Cape Trails, the famous route builders of the FNB Wines2Whales (W2W) Mountain Bike (MTB) Events are further expanding their skill set by attending a two week bike mechanic training programme hosted by the Bicycle Empowerment Network (BEN).
A SMME with the key objective to build and maintain MTB trails, Cape Trails have been building the FNB W2W MTB Routes since 2010, under the guidance of Johan Kriegler, FNB W2W Director.
“We are proud to support Cape Trails on their journey to becoming self-sustaining,” says Johan Kriegler, FNB W2W Director. “All four members of Cape Trails have just completed the first half of the bike mechanic training programme that was hosted at Trail’s End (Grabouw) by BEN. Friends of W2W, the owners of Trail’s End generously offered their venue and accommodation for the trainer free of charge. W2W’s container partner, Big Box also showed its support in a big way by donating a 12m container that will be converted into a Bike Spaza Shop. This Spaza Shop will be run from the Cape Trails property in Grabouw.”
“The second half of the training programme will commence in November after the 2017 FNB W2W MTB Events,” continues Kriegler. “W2W will purchase the necessary tools while BEN and the Pedal Power Association SA (PPA) will provide basic bicycles which will be sold and serviced by Cape Trails from the Bike Spaza Shop. Ninety-five percent of the SA bicycle market is focused on the wealthier and recreational market. The idea is to establish Cape Trails and the Bike Spaza Shop as a blueprint, catering for a basic bicycle market where bicycles are used as a means of transport by SA’s larger working class.”
BEN’s goal is to create opportunities through the use of bicycles. According to Tim Mosdell, General Manager of BEN, this goal is achieved through the distribution of new and second-hand bikes to deserving individuals and communities. “BEN ensures that distributed bicycles are mechanically supported,” says Mosdell. “We do this by establishing Bicycling Empowerment Centres (BECs) which involves training and setting up entrepreneurs as community bike shops in key areas. The training programme will give Cape Trails a solid grounding in basic bicycle mechanics. They will be taught basic bicycle maintenance, bicycle assembly, headset maintenance and fitting, drive-train servicing, bottom bracket replacement, brakes, hubs and wheels, gear setting etc.”
“We would like to encourage the community of Grabouw to discover the bicycle as a cost-effective and reliable means of transport,” says Robert Vogel, CEO of PPA. “More people on bicycles is the desired outcome. More cyclists will result in a greater business potential for Cape Trails. It is inspiring to see how Cape Trails have remained committed to their work. Every meter of trail that they build is essentially a legacy project. PPA is privileged to play a small part in their journey as they expand from trail building to bicycle repairs and sales.”
The bicycle that BEN and PPA will be providing to Cape Trails is the #bike4all. For more information on this specific bicycle visit www.bike4all.co.za
According to Brendon Booysen (Pikkie) of Cape Trails, he really enjoyed the training programme. “It was a really good experience for us,” says Booysen. “We will now be able to save money be servicing our own bikes. We listened intently and picked it up really quickly. It was really nice as we were able to help each other through the process.”
For Ashwell Swarts of Cape Trails being able to call himself a bike mechanic feels unreal. “We now have a new skill,” says Swarts. “We were taught to listen to our bicycles. If we hear that something is wrong, we can now fix it ourselves. We’re really looking forward to running the Bike Spaza Shop, especially because we will now be able to assist the less fortunate.”
EVENT INFORMATION: FNB Wines2Whales MTB Events
Starting in the Winelands of Somerset West, riders will cross through (and over) 13 wineries, 26 private farms, six mountains, historic roads and mountain passes, nature conservation areas (including the Kogelberg Biosphere) before finishing within sight of the famous whales of Hermanus!
- FNB Wines2Whales MTB Adventure: Friday, 27 October 2017 – Sunday, 29 October 2017
- FNB Wines2Whales MTB Ride: Monday, 30 October 2017 – 01 November 2017
- FNB Wines2Whales MTB Race: Friday, 03 November 2017 – Sunday, 05 November 2017
Like our Facebook page: Wines2Whales /Bicycling Empowerment Network / Pedal Power Association
Follow us on Twitter: @w2wmtb /@BENBikes_SA / @PedalPowerPPA
For more information on EPT visit www.eptrecovery.com For more information on the FNB Wines2Whales MTB events contact Chris on 083 760 3158, e-mail [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected] or visit http://wines2whales.co.za/
About FNB Wines2Whales:
FNB Business and FNB Private Wealth are proud to be the title sponsors of the annual FNB Wines2Whales MTB Events.
The sponsorship forms part of FNB’s ongoing strategy to support local and community events that focus on a healthy lifestyle and show the potential to grow. The sponsorship affirms our dedication to providing an experience that is beyond expectation, through a sport that continues to grow in popularity as one of the key activities in the South African sporting calendar. The annual FNB Wines2Whales MTB Events are aligned to our belief that adventure is the heart of innovation and this is one of many platforms on which we seek to make a lasting connection with new and existing clients.
Contact
FNB Business – The Bank built by entrepreneurs.
Email: [email protected]
FNB Private Wealth – Let us invest our time to manage and grow your wealth Email: [email protected]
ISSUED BY: Newsport Media
ON BEHALF OF: Wines2Whales Organisation