BUFFALO BIKES

They’re way over the UCI minimum of 6.8kg, but Qhubeka bikes are mobilising a continent

While the likes of Boasson Hagen and Ciolek are afforded streamlined speed on their Cervélos, the most important bike to the charity Qhubeka is the Buffalo bicycle.

‘That bike is 20kg. You can’t break that thing,’ says Doug Ryder. ‘It's got a motorbike-quality chain, sealed BB and hubs, back-pedal brake, hardly any moving parts, so there's little to maintain. It’s rugged and built for Africa. The last thing you want is a child that’s earned a bike and then three months later it’s broken and stuck in their shed.’

The bikes can carry up to 100kg over the back wheel, which is designed to hold people, fruit and veg, and coffee bags. Qhubeka stresses that recipients must work to earn them. ‘We call it a hand up, not a handout,’ says Ryder. So children, for example, can grow 100 trees to earn a bicycle. ‘Look closely at the logo and you see little hands. They’re kids reaching for the bicycle. And these hands look like trees. They’re called en-tree-preneurs. Each bike costs $200, so we need donations.’