Chris Boardman has lent his support to Re~Cycle, a charity that repairs and transports unused bikes from the UK to be sold in Africa. “It’s just a great concept — everybody wins,” he told The Times.
Boardman was speaking at a Halfords store in Brixton – one of 80 branches which will be accepting bikes on behalf of the charity. A full list of drop-off locations can be found on the Re~Cycle website.
Post-Christmas appeal from Bradford bike recycling organisation
The organisation receives donations of unwanted bikes from individuals and businesses and those that are sound are sent to various partner organisations in Africa. Damaged bikes or bikes in poor condition are stripped down and the spare parts are also sent to Africa.
Boardman said that refurbishing bikes for people who may have no other form of transport was ‘a no-brainer’.
“In the UK having a bike is fashionable. Cycling is a trendy thing to do. In Europe bikes are very functional, people ride them in normal clothes — you don’t see ‘cyclists’. But worldwide, it is the poor people’s transport; it’s how you get around. For some people it’s a choice but for others it’s a genuine means to get to work, to a school, hospital or clean water — their only means.”
Last year the charity sent 12,317 bicycles to six countries in Africa and since it began in 1997, it has shipped almost 75,000.
“Bikes have a huge life span and can do an awful lot for people,” said Boardman.
From your own link there:...
Maybe take some drugs to calm your nerves...
So...don't cycle on it. Lots of other routes around that area. Source: I used to work there.
I'm not sure that aero carbon fiber bike would have been much use in such circumstances. But a gravel bike, well that's another story...
So, do those buses do as much damage per person as a w@nkpanzer?
Armando Iannucci "Today is Day One of humanity’s Idiolithic Era."
My photochromic specs have just turned up in the post today
It's not just cycling shoes, walking boots have the same problem. A long time ago I was told I had Germanic feet and those of us descended from...
Downhill Alpe d'Huez TT would be _awesome_. And someone should organise one for real!...
Custom bikes used to be for life....