africa. 

CYMOT is a chain of hardware stores in Namibia.  they -do- stock simple components for bicycles -- spare innertubes, a limited selection of tire sizes, 7-speed cassettes, chains, brake pads.  (NOTE: brake pads for v-brakes or side-pull brakes.  I do not think they stock replacement pads for disk brakes.  With the exception of the store in Windhoek.)  

You should know that, in Namibia, only about half the roads are surfaced.  The other half are simple gravel roads.  That can often have mixtures of soft sand alternating with road corrugations(!)  I suggest avoiding skinny tires.  I -suspect- other countries in Africa have similiar road conditions.  I do not know. 

Have fun! 

WS Member WS Member's picture
Hello Gerhardt,

Hello Gerhardt,

Thanks for useful advice. I will keep that in mind. I could check out goods through their website.

Unregistered anon_user's picture
I would say you are going to

I would say, given your proposed route, you are going to struggle to find Mavic rims and Schwalbe tyres outside of SA, you should be able to find low-mid range Shimano components in large East African cities (Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, perhaps Kampala) although they may take some effort to source. I lived for a couple of years in Accra in the middle of a bike tour and after meeting a few locals involved in competitive cycling (and a Peace Core volunteer into touring) I found a couple of places stocking fairly good quality componentry that I would never have come across otherwise, so perhaps try contacting local cycling clubs beforehand (there is a small but passionate competitive cycling community in Ethiopia for example) to see if they can point you in the right direction.

Suerte

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Hello Paul,

Hello Paul,

Thanks for valuable information. I will try to find out local cycling community and contact to them.

WS Member Piotras's picture
And when you have collected

And when you have collected all the addresses so please make a list and hang it up on this forum.

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