Cyclists test their bikes at the Wheels of Africa repair garage on Lower Kabete Road in Nairobi. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
Where to catch the riders - The Kenya Cycling Organisation has a series of races open to cycling groups. They include the Ngong Challenge in Ngong, Iten classic, Teule 100 in Loitokitok, 10 to 4 Mountain Bike challenge around Mt Kenya, Farmers Choice Kahawa West TT along the Northern by-pass in Nairobi, Rift Valley Odyssey and Kakuzi Challenge at Kakuzi grounds in Thika.
Savannah Classic takes place on the Kitengela-Namanga road, Watamu Triathlon in Watamu, Ngong Forest challenge in Ngong Forest, Laikipia races and Kilimanjaro circular rides at the foot hills of the mountain.
Most of the events are publicised ahead of time. However, one can also log onto the Kenya Cycling Organisation website for more details.
Each year, Wheels of Africa (WoA), a cycling organisation based in Nairobi ships in 2,700 second-hand bicycles from Europe. The bikes sell out in just three months. Last year, the organisation received 3,300 bicycles from international cycling organisations abroad.
WoA consists of local and expatriate cyclists in Nairobi. It was founded in 2008 to create awareness on cycling. The organisation runs a bike shop, among other biking programmes.
Though there is no official data on the number of cyclists in Kenya today, Rakesh Okuku, the enterprise development coordinator at WoA, says the large number of bikes shipped and sold every year points to a growing body of cyclists around the country.
Michael Owora, a public relations practitioner and competitive cyclist since 2011, also holds the same view. According to him, the large number of informal cycling groups is a clear indicator that more Kenyans are actively taking up cycling.
Some of the better known groups include Safari Simbaz, Kenya Riders, Sunday Cycle, HAB Sports and Christian Cycling.
Tour de France
Safari Simbaz and Kenyan Riders are the elite of the bunch, a feat achieved courtesy of support by sponsors. As a result, they have nurtured a strong pool of cyclists who compete both locally and internationally. The club is led by veteran cyclist David Kinjah, widely considered the father of professional cycling in the country.
Kinjah trained 2013 Tour de France champion, Chris Froome when he was a young boy while his family was living in Kenya. He continues to nurture the dreams of many young boys at his cycling academy in Mai-i-ihii, a settlement on the outskirts of Kikuyu town. Currently, six of his cyclists are sponsored by consumer brand SOSSI.
Safari Simbaz, like WoA, supports young cyclists through formal and informal education with the help of corporate partners like DHL. The group also offers bicycle mechanic training, professional cycling opportunities and guided biking tours.
Training in bike repair is a crucial component in cycling and riders are encouraged to learn how to do minor repairs like fix punctures. As the number of cyclists increases, there is increasing demand and more work for bike mechanics.
According to officials from Christian Cycling, most riders take to biking for recreation and commuting. Owora is one such cyclist who commutes to work on a bike. He says he settled on cycling after doing a two-month cost comparison on using a bike or a car.
In the period, he spent only Sh70 to fix a puncture on the bike compared to the Sh13,000 he would spend in running costs for the car. “On top of commuting, I posted the best time in the triathlon that took place ion Watamu recently and got better at competitive cycling,” he added.
In a country where the majority of cyclists ride the cheap, ubiquitous “black mamba” that costs less than Sh10,000, Owora has invested substantially in his Sh70,000 bike. He says he has also leant to be cautious on the road and never fails to wear a helmet.
Leadership
But despite the surge in the number of cyclists and bicycle shops, poor infrastructure and leadership that lacks focus remain a big challenge.
“As a country, we can excel in competitive cycling and require a committed body to achieve that vision. But most of us feel that the cycling organisation of Kenya has not provided that leadership. The Ministry of Sports should also extend support for cycling to move forward as a sport,” Owora says.
The country’s parent cycling body has failed to consolidate mushrooming cycling groups, which are normally formed on a whim. The riders who have excelled have only done so with the support of well-wishers. Even worse, there are no laws and policies in place to govern how these groups are formed. Also lacking is a criteria to grade the performance of cyclists.
It’s only by bringing such groups together that cyclists will benefit from group synergy and attract funding from the government.
Inadequate infrastructure is the other big headache for cyclists who have to contend with unmarked roads, lack of demarcated cycling lanes and parking lots for bicycles. “My problem is that we lack infrastructure. On some roads, there are cycling lanes that are not clearly marked thus causing confusion for road users,” says Okuku.
Cycling lanes
Ring Road in Kileleshwa is one of the few roads constructed to serve pedestrians, cyclists and cars. However, riders feel that more cycling lanes are needed on roads with high bicycle traffic.
Thika Highway, for example, has bicycle lanes to encourage more residents to cycle. But on some sections, the markings are misleading and often end abruptly, putting riders’ lives at risk.
According to statistics from the Africa Development Bank, there are 150,000 bicycle commuters in Nairobi. World Bicycle Relief (WBR), an American organisation operating from Kisumu, said in 2012 that it was assembling 600 to 700 bicycles a month. The company hoped to push production to 12,000 units annually once it started local production.
A good bike, according to WoA, can cost between Sh25,000 and Sh1million. WBR sells its bicycles for Sh10,000. However, costs vary with brand and material used.
For instance, carbon frame bikes are the best because they are light and efficient, but they are also the most expensive. The carbon frame, though strong, also can’t be repaired if it cracks or breaks.
Other materials used to make the bike frames are steel and aluminium – metals that are easily welded when they break, lowering costs. A second-hand steel bike can cost as little as Sh5,000.
The choice of bicycle also depends on the cyclist’s height. A proper bike is selected based on the wheel (diameter) and the size of the bicycle frame. If you are not sure about your size, you can calculate it online using a bike frame calculator application.
Races
The difference between road and mountain bikes normally boils down to rim sizes with mountain bikes having larger wheels. There are several races where riders get to test their off-road skills.
Mt Kenya 10 to 4 is one of the major races. It was established in 2002 after a group of mountain bikers cycled down Mt Kenya from 10,000ft to Il Ngwesi in Laikipia at 4,000ft. It’s a charity event aimed at raising funds for conservation activities in Mt Kenya region.
Most races charge entry fees however, it is possible to cycle in places like Karura and Ngong forests where one is only charged park fees. Karura charges Sh100.Anyone interested can catch the groups at any of these venues on weekends. Friends of Karura also hire out bicycles at Sh500. There are several other organisations that also provide bikes for hire.
Other cycling venues are on the Eastern and Northern by-passes, Swara Plains in Athi River, Ngong, Naivasha, Laikipia and Nakuru.
Cycling groups also offer guided biking tours at a small fee. Among them are Safari Simbaz, Rift Valley Adventures and WoA. “Our rides are open for anyone and everyone. We also do family rides,” says WoA’s Okuku.
For those who are not confident riding a bicycle, training classes are offered at Karura every weekend and at the Children’s Traffic Park on Nyerere Road for Sh500. Sunday Cycle meets every Sunday at the Total Petrol Station in Spring Valley.
