Page 35 - LionKing

Ethiopia, exist all around Africa with major leagues like Tour de Rwanda and inner city rides like the Lagos City Critanium, Accra Cycling competition and the Tour of DRC in the heart of Kinshasha, with riders streaming along 500m of the city manoeuvring and negotiating the crowd- ed streets and people to compete for prize money and a chance to take the team to an internationally recognized competition.
This might not be our Tour de France but this movement is a gentle reminder that this fan gaining sport is actually a daily reality of many lives across cities in Europe and densely populated communities
like New York and London, where Traffic seems to be the order of the day. The United Nation has listed 17 sustainable development goals and bicycle riding alone contributes to 11! You can save energy, burn calories and ensure that the environment is safe and pollution free for mankind and plants.
The big answer to an earlier raised ques- tion, is not that we are not riding because we cannot but it is that we are not riding because we are bound by a number of fundamental setbacks. Government and private sector groups need to look into the inherent issue of roads and manage- ment of these roads in our Continent. Organizations in charge of infrastructure on highways and inner city routes must create safe travelling routes for cyclists and governing rules that allow them ride
across these cities.
There should also be a grassroots edu- cation where people see bikes as more than a status drop, they are not a causal effect of poverty or lack but rather an empathic alternative to keeping the place safe for others. In line with this, Children who cycle should be encour- aged as the more enthusiastic they seem, the more driven the culture becomes a part of our lives.
Health is not directed to your physical state alone but also your mental balance, research has shown that societies where bikes are, build better brain structure and functionality. The Scientists studying the psychological effects of physical activity sometimes ask volunteers to ride a bicycle outdoors for a set time or, more common- ly, to pedal a stationary bike indoors and saw a spike in sensitivity and brain func- tion based of this motor-skill.
Furthermore, the financial implication
of cycling cannot be over flogged, you spend no money on gas, less on fixing any parts and the government is not injecting
a lump sum of taxes to healthcare to defend car accidents, pollution related ailments and creating parking spaces and defacing society. Countries like Senegal and Gambia are slowly becom- ing accustomed to rent-a-bike tour guides and mountain bike rides that allow tourists see the beauty of the country and enjoy the scenery of our exotic Africa.
In all, luxury really is what we make of
it, with TreK, Cervelo, BMX, Litespeed
and other exclusive bicycle companies designing bikes running into the thou- sands of dollars, this new future mode
of transportation can be as sleek as you desire. You may face a hard hit to your account when you change a stoke or break pad on these aforementioned lux- ury bikes but starting with the simpler rides a day remind you how you truly save on the luxury of life - something money can- not buy but a few miles a day can assist with elongating and celebrating.
The cycle of life, really is important (Pun intended)!
“
The big answer to an earlier raised question,
is not that we are not riding because we cannot but it is that we are not riding because we are bound by a number of fundamental setbacks.
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Image: Olalexy