Africa - Cycling advice for Dar es Salaam?

Hi Everyone,

I'm in Dar Es Salaam for just over a month and finding it tricky to get around (staying slightly out of downtown). I'm thinking of getting myself one of the cheap local bikes, does anyone out there have a suggestion for where I can get my hands on one? Any other advice on Dar/Tanzania generally? My first time here and it's quite a foreign environment for me, although I'm enjoying it so far...

Hi,

My best advice is go to Paje, Zanzibar for a few nights!

I was in Dar for two nights, and I walked from the airport to the ferry. In that 15K I saw some insane driving. Be careful biking there.

I have been in Zambia for two years, and they have similar bikes here at the local shops as they do there. Did you end up buying one yet? I think the cheap mountain bikes they sell would be fine if it's only a month. The Chinese steel one speeds would be tough to ride though, and they are the same price.

-RR

thanks for the post - I actually wound up borrowing a bike from a colleague who was away for a while, then throwing out my back before I could ride it. Now only a week left in town, so it doesn't seem worthwhile to go buy something at this point.

I did want to buy one of those old chinese bikes, more to ship back home than as a good option to ride here (although it would probably be less likely to be stolen). They look cool, and I would have liked to fix it up for a sunday cruiser / guest bike... ah well, just another lost opportunity.

And yes, you're right about the traffic although it's not that bad out on the peninsula north of downtown - I thought I had seen the craziest driving of my life in Greece, but I have been humbled. This city/country is a perfect location to create a strong bike culture - great weather, generally flat, the people need an affordable transportation solution... certainly I've heard that out in the villages transportation is a complete nightmare and many people simplly can't move from a to b - a cheap mountain bike can do so much to alleviate that.

I am sorry about your back. That sucks.

Take care,

RR