>>> Bicycle Portraits

[GTRacing]

I recon there is no point to be missed. A stolen bike is a stolen bike after all. And if the picture looks a bit odd, ask the question...

[jollypoo]

Thats why I call it a catalogue; not a book

[GTRacing]

of other peoples bikes...

[Bicycle Portraits]

Thanks to everyone who followed the project so far! Good news is we made the first phase funding goal!...

 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bicycleportraits/bicycle-portraits-everyday-south-africans-and-thei/widget/card.jpg

 

we are now preparing for a few trips through the country, so if you see any interesing commuters around let us know!

 

Someone emailed the other day to tell me about this guy, that I actually already found! He has a seriously pimped up bike... that he says.. is like a car

 

http://www.dayonepublications.com/Bicycle_Portraits/Gabriel_Moloi_files/gabriel_moloi_4018.jpg

 

Gabriel Moloi

Oxford str., Rosebank, Gauteng, South Africa

2010 / 06 / 05 17: 32

 

'I cycle almost every day because this is my transport. But I just started it, it was just a simple bike and then I made it to look like this myself - because I like my job, I'm a security guard, by profession. I like cycling actually, this is not the one that I like, I'm going to get another one better than this one, you see. Because I don't have material - this is just a frame of what I can do. I'm just showing people I do have ideas even though I don't have materials to make something to look like this. This is just an idea. It has got music, it has got lights, it has indicators - it looks like a police bike. This one comes on and this one comes on as well. So, It looks nice at night. You see at night I used to do it like this so that I'll be visible anywhere where I go. Almost 25 kilometer I cycle, I work in Absa Bank Rivonia. I can go very far - it is like a car. The hooter has different sounds. This is a radio, I listen to 94.7.'

 

You can also listen to his interview here:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=405889232788

 

Also... while we are at it... here is a little video done for a espn youtube channel.. for all of you who speak portuguese that someone made about the project...

 

 

We will soon be launching the next phase of pre-orders and funding whilst we are touring!

 

thanks again to all those who followed, 'liked', supported, pre-ordered so far!

[Bicycle Portraits]

Just to let everyone know... whilst we are traveling through the country untill the end of the year we've launched another kickstarter page so that it is still possible to pre-order the book and be part of the making of the project.

 

Please take some time to read more about the project and how kickstarter works on the site:

www.bicycleportraits.co.za/kickstarter

 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/bicycleportraits/bicycle-portraits-part-ii-everyday-south-africans-0/widget/card.jpg

 

 

Here are some updates from the road...

 

http://www.dayonepublications.com/Bicycle_Portraits/Martin_Goosen_files/martin_goosen_6388s.jpg

 

Martin Goosen

Van der Merwe st., De Aar, Northern Cape, South Africa

2010 / 07 / 30 12:25

 

'Cycling is fun, it is healthy my brother. The doctor told me I need to cycle and walk as much as I can - I have heart problems. It saves money and what is healthier than cycling? All these years I've been cycling. I worked 43 years for the railways and I cycled for 43 the years. I was a driver, I cycled day and night, winter or summer, always rode with my bicycle. I feel very healthy and I love it. That is why I keep cycling - I'd rather cycle than drive with the car, especially here in town. Sunday afternoons I cycle far, around the town or to the railways - I visit people along the way. I feel very happy and I'm proud of my bicycle - I love my bicycle so much.'

 

 

http://www.dayonepublications.com/Bicycle_Portraits/Elvis_Klaasen_files/elvis_klaasen_6213s.jpg

 

Elvis Klaasen

Friedlander st., De Aar, Northern Cape, South Africa

2010 / 07 / 29 17:10

 

'My name is Elvis - my dad gave me my name. I cycle because I like it, especially going to the farms. The longer trips - I like those. I cycle every day, I cycle to work three days a week and the rest of the time I just cycle around. I painted my bike like this, I like the bont colors. I bought this frame for R50 from my cousin. The rest I built up bit by bit myself.'

 

 

http://www.dayonepublications.com/Bicycle_Portraits/Qibintulo_Xhosa_files/qibintulo_xhoza_6470s.jpg

 

Qibintulo Xhosa

Qomoyi st., Nonzwakazi, De Aar, South Africa

2010 / 07 / 30 13:45

 

'I just cycle to go to work and back. Twice a week I go there. I don't walk because it is far. My legs aren't that great to walk, I'm an old man - so the bicycle helps me. It doesn't break down much but I had to replace this back rim and cog. It was R300. I'm a grandfather, my son used to ride his own bicycle but it was stolen, now he is borrowing mine when my wife sends him to fetch things. There is no work around here at the moment, the people are struggling.'

 

 

http://www.dayonepublications.com/Bicycle_Portraits/Ernestus_Segers_files/ernestus_segers_6693s.jpg

 

Ernestus Segers

Grey st., Phillipstown, Northern Cape, South Africa

2010 / 07 / 31 13:25

 

'I bought a piece of property just outside town, where you can keep about 20 sheep. As it is quite close I decided I will walk - but after a while I started thinking that walking wastes time and sometimes you got things to do - so I bought a bicycle. It’s been about two years now. So I cycle there in the morning, come home around ten to eat and around two I head back and then I tjaila around five again. It’s great exercise you know. With that and a bit of exercise bicycle it keeps one in good condition. It is only about a kilometer, but you'd be surprised as to what it does to a person, just the fresh air and the fact that one doesn't sit and rust up. I bought me and my wife bicycles at the pandjies shop in De Aar. Look, you know life is a chase. With the bicycle you can cycle around and there is opportunity to look around. I often cycle around town and have some usual places I stop at - spending some time with and greeting people along the way. It keeps one young. With a motorcar you are always heading somewhere in a hurry, but with the bicycle you get opportunity to take your eyes somewhere and ask the neighbors how things are going. Otherwise you know one would just sit. I can't sit for very long... I have a story of a bicycle. We lived in Vrede, and our deacon there - rich people with lots of property, farming with about 3000 sheep - he came into town one morning, to the Koöperasie - I was also there, just before he got there he saw a group of guys standing, talking and looking very unhappy. So he asked what was the matter. They said that one of guys’ brand new bicycles was just stolen the night before. So sympathizing with them he mentioned that the week before they had just stolen 300 sheep from him. They didn't sympathize with him saying that he has lots of sheep but this guy only had this one bicycle and it is the only thing he had.'

 

 

Thanks again for the support!

 

Nic and Stan

Bicycle Portraits