Day 52 – My Bike is Inoperable

Many shops with variations of this theme

Small store

Photo by Ed Peeters, owner of Chitimba Beach Lodge

Also by Ed

Stage 52 – Karongo to Chitimba Beach Malawi.

91kms, 4:00 hrs ( aprox )

Short mile day ending in Rest Day. I took my time and decided to slow down and get to know Malawi a little. I need to understand the currency, the language and culture a bit. It is tricky as you become used to hurrying to get 100 miles out of the way before it gets too late. You can get caught up in it.

The ride ended at the end of a 1km sand track. Tricky riding and I fell over before airing down my tires.

My bike problem got worse in that the left crank arm bushing failed. The peddle has been wobbling.

Craig offered to have his wife fly up to Lilongwe with his Santa Cruz Tall Boy. After a discussion we agreed that any repair would be dangerous. Craig then said he would have his wife fly up with a new crank that his brother would buy in Cape-town under the pretense that she had never been to Malawi before and shipping would be too risky.

To finish it off, Jordan offered to loan me his bike for the four days of riding to Lilongwe.

For now my bike in inoperable.