click here for photos 2008-2010 and 2011 and 2012
Dirke vd Merwe
December 2011
This is my sister Anne (backseat driving) on the pans in 1980
... not as cool!
...with photos from deep in the heart of DRC from his 2010 crossing from Kampala to Kinshasa. Zachary Partain is an American man who has twice purchased Giant bicycles from Bruce and taken those bikes on monstrous journeys across the DRC-Congo and Central Africa.
for any hard work in the sun!
Alberto Blanco Sequeiros rented a bike from the shop to ride with Select Cycling Club. He sent us this photo taken on the 21st of February 2010 in Pretoria, as well as a photo of his regular winter Sunday ride back home in Finland taken on the 31st January 2010:
Zachary Partain (Nov 2009): I am an American guy who purchased a Giant Rock bicycle from you back in April.
In the time between then and now I have traversed central Africa with this bicycle. Over 7500km from Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo, to Bangui in Central African Republic, down to Kisangani in DRC Congo, on into Kampala Uganda, then up to Juba South Sudan, then back into Congo at Arua, down through the great lakes to Bukavu and then into Kigali Rwanda. Needless to say this was one heck of an adventure.
The mass majority of this, as to be expected in these parts, was on small dirt roads, and nearly 2000km of it, through DRC Congo was on foot paths on the jungle floor, as seen by the attached 
photo. Overall until very recently the bike held up very well. I am now, however, in need of some repairs and I am unable to find anyone qualified to do so in these parts. My hope would be to get the bike fixed and continue on about another 5000 km back through the Congo to the west coast once again.
...I would not be looking for top of the line or custom parts, as I left South Africa on general stock and was very satisfied up until 6500 km+... I am looking to purchase an airticket from Kampala Uganda to Johannesburg and then would hope to be able to accomplish this within two weeks...
please mouse over thumbnails
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