The wooden-bike-less Wooden Bike Classic 2008
Bike tour through the lake region
This year's event was located in in Ruhengeri, one of the largest cities in Rwanda. Bikers who favor rough terrain will immediately take note of this incredibly mountainous region and the wildlife adventurers will find the hills are alive with sound of mountain gorillas, the most in the district. As the entry way to Volcanoes National Park, Ruhengeri happens to be the most popular tourist destination in the country. What a fabulous location to promote tourism no?
Project Rwanda hit the ground running with a bike tour through the lake region. New comers to the group were Martha Allen, Sarah Peterson, Carl and Rita Yarborough. The regulars included Gregg Bettis, Jock Boyer, Tom Ritchey. Winding through Ruhengeri, Gisenyi and Lake Kivu, the tour showcased magnificent landscapes, picturesque lakeside villages, and beautiful weather throughout.
The day before the race events were to start, a press conference was held at Bourbon Coffee's newest location in Kigali. About 20 reporters showed up, most of the media reps were at another location where President Kagame was speaking, an unfortunate timing issue for sure. The press conference was followed by a "Meet & Greet" with Team Rwanda. Abraham and Adrien talked about their lives before and after becoming part of this historical national team. An amazing story of how these unknown cyclists have become local celebrities and ambassadors of hope for a nation working to move forward.
Project Rwanda headquarters for the event
The road race was held on Friday, starting from Bourbon Coffee and finishing in Ruhengeri. Participants included Ugandan, Kenyan, Kiwis, ex-pats, and Rwandan racers, Team Rwanda stole the show by taking the top 5 finishing spots. That evening the WBC Banquet was held at the new Ishema Hotel. Formally known as the ERR guest house, the hotel features 60 beautiful new rooms and will be able to accommodate a growing tourism industry. Project Rwanda set up its event headquarters in a spacious 4 bedroom rental house off the beaten path with a private yard, very tranquil and serene, only $400/month. Ruhengeri offers many options for places to stay.
The stadium was brimming with cyclists from all over.
The first event on Saturday was the mountain bike race, participants included Team Rwanda (both A and B teams), ex-pats, locals, and visitors. Again Team Rwanda demonstrated their prowess and dominated the competition. The single-speed race that followed was brimming with intensity as eager racers formed endless lines to register for this event. We were fortunate to have strong sponsor support so the cash and prizes for the events were a big draw. MTN Calling cards, cell phones and LED lights from Princeton Tech were a hit, and the coveted grand prize was a brand new Coffee Bike. The top 10 finishers of the single speed race were also allowed to participate in the Coffee Bike race. These bikes were designed to carry heavy loads but hey – that's work, lets see how fast they are. Minus the coffee bags, these things can move.
The next race was the Corporate Cup. 15 teams competed in this relay race for prizes, bragging rights and the traveling trophy. Participants included several local companies, the Ruhengeri police squad, and the U.S. Marines based in Kigali.
The wooden-bike-less Wooden Bike Classic introduces "Coffee Bike Surfing"
Now due to a new ordinance, wooden bikes are not allowed within city limits. What!! Mmmm, what can match the chaotic unhinged hilarity of racing wooden bikes...
Project Rwanda would like to introduce a new and experimental race to the Wooden Bike Classic repertoire... the "Coffee Bike Surfing" race. Yes folks this is a team event, one team member pretends to be a bag of coffee, the other a farmer getting his or her crop to the washing station. Time is of the essence! Ready – Set – Go!
We would like to thank all of the competitors, sponsors, volunteers, supporters and cheering crowd that made this years Classic another successful event. We hope to see you all again next year.
