Filed under: Bicycle rental on the Cape Peninsula
To all our loyal ByBikers, you might be wondering why there are no more yellow bicycles out at their usual locations…
Here is the official statement:
ByBike operations have been temporarily suspended due to an operational restructuring. We apologize for any inconvenience and will let you know when operations resume.
Watch this space for future updates. We hope to see you all enjoying the Argus this Sunday (March 13th 2011) and we wish all the riders the very best of luck and great weather!
Filed under: Bicycle rental on the Cape Peninsula
Global Wheeling Animation from warren willmott on Vimeo.
The Global Wheeling Foundation is a South African based Non Profit Organisation and has some amazing programs up and running, including Bums On Bikes and Recycle A Bike. Set up by South African Kayden Kleinhans, his latest challenge is a 2 year global bike ride which amongst other things, hopes to bring awareness to climate change and reducing carbon emissions.
“Around The World Eco Charity Bike Ride, 40 countries, 2 years, 1 man, an environmental pilgrimage to highlight the bike as a positive tool for change”.
I think what Kayden’s doing and the causes the Global Wheeling Foundation supports are brilliant. There’s more than one way of contributing so check out the site where you can support his ride and follow his progress as well as donate or contribute to the foundation and it’s different initiatives.
An extract from Kayden’s latest blog update:
Week 5, Lyon to Montpellier, mixed emotions, detours and couch surfing. Total 2081 km’s
A mixed bag of emotions bringing highs and lows in many forms. I woke early on Monday morning, a public holiday in France and the streets of Lyon were eerily quiet, excited by the fact that the Global Wheeling Foundation was planting 100 trees in an RDP development outside Hermanus in the Western Cape that day. One last scan over the emails before I would be unplugged again for a while, I opened my inbox to be confronted by the worst kind of email, a friend had passed away before his time. His family was based in Grenoble, 140 km’s east of Lyon so I decided to head in that direction instead of my original and planned route south to Valence. A fairly late arrival in Grenoble after a long 140 km day in windy conditions to try track down his parents whom I’d never met before to pay my respects, I was greeted by snowcapped Alps and chilly conditions.
Leaving Grenoble on the Tuesday took some time but I was blessed with a gorgeous cycle path hugging the Isere river snaking back towards Valence where I had arranged accommodation with a young family for the evening through an online platform that puts hosts and long distance cyclists in touch, a bit like couch surfing but for cyclists. I arrived in Valence after dark that evening, 110 km in the saddle through some rather serious climbs on the edge of the Alps to be met by a bubbling young household of enthusiastic cyclists. We rambled about bike travel and all it’s in and outs, they had clocked up a few km’s through Europe themselves and we discussed different routes and options heading south.
Filed under: Bicycle rental on the Cape Peninsula | Tags: 1994 genocide, BikeTown Africa, HIV/Aids, how you can help, Malawi, Rwanda, Tingathe Community
Every BikeTown Africa event provides the opportunity for up to 15 participants to attend the build and handover of the bicycles. This affords people the chance to get a first-hand look and feel for the impact a BikeTown Africa Project can have both on a community and on an individual.
As a participant, you build the bicycles, train mechanics and really “get dirty” for two days as you help the BikeTown team and the organization hand over the bicycles. This is a vacation, but one that gives something back and really makes a difference.
Read the BikeTown Africa blog to find out about previous events and get personal perspectives from some of the participants.
Email us to find out more about any of these builds, and sign up to receive our newsletter.
BikeTown Malawi, Lilongwe: Oct 31 – Nov 4
120 bicycles will be donated to Tingathe Baylor Community Outreach Program.
In this small East African country, over 30,000 infants contract HIV from mother to child transmission. Of these children, over 50% will die before the age of two years, and over 75% will die before the age of seven. Tragically, despite the widespread availability of life-saving prevention and treatment modalities in Malawi, most HIV-exposed and infected infants do not access the care they need. To help change this situation, Baylor Malawi initiated a community outreach program called “Tingathe”, meaning “yes we can” in the local Chichewa language. Tingathe empowers and trains Malawians to serve as community health workers (CHWs) within their own communities.
Event Schedule:
Participants arrive in Lilongwe by the morning of Sunday, 31 October. At dinner that evening you will be briefed on your role for the week. Monday and Tuesday will be full days of bike assembly, with the handover ceremony on Nov 3 and site visits to see the work of the Tingathe Baylor program that afternoon and the morning of the final day, Thursday Nov 4. The final dinner on Wed evening will be preceded by a game drive.
Cost:
US$600, excl. flights
If you are interested in participating in this event, email the Project Manager.
BikeTown Rwanda, Kigali: Dec 5-8
120 bicycles will be donated to Foundation Rwanda, whose mission is to provide funding for the secondary school education of children born from rape during the 1994 genocide, link their mothers to existing psychological and medical services, and create awareness about the consequences of genocide and sexual violence through photography and new media.
Event Schedule:
Participants arrive in Kigali by the morning of Sunday, 5 Dec. At dinner that evening you will be briefed on your role for the week. Monday and Tuesday will be full days of bike assembly, with the handover ceremony on Dec 8 and site visits to see the work of Foundation Rwanda that afternoon and the morning of the final day, Thursday Dec 9.
If you are interested in participating in this event, email the Project Manager.
Filed under: Bicycle rental on the Cape Peninsula
HopeFirst Foundation and Kona Basic Needs are looking for volunteers to join us in “The Gambia” in September to assemble and handover 225 Kona Africa Bikes to help the children of rural Gambia get to school.
Most villages have a primary school, but secondary schools are spaced farther apart. There is no public transportation, and rarely a motorised vehicle. Middle and high school children walk the round trip to and from school each day, many as far as 7 miles each way. A bike can reduce that 2 hour walk to a 30 minute ride.
Girls may especially benefit from the AfricaBikes, as they are frequently kept home from school to do chores (sweep, gather wood, carry water, pound rice). If they spend less time getting to and from school resulting in enough time to complete their chores, parents may agree to let them be educated. Half of the bikes will go to girls, so perhaps they will not have to choose between their family obligations and getting an education.
Villages in The Gambia may lack access to water, food, healthcare, education, and enterprise. Removing the barriers to education may be the piece of the puzzle that can connect the dots and help alleviate these problems. Transportation to school for children that live too far to walk will ensure that every child gets the chance to learn.
Can you spare a week and want to visit an amazing country, The Gambia, and help build and donate these bikes?
Don’t worry about not being a bike mechanic, the Kona Africa Bike is very simple to put together and full training will be given on site.
You will have to cover your flights and dailyexpenses, typically around $60 USD per day (this includes local transport, accommodation and food in the villages). HopeFirst Foundation volunteers will help you coordinate your flights and arrange everything for you on the ground in The Gambia.
Travel Dates: Come for one week or two. Arrive on a Sunday and depart one or two weeks later on a Sunday. September 12 – 26 will be spent between two areas of The Gambia, assembling bikes, as well as introducing other HopeFirst Foundation Projects.
So what are you waiting for? Have a trip of a lifetime and feel good helping a great
cause!
Contact Sandy Murray, sandym@hopefirst.org for more information
Filed under: Bicycle rental on the Cape Peninsula | Tags: Andy McCandish, Danny MacAskill and Hans Rey, extreme sport, mnt bike, mountain biking, photography, Scottland, Steve Peat, wheels4life, World champion developing countries
Danny shows some of his skill
Steve Peat, Danny MacAskill and Hans Rey available for you to take home!
Okay, not really but, you can bid on a signed, framed and ready to go photograph of the trio. The photograph was taken by the very talented expert mnt bike photographer Andy McCandish. The photograph and a copy of World Champ Peaty’s new book is up for grabs to raise some much needed funds to help distribute bikes to rural communities in developing countries who are in need of transport for various reasons. The bikes go to children who need to get to school or healthcare workers who need to get medical supplies to those who are not able to travel.
Do not hesitate to check this out, click here to go straight to eBay Or to find out more about this awesome 5 day trip around the Scottish Highlands, including a heli-drop in Torridon which is where the auction photo was taken, follow this link by clicking here
Should you like to donate or find out more about the Wheels4Life charity which Hans is the founder of, follow the link from here
So get bidding and clicking away to be a part of something great!!
Filed under: Bicycle rental on the Cape Peninsula | Tags: bicycle, bike, bike rental, ByBike, cape town, Dawid Mocke, Fish Hoek, mocke, nikki mocke, paddling centre, surf ski, surfski, the paddling centre
ByBike is very excited to welcome The Paddling Centre and the Mocke brand to our network! Situated in Main Road, Fish Hoek, The Paddling Centre is a vibrant hub of movement that is constantly buzzing with curious tourists and surfski shoppers … and, now, eager bike renters.
The Paddling Centre is owned by Dawid Mocke. Sound familiar? Dawid is a great, friendly and down-to-earth kind of guy who also happens to be the reigning world surfski series champion. Dawid and his wife, Nikki, who is one of the top female surfskiers in the world, are known for not only for their super surfski skills but also for training over 3000 beginners since Dawid and Nikki Mocke teamed up with Varsity College in 2003. Classes take place on Saturdays and are very reasonably priced. Check it out here.
The Paddling Centre, opened in 2007, is the foundation of all things surfski and Mocke related. The Mocke brand offers everything from PFDs (personal flotation devices) and windbreakers to instructional DVDs and Mocke clothing. It is so popular that tourists have been seen snapping away at the shopfront, which now also boasts bright yellow ByBikes, ready to be rented. So grab a bike and maybe a surfski and make it a day filled with fun, sun and activity!
The Paddling Centre and ByBike join up!
Filed under: Bicycle rental on the Cape Peninsula, South Africa | Tags: accommodation, bicycle, bike rental, bikes, ByBike, Cape Point, Cape Point Route, historic mile, picnic, sail, Simon's Town, South Africa, Southern Right whales, Southern Tip of Africa
When I say “by far” I also mean far south. Fudd’s Place at Simon’s Town on the South Peninsula was my destination. As it’s the most popular ByBike Base I had to see for myself what the attraction is.
The friendly Fudd's Place and its many colours
Fudd’s Place is situated in one of the first stops on Simon’s Town’s historic mile. Squires Building was built over a century ago but clearly there has been some recent renovation of the building, which now offers quite a selection of activities, including a tattoo parlour, an Internet cafe and a diving shop.
Simon’s Town is only 64km from Cape Point, so it’s the perfect place from which to cycle to the tip of Africa. This is the route most travelled by our very own ByBikes. The riders always return filled with excitement and amazement at just how beautiful the south-westernmost tip of the African continent is.
Why don’t you give Gerald a call, and ask him to arrange a picnic basket. Then rent a ByBike and enjoy the magnificent far south for yourself! You won’t be disappointed.
Many thanks, Paul, for your time and words – we wish you well on your travels and hope to see you on our shores again soon!
Filed under: Bicycle rental on the Cape Peninsula | Tags: Bafana Bafana, City of Cape Town, cycling, FIFA World Cup, Green Point Stadium, soccer enthusiasm, South Africa
After so much anticipation and a huge build-up, some criticism, a few close calls and tons of enthusiasm – I for one am ecstatic that the World Cup is finally here! WAKA WAKA Bafana Bafana and welcome to all!
Some of the beautiful new features in Cape Town
My high spirits are thanks to the thousands of people who took to the streets to support not only their teams but South Africa as a whole. I was lucky enough to join in the City Of Cape Town’s NMT (non-motorized transport) launch procession from the Civic Centre to Cape Town Stadium in Green Point. Our journey on foot was spectacular. Everywhere along the Fan Walk route we encountered proud and exuberant supporters. Everyone was overflowing with smiles and ‘gees’ for the soccer madness that has already descended upon our country. It was a sight to see. I was overwhelmed by the energetic vibe and I found myself feeling quite sentimental about the World Cup.
Enthusiastic participants on the walk to Cape Town's Stadium at Green Point
Along the way we found The Mother City, Mama Africa, pregnant with soccer, and the Lion King. They were among some of the many people who have found a stunning creative outlet for their soccer fever and who are so proudly showing their support.
The 'Mother City and 'Mama Africa'
But I digress … the aim of the walk was to show what the City of Cape Town has done for people with special needs, cyclists and pedestrians, as the City has been busy with all the FIFA preparations. Many new walkways, crossings and bridges as well as a large green belt are the result of many months of work. Well done to all involved! The best way to see the new changes would be to get your bum on a bike and to explore the Fan Walk for yourself, starting at the Civic Centre and then just going where the ‘gees’ takes you. You should be aware that no cycling is allowed on Green Market Square.
Councillor Thompson at the Cape Town Staduim
To show support for Bafana Bafana, South Africans were asked to take to the streets and to make as much noise as possible at exactly noon on Wednesday 9 June. Blowing your vuvuzela and honking your car horn was first on the list but it didn’t end there. As we were on our way back from the Stadium and after listening to Councillor Elizabeth Thompson deliver her thank you speech, thousands of Capetonians and tourists alike hit the streets at noon to make some noise! ‘Gees’ was certainly to be heard and seen on the streets everywhere in Cape Town. And it is going to get even noisier!
Soccer support at noon
So here is to a successful Soccer World Cup and thank you everyone who has shown support and patience, and to all who are as excited as I am! VIVA South Africa! VIVA!
Filed under: Bicycle rental on the Cape Peninsula
Check out this super soccer support idea that we got from our ByBike Buddy Gail Jennings. We love it! Thanks, Gail!
The ByBikes at Circle Cycles are the first to wear the South African flags in support for the FIFA World Cup
Filed under: Bicycle rental on the Cape Peninsula | Tags: backpackers, bicycle, bike, bike rental, ByBike, cape town, ghosts, Glencairn, Green Elephant, Muizenberg, Obs, Observatory, Obz, Southern Right Hotel, Southern Right whales, surf, Surf Shack, Village Inn, whale, whale watching
The Green Elephant – a popular backpackers for locals and tourists
With the best view in Muizenberg, check out the Surf Shack
The Southern Right boasts flags from across the world
