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).<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are proud to support Cape Trails on their journey to becoming self-sustaining,\u201d says Johan Kriegler, FNB W2W Director.\u00a0 \u201cAll four members of Cape Trails have just completed the first half of the bike mechanic training programme that was hosted at Trail\u2019s End (Grabouw) by BEN.\u00a0 Friends of W2W, the owners of Trail\u2019s End generously offered their venue and accommodation for the trainer free of charge.\u00a0 W2W\u2019s 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.\u00a0 This Spaza Shop will be run from the Cape Trails property in Grabouw.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe second half of the training programme will commence in November after the 2017 FNB W2W MTB Events,\u201d continues Kriegler.\u00a0 \u201cW2W 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.\u00a0 Ninety-five percent of the SA bicycle market is focused on the wealthier and recreational market.\u00a0 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\u2019s larger working class.\u201d<\/p>\n
BEN\u2019s goal is to create opportunities through the use of bicycles.\u00a0 According to Tim Mosdell, General Manager of BEN, this goal is achieved through the distribution of new and\u00a0second-hand bikes to deserving individuals and\u00a0communities.\u00a0 \u201cBEN\u00a0ensures that distributed bicycles are mechanically supported,\u201d says Mosdell.\u00a0 \u201cWe do this by establishing Bicycling\u00a0Empowerment\u00a0Centres (BECs) which involves training and setting up entrepreneurs as community bike shops in key areas.\u00a0 The training programme will give Cape Trails a solid grounding in basic bicycle mechanics.\u00a0 They will be taught basic bicycle maintenance, bicycle assembly, headset maintenance and fitting, drive-train\u00a0servicing, bottom bracket replacement, brakes, hubs and wheels, gear setting etc.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would like to encourage\u00a0the community of Grabouw to discover the bicycle as a cost-effective and reliable means of transport,\u201d says Robert Vogel, CEO of PPA.\u00a0 \u201cMore people on bicycles is the desired outcome.\u00a0 More cyclists will result in a greater business potential for Cape Trails.\u00a0 It is inspiring to see how Cape Trails have remained committed to their work.\u00a0 Every meter of trail that they build is essentially a legacy project.\u00a0 PPA is privileged to play a small part in their journey as they expand from trail building to bicycle repairs and sales.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bicycle that BEN and PPA will be providing to Cape Trails is the #bike4all.\u00a0 For more information on this specific bicycle visit www.bike4all.co.za<\/a> According to Brendon Booysen (Pikkie) of Cape Trails, he really enjoyed the training programme.\u00a0 \u201cIt was a really good experience for us,\u201d says Booysen.\u00a0 \u201cWe will now be able to save money be servicing our own bikes.\u00a0 We listened intently and picked it up really quickly. It was really nice as we were able to help each other through the process.\u201d<\/p>\n For Ashwell Swarts of Cape Trails being able to call himself a bike mechanic feels unreal.\u00a0 \u201cWe now have a new skill,\u201d says Swarts.\u00a0 \u201cWe were taught to listen to our bicycles.\u00a0 If we hear that something is wrong, we can now fix it ourselves.\u00a0 We\u2019re really looking forward to running the Bike Spaza Shop, especially because we will now be able to assist the less fortunate.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 EVENT INFORMATION<\/u><\/strong>:\u00a0 FNB Wines2Whales MTB Events <\/strong><\/p>\n 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! Like our Facebook page:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>Wines2Whales <\/a>\/Bicycling Empowerment Network<\/a> \/ Pedal Power Association<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us on Twitter:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 <\/strong>@w2wmtb<\/a> \/@BENBikes_SA<\/a> \/ @PedalPowerPPA<\/a> For more information on EPT visit www.eptrecovery.com\u00a0<\/a> For more information on the FNB Wines2Whales MTB events contact Chris on 083 760 3158, e-mail race@wines2whales.co.za<\/a>, adventure@wines2whales.co.za<\/a> or ride@wines2whales.co.za<\/a> or visit http:\/\/wines2whales.co.za\/<\/a><\/p>\n About FNB Wines2Whales<\/u><\/strong>:<\/strong><\/p>\n FNB Business and FNB Private Wealth are proud to be the title sponsors of the annual FNB Wines2Whales MTB Events.<\/p>\n The sponsorship forms part of FNB\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Contact<\/strong><\/p>\n FNB Business \u2013 The Bank built by entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n Email: newbus@fnb.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n FNB Private\u00a0Wealth – Let us invest our time to manage and grow your wealth Email:\u00a0servicesuite@fnbprivatewealth.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n ISSUED BY:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Newsport Media<\/a><\/p>\n
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