Riley from Canada

Riley contacted me towards the end of November via Warmshowers to hear if he could stay with me while he waited for his bike, which should have arrived during the first week of December. 

Couple of problems: He bought a frane made from "bamboo" from a manufacturer from Uganda, thus "Africa time" entered the equation. The grame finally arrived in Johannesburg on about 10 December and was promptly held up by Customs for inspection. This took a week of to and throwing with Customs duty gaving to be paid and was finally cleared on 17/12. It arrived in Cape Town on the morning of 18/12 and the courier company tried to deliver it to the Back Packers where Riley stayed before he "moved in" with me. He managed to get hold of the diver, who then told him he is only allowed to make deliveries in Green and Sea Point. I asked Riley to let me soeak to the guy, where upon he confirmed his area. I asked where his base is and via which route he gets there. The answer was the Airport via N2. I asked him to deliver the bike to Woodstock Cycleworks, in Searle Street. Initially he refysed as this was not on his route! After some persuation he realise that Searle Street is not too far off his route and agreed to deliver it there!

Riley did contact Nils of Woodstock Cycleworks during November and they agreed that Nils will add all the necessary components as soon as the frame arrives. On receput of the frame, Nils immediately got going on tecepit of the frame. Our first visit to the shop was on Thursday 19/12. By this time wheels, fork and seat have been fitted. Nils did mention that he had a problem with the fork, as the frame was a 60cm frame (Riley is quite rall), he did not have a rigid fork long enough to clear the head of the frame and that might have to fit a suspention fork. Nils, being the innovative guy that he is, then went ahead and extended a ridig fork to ensure that it is long enough. 

The frame was ment to be fitted with a 1x drive train, but after some consultation if was agreed that a 2x will provide a better range of gears and will be easier to work with in "Africa" should something go wrong. The next problem was the tread on the bottom bracket, which seems to be warn! Once again Nils' innovation came into play and he retreaded it. Riley also gave him the carrier which he bought and this was also fitted. Finally everything was completed by mid afternoon on 23/12. Woodstock Cycleworks was closing down at 17:00 on 23/12 for their Christmas brake! So, completion was in the nick of time.

Riley and myself were really impressed with Nils and the "extra mile" he was willing to walk to ensure that Riley leave with a proper working bike to tackle his trip from Cape Town to Kenia.