The Ups and Downs of Cycling in Rwanda
By Casey Temanson
Riding bicycles in Rwanda is not easy. I've learned this pretty much every time I've taken my U.S. government issued steed out for a ride. I'm in Rutsiro District where the imisozi are steep and plentiful. Hailing from Colorado, where mountains and elevation are a part of our daily lives, I figured riding in Rwanda wouldn't be much different. I was wrong. Cycling in Rwanda is difficult for a multitude of reasons, which I have been learning buhoro buhoro.
One of the main reasons that bicycling in the land of a thousand hills is difficult, is that we simply don't have the nutritional amenities that we have in the states. There are no bars, gels, or chews to grab at the nearby iduka. We don't have any fancy drink mixes that help us komera. We have biscuits. And we have lukewarm Fanta; two items that would be near the bottom of my list if I were in the sweet, sweet land of independence.
Another reason why riding bikes here is birakomeye: Peace Corps rides.
Now don't get me wrong. I greatly appreciate having the ability to borrow a bike for two years, but you're not gonna see Lance on any of the bikes we have to choose from at the Case any time soon. They all seem to have multiple ibibazos that can be quite difficult to gusana once you're at your site. And sometimes you find some of these problems once you've biked yourself 5 miles from your house. Ego ko.
Also, it's not culturally acceptable to wear shorts. So that sucks.
But the main reason why cycling here is not for the faint of heart is simply that Rwanda is one of the most geographically intense countries to ride bikes in, maybe on the planet. It is truly world class cycling here, which is why people like Jock Boyer (first American to ride in le Tour de France) have invested time and money in Rwandan cycling, why Tom Ritchey helped start Project Rwanda, why there is a Tour of Rwanda, why there is a documentary about the Rwandan cycling team (Rising From Ashes), and why I have been offered some of those most humbling experiences on a bicycle that I have ever experienced.
One of the main reasons that bicycling in the land of a thousand hills is difficult, is that we simply don't have the nutritional amenities that we have in the states. There are no bars, gels, or chews to grab at the nearby iduka. We don't have any fancy drink mixes that help us komera. We have biscuits. And we have lukewarm Fanta; two items that would be near the bottom of my list if I were in the sweet, sweet land of independence.
Another reason why riding bikes here is birakomeye: Peace Corps rides.
Now don't get me wrong. I greatly appreciate having the ability to borrow a bike for two years, but you're not gonna see Lance on any of the bikes we have to choose from at the Case any time soon. They all seem to have multiple ibibazos that can be quite difficult to gusana once you're at your site. And sometimes you find some of these problems once you've biked yourself 5 miles from your house. Ego ko.
Also, it's not culturally acceptable to wear shorts. So that sucks.
But the main reason why cycling here is not for the faint of heart is simply that Rwanda is one of the most geographically intense countries to ride bikes in, maybe on the planet. It is truly world class cycling here, which is why people like Jock Boyer (first American to ride in le Tour de France) have invested time and money in Rwandan cycling, why Tom Ritchey helped start Project Rwanda, why there is a Tour of Rwanda, why there is a documentary about the Rwandan cycling team (Rising From Ashes), and why I have been offered some of those most humbling experiences on a bicycle that I have ever experienced.
To give you an idea of the extremes of long (ish)
distance riding here, I decided last break to ride from my inzu to Gisenyi,
basically along the Congo-Nil Trail (from near Kibuye). Google maps told me
about 40 miles, which I thought ntakibazo. The next 4.5 hours of my life would
prove to be some of the hardest on a bicycle. After 43 miles with 4,100 feet of
climbing, 4 fantas, 1 pack of biscuits (Nice), and 1 plate, I made it to my
dorm bed in Gisenyi, tired and defeated. I stayed for 2 nights before returning
to site, which involved 5,600 feet of climbing, 5.5 hours in the saddle, and a
similar amount of food and Fantas.
Cycling in Rwanda is a great way to see a lot of this country. It's excellent exercise and the abana are good motivational fuel when stale crackers aren't cutting it. But if you plan on going out for a long ride, be prepared. Rwanda can beat you and your mediocre PC igare up. If interested, check out Project Rwanda, volunteer with the cycling team in Musanze, go watch the Tour of Rwanda, or come watch Rising From Ashes with me once I finally get my hands on it.
Check out these sites for more information on cycling in Rwanda: Official Site of Team Rwanda Rising from the Ashes Documentary Official Site of the Tour of Rwanda |