The Oldest LBS In SA
In the competitive bike-shop industry, Jowett’s Cycles in Pietermaritzburg has stood the test of time. But how?
Seeing the latest in- store rebrand and with a new e- commerce website, you would never say that Jowett’s Cycles dates back to the early 1900s. But the owners have used their experience to keep it at the forefront of the local cycling scene.
Opened in the early years of the last century as ‘ Halls – The Cycle Specialist’, the shop was bought in 1932 by Walter Jowett, who renamed it ‘Jowett Brothers’. Jowett was influential in establishing road cycling in KwaZulu- Natal (and the rest of South Africa) between the 1930s and 1960s, and in 1955/ 56 was also the first president of the South African Cycling Council, the forerunner to Cycling South Africa. He also edited the magazine. The shop’s name was changed to Jowett’s Cycles in 1982, after Jowett sold it to Ingrid and Wally Flint, the current owners.
According to Ingrid, under their ownership the shop’s longevity owes as much to their passion for cycling as it does to modernising the store. “This is not a 9- to- 5 job for us – we love what we do,” says Flint. “We go the extra mile, keep up with the latest cycling technology, and stock both big- and small- ticket items.”
This isn’t just big talk: every product in the store is tested by the staff, to ensure that it’s of high quality, and so that they can give “qualified advice” to customers. They pride themselves on keeping their finger on the pulse, constantly researching the latest cycling trends, good or bad. Like a country general dealer, they stock “anything and everything cycling- related”, across all cycling disciplines, and are “arguably the best- stocked cycle shop in PMB, and probably KZN,” says Flint.
To top it all, the store has a coffee bar overlooking the sales floor, a bike- fitting service (using the
system), and a 155m2 maintenance area – they’ll have your bike repaired and ready for collection on the same day, Flint proudly asserts.
Most importantly, their customers are also friends, who’ve stuck with them over the years.
“We have our loyal customers to thank for keeping this store going,” says Flint. “Pietermaritzburg people? Great cycling people. Dedicated cyclists, who love their bikes!”