Township cyclists on borrowed bicycles now have their own wheels

The Cape Epic, an annual mountain bike stage race, is tough.

Imagine cycling for a total of eight days across the rocky routes of the Western Cape, accumulating a total of 700km.

Now, imagine facing those gruelling kilometres on a borrowed bike, paired with the fact that the only mountains you know are the landfills of Soweto.

This was the reality for township cyclists Calvin Mono (38) and Linda Dhlamini (27), who both completed the Epic on borrowed bicycles in just over 52 hours each. They gained access to the challenging race through sponsorship, and it was both Mono and Dhlamini’s first time in The Mother City.

“I started cycling on scrap bicycles and BMX bikes when I was young,” Mono shared. “Cycling has always been a part of me, and I started taking it more seriously in 2013.”

Dhlamini only started actively cycling three years ago, because bikes were banned in his house growing up. “My brother had a bike accident when we were young, so my mom said ‘no more bikes’. Then, after university, I brought myself a second-hand bike.”

Dhlamini admitted that his mother wasn’t too pleased with his new found pastime at first. “She said the bikes were taking up space in her house and I wasn’t making any money. Then she started seeing and reading interviews after the Epic, and she changed her mind,” he laughed.

Mono and Dhlamini’s sheer determination caught the eye of Thrifty Car Rental in Kempton Park, who gifted both eager cyclists with brand new bicycles.

“When we heard of the duo’s great achievement, we decided to pay it forward and provide them with the correct tools to excel,” said managing director Imraan Moolla. “We plan to do regular check-ins with Mono and Dhlamini, and look forward to their success over the next year.”

Needless to say, Mono and Dhlamini are both ecstatic about their new wheels. “I’ve never had a bike that fits my size,” said Mono. For Dhlamini, his biggest worry is over. “I no longer have to stress about borrowing a bike from someone to compete with.”

Thrifty Car Rental is not the only one helping the hardworking duo out. Thanks to Absa, both cyclists will receive mentorship and training for the year, as well as complimentary entries for next year’s Cape Epic.

“This partnership with Thrifty Car Rental will enable us to maximise the opportunities for these two very special men and I would like to thank them for identifying the need for new equipment and fulfilling it,” said Absa sponsorship manager Adam Brooke.