17 August 2016

Another bike, collapseable Dahon


Arusha bike center gets all sorts of bikes and they knew this would interest me.  a collapseable Dahon with Shimano internal gear hub.


 It folds size of a suitcase.  I had this bag  made .
 I can take it easily on trips.  it adjusts for about anyone.  these masai kids went for a spin.  there is a youtube video

It works well as a mtn bike.  Not as good as full suspension but it is useable.
Neear Manyara National Park.


13 August 2016

Ride of a lifetime

I ride a bicycle a fair amount.  I have had some epic rides.   I have met some epic riders.  But today was over the top.

 I have hosted around the world bicycle tourists, I rode my bicycle to the gate of Mt Kilimanjaro to shake hands with Alberto Contador, Rafaell Majaka, and Peter Sagan.  I rode RAMROD.  I rode 320km to Ngorongoro gate and back in 13 hours .

But those memories  pale in comparison to riding with my child today.

I have ridden with my daughter Nashesha many times, even 3 day trips, or long days on the tandem.

But today she rode an advanced route, and out did me several times.  There are some uphills in rough tracks and  I "came off" twice and walked,  she rode around me.  At no point did I have to compromise.
Reminds me of the days 15 years ago when my son Seth beat me up a hill.

There is nothing better in life when you see your child enjoy what is important to you.

Today was that day.  4 1/2 hours riding in total.  First dealing with heavy traffic for 30 min, climbing 800 m, helping me fix  a flats.  I mean really helping.  No complaints from a teenager and then  arriving home and telling mom  " it was so great".  I think I have reached the pinnacle of life.

The only rest stop.  Chai, a few wild berries, and a banana.

Some big trees in the forest.

11 August 2016

Family vacation rides

I have a fork holder on the roof and a collapsable bike and found a better way to lay a third bike on the roof, so I could take three bikes!.

When putting a bike on the roof rack flat, lay the tyres under the bike as a cushion, works great.  Although the fork clamp is the easiest and fastest way.  Also remove the quick release skewers.  One of mine the nut vibrated off!

We drove to Tanga town arriving in the dark.  Next morning the easiest bike to get out was the collapseable so i rode that for 2 hours.  It is a great bike considering it is collapseable.

First a stop in Amboni Caves near Tanga.  It was great.




Hitting the beach with daughter after a early morning ride.



Nashesha picked up a friend called george.

ride in the clouds in East Usambara.


dropping down to Korogwe.




Big brother Don making it to the road after an hour of descending mostly steep tracks.  He did one epic fall jumping off the bike and then a forward flip.  The second fall was not so epic but he got some good road rash.




I would like to think that my bicycle commuting inspires or assists others to make the change.  I see some fellow workers have made the change but this is the first time someone more casual has made the change.  The bike on the right if of a "new" bicycle commuter.

Some interesting points:
1.  I would not have realised I had influence on this except the newbie started parking in MY spot.  It is a good spot as a tree blocks cars from this space.

2.  This was a guy who sends electronic money through the phone.  One day he asked about how to get a bicycle and i referred him to Arusha bicycle Center .

3.  He mentioned it one day but it didn't sink in that he bought a bike and uses it.

4.  Wow.  He bought a "real world" bicycle.  Stock made.  Fenders, racks, lights , dynamo.  It is a bike that is useful, not a toy racing bike that does not serve the purpose for transportation.