Jowetts Cycles, based in Pietermaritzburg, is celebrating its 84th year in the cycling trade this year. It is South Africa’s oldest and arguably the most well-known cycling shop in KwaZulu-Natal.
How does the oldest cycle brand celebrate this auspicious occasion? By adding one of the oldest bicycle brands to its stable – LAPIERRE bikes.
Founded in 1946 by Gaston Lapierre, and passed down over three generations, Lapierre combines innovation, aesthetics, attention to detail, and its experience with pro riders, to offer the most efficient and beautiful bikes to cycling enthusiasts everywhere. Based out of Dijon, France, the headquarters remain the centre for development and testing. A team of engineers are dedicated to the research and innovation for every frame that is developed and actively engage in bike tests with Lapierre’s pro riders.
Jowetts Cycles is proud to add a small range of LAPIERRE BIKES to its existing stable of world class brands, SCOTT, MERIDA, SILVERBACK and TITAN bikes.
Owners, Wally and Ingrid Flint, and their dedicated staff, have a reputation in the industry for always going the extra mile, which has seen them do some amazing extra-mile feats for customers in desperate times. These include, but are not limited to, opening the shop at 2am (and countless other different hours) for customers to get parts, bikes, bits and pieces; for the past 10 years travelling 4000km to Cape Town and back with about 100 bikes in tow for customers riding the Argus; and putting up a large, well-stocked mobile shop at many races around the country in good and bad weather over the past umpteen years, to ensure cyclists can ride their races safely, plus much more.
The well-stocked cycle shop has seen many famous, and not so famous cyclists, from around the world, but Jowetts Cycles is most loyal to its large customer base in Pietermaritzburg and KZN, priding itself on its ability to provide world-class customer care and products for all.
Jowetts Cycles recently launched its online shop, which is proving to be very popular already with clients from all over South Africa, and from as far afield as Finland and other European countries.
Says Ingrid Flint, “We have created something very special that affords people from all over South Africa, and the occasional international customer, the ability to buy from us online from the luxury of their home, office, or wherever they may be. You would be amazed at how many bikes we sell online. I love the ease of these transactions and it makes sense that this is the future. Bikes are packed in bike boxes so they’re safe and sound and couriered using a well-known international courier that ensures our delivery service is excellent, even overnight for most orders. Our physical shop serves its purpose as a retail outlet and as a social hub where daily, cyclists and bike lovers visit to chat, browse, socialise, and do what makes bike-lovers happy, peruse over our beautiful bikes!”
