Getting (and keeping) youth on bicycles in Khayelitsha

[Kimikaze]

Hello Hubbers! 

I recently connected with Bonga Cycling Academy in Khayelitsha. Their mission is to help young people through cycling, and give them options when they finish school. Here's their website: https://bcyclingacademy.org/. They are well set up, with a Coach and education support etc. They lost some sponsorship and support over covid time, which resulted in broken bikes not being able to be fixed, amongst other things. Some friends and I have started a project team with them to focus on the things they need in order to fulfill their mission. We are starting with immediate needs first, which are:

1. Winter cycling clothing - it's cold, and it will help to motivate the young people to ride if they have warm clothes for this.
2. Gym equipment - they have a container at the Academy which operates as a gym that the team can use, and has potential to generate an income if others pay to use the gym. Currently the only equipment they have is a bench and some weights.
3. Running tekkies - their coach would like to do cross-training with them, but most of them don't have trainers to run in.
4. Fixing broken bikes - they have about 25 young people and 15 bikes, of which only 8 bikes are "race-worthy". We are focusing on getting 2 bikes fixed at a time. For that, the bikes need the following:

• Gear cables and casing (road)
• 10 speed cassettes (road)
• 2 x 10 speed chains
• Giant SCR 2 derailleur hanger
• Shimano chainrings 52/53 teeth
• Pair of shifters (10 speed)

I have created a Googlesheet to track what is coming in. You can check it out here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CtEGTGV7C9TmvdIAFX5a2cSoMCXHdJ_QaExWkMGoerw/edit?usp=sharing

Please connect with me if you can support with any of the above, on 0614792496 or kimmussmann@gmail.com. I am based in Somerset West, but often travel to various areas around Cape Town for work so can arrange pick-ups etc. 

[Kimikaze]

We have received 1 x cassette and chain already! Thank you Hubbers!

[coppi]

While you at it please teach them to ride on the correct side of the road !

[Trashy]

15 minutes ago, coppi said:

While you at it please teach them to ride on the correct side of the road !

Who is "them"?

 

[NickGM]

I've definitely got some cables and cable housing lying around in my spares box. Will be in touch. I'm in stellenbosch and often pass through Somerset west.

[cadenceblur]

Your heart is no doubt in the right place but Velokhaya is still alive and kicking, is there not an opportunity to perhaps work with them for the greater good?

[Kimikaze]

1 minute ago, cadenceblur said:

Your heart is no doubt in the right place but Velokhaya is still alive and kicking, is there not an opportunity to perhaps work with them for the greater good?

I hear you, and this is how I understand it... there are 3 cycling groups in Khayelitsha, and each group has their own identity/focus/culture. Velokhaya focus more on pro racing stuff, Khaltsha Cycles do tours and chilled cycling community type stuff, and Bonga are kind of in-between that - not quite as race focused as Velokhaya, so maybe more accessible. 

[cadenceblur]

It appears that things have changed then, wasn't aware that their focus was just on racing

Have you reached out to them?

I know they place great emphasis on academic  performance as means of entry on to their program, I recall them having a tutor on site as well to assist with studies.

[Kimikaze]

11 minutes ago, cadenceblur said:

It appears that things have changed then, wasn't aware that their focus was just on racing

Have you reached out to them?

I know they place great emphasis on academic  performance as means of entry on to their program, I recall them having a tutor on site as well to assist with studies.

I've had the conversation with Bonga Cycling Academy. There is a bit of a different focus, culture and identity. They do connect and ride together sometimes, but have a different kind of set up. Like you have different take-aways (can you tell it's dinner time in my house) - KFC, Nandos and Zebros - they all provide nourishment, but they have their own identity etc and appeal to different tastes

['Dale]

On 4/13/2022 at 3:28 PM, coppi said:

While you at it please teach them to ride on the correct side of the road !

While you’re at it, send some stuff to Bonga’ them that you believe will be a cool response to  the purpose of this thread.

[Mamil]

On 4/13/2022 at 3:28 PM, coppi said:

While you at it please teach them to ride on the correct side of the road !

No room for this kind of garbage here or anywhere else thank you.

[MxoM]

54 minutes ago, Mamil said:

No room for this kind of garbage here or anywhere else thank you.

@Mamilthank you. 

[Kimikaze]

Received gear cables, tyres, tubes and a light over the weekend! Thank you Hubbers! 

[Kimikaze]

Thank you for all the goodies received! I delivered this to Bonga Cycling Academy yesterday, and there are a few more things to come! With your help, they have some much needed spares, lights to see and be seen, arm warmers, tekkies, weights and a fitness tracker watch! The team are super stoked! Thank you! 

I'd love to get a relationship going with a bike shop where people can drop their extras off, and things like used tubes which can be patched etc. I know most bike shops have relationships with Development Teams already. Please let me know if there are any bike shops out there keen to support