Pedalling hard for the Red Cross

A tanned man with a big blue backpack and a hunger for adventure pedaled into Ballito last week for a quick break and chocolate stock up.

After being in the corporate world for 18 years, Gaven Sinclair swapped his suit for cycling shorts in search of that feeling of being alive.

“I have been catapulted out of my comfort zone, but it is what I need,” said Sinclair, while sitting on a bench at Monkey Bay Backpackers.

He cycled from Cape Town and plans to finish on top of a pyramid in Cairo, all in the name of raising money for the Red Cross.

The charming cyclist admits there is a little bit of madness behind this solo trip of just under 14 000 kilometres.

“On the day I started the tour, reality sunk in and I just cried. I thought I had gone nuts,” said Sinclair with a chuckle.

Nonetheless, he packed his Red Cross bag and swung himself onto his second hand bicycle on August 15 and has been pedaling ever since.

“Meeting incredible people along the way and sharing amazing stories has been the best part of the trip so fa r,” said the adventurer, who quit his job for this journey.

But, it is not all fun and games on two wheels in the African wilderness.

“As much as I love the experience, there are times when I am shaking under a bush next to the highway at night or sleeping in the rain on the beach.”

It is times like these when he reads a page of his trusty book, Man’s Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl, to remind him to keep going and not lose hope or faith.

Another good motivator would be a female companion.

“It would be so much fun to meet a girl along the way, ride together and maybe even get married on our bikes. Who knows, I am just an old school romantic.”

Until then, Sinclair will keep pedaling, towards Mozambique, then Kenya, Tanzania and so on.

Donate money to the Red Cross here, or sponsor Sinclair and follow his journey, check out his Facebook page Cape to Cairo for the Red Cross or follow him on Twitter or on Instagram.