Save The Shop Kigali

THE SHOP Story

Kigali Rwanda

THE SHOP 250 would not exist without the hard work of Sean Hayes. In 2015, Sean observed the need for professional mechanic services in Rwanda. He established The Shop Kigali to support the local cycling community. Sean also began supporting the Africa Rising Cycling Center as a race mechanic. In addition to Sean Hayes’ years as a bicycle mechanic, Sean brought his years of experience as a motorcycle mechanic, welder, and machinist to further the capabilities of The Shop.

In 2017, Alan Norman arrived in Kigali, having previously worked at The Bike Lane in Springfield, Virginia with Sean Hayes. At this point in time, Sean had one year remaining in Rwanda. Alan began working with Sean at his location in Kacyiru, and also gained experience as a motorcycle mechanic and welder. After Sean’s departure, Alan continued The Shop’s work at his location in Kimihurura. Alan additionally expanded support to touring companies, NGOs, and the Rwanda National Olympic Committee. The Shop additionally provided sponsorship to multiple club-level teams within Rwanda and surrounding countries. With the expanding market, Alan hired Jean Damon to help. Jean Damon was originally trained at the Africa Rising Cycling Center (ARCC). This marked the beginning of THE SHOPs efforts to provide training and salary to apprentice mechanics.

As Alan’s time in Rwanda was coming to an end in 2020, Sean Belfast expressed an interest in continuing and further expanding the capabilities of THE SHOP KIGALI. Sean Belfast worked as the head mechanic at the Africa Rising Cycling Center since 2017. Sean delivered a professionalism and practical mindset as a result of his years of work at Belmont Wheelworks in Boston, MA. During his time at ARCC, Sean professionally trained more than thirty people in basic bicycle mechanics. Of these trainees, two have become lead mechanics for Team Rwanda and others work with Rwanda’s bicycle touring companies.

The Shop moved to its current location in the Kacyiru car free zone in March 2020, giving the shop a showroom for bicycle purchases. The Shop took two months to build out, making it the first bicycle shop in Rwanda to sell new racing bicycles, Mountain, and Road bicycles of all disciplines.

Business was moving at a rapid and welcome pace, and our first container of 40 bicycles was well on its way to being sold, when tragedy struck. The COVID-19 epidemic came to Rwanda in mid-March of 2020. After three weeks of excellent sales and constant service orders, The Shop made a difficult decision to close its doors on March 18th, before the official government lockdown, in the interest of staff safety. The government of Rwanda took swift and decisive action to counter the COVID virus, and as a result, Rwanda had great success countering this deadly virus.

As THE SHOP continues to grow, we have many plans currently in place and developing in the near future. Our mechanics training program is already underway. Far from a simple unpaid internship, this program will provide mechanics of all levels with experience and the opportunity to augment their skills. The mechanics will be paid a wage for their services, and then return home with their valuable and marketable skills, further supporting Team Rwanda, ARCC, and Rwandan bicycle touring companies. The shop will continue to grow the neutral support events program for the Tour Du Rwanda 2.1 and Rwanda Cycling Cup races; first started by Alan Norman and Sean Belfast. The Shop will continue to provide support for club level, youth, and women teams in coordination with TEAM AFRICA RISING. Without youth and development teams, the Continental and National Teams will not have the talent required to race on the world stage.

But due to employee theft, the shop is losing their retail space in the car free zone. Sean has tried to work to save the shop, but now they are in serious trouble. Sean has been my friend for nearly 30 years. I believe in what he has accomplished in Rwanda, so I'm doing my part not to let it slip away. Please help Sean, if you can.