Freewheelers Project
Welcome to the new Freewheelers section of the club website. Here we will try our best to update you periodically on what’s going on with the Freewheelers in South Africa.
Please see further information in the links to the left under the heading ’Freewheelers Project’.
Now, some of you may not know anything about the Freewheelers and this we will try to change! Read on.
The Freewheelers are a ’Project’ set up in Steenberg South Africa. The aim of the Project (which is fully supported by the Pedal Power Association of South Africa) is to draw youngsters away from the streets where they are often tasked as drug mules for drug barons/dealers in the area and can quickly spiral into addiction. Cycling as part of a team provides them with much needed security, teaches them respect and discipline and is a fun and rewarding opportunity for all! Trevor Knowlden is the Founder and Chairperson of the project.
Here is a photo of the man himself hard at work!
So how did this club connection come about?
In the winter of 2008 as the season came to a close, Moffaman falls asleep in a committee meeting only to wake up with everyone looking at him and saying ’so Tony, is that ok then?’ .. to which he replies ’..err yeah sure’.
Later enquiring as to what he has agreed to in his sleep, amidst laughter only ever heard when someone gets truly shafted, the sheer enormity of the task agreed to became evident! - I had agreed to sell all of the old un-sold club kit on ebay...
Anyway, an abundance of man hours later, all my work came to no avail. Having sold nothing, I called in the experts... yep, Mrs Moffa in a desperate bid to rid the house of spandex, took to the internet and lo and behold, she found the Freewheelers cause in SA and this lead us to Trevor..
After a few emails were exchanged, it all seemed pretty much a ’no-brainer’ so the committee and a few others chipped in our hard earned bacon roll money at Ransoms and we tasked UPS with providing us a deal to ship a load of Barclays and Jersey Post branded kit down to Trevor and the boys.
Photo of the Heroic gang!
And the rest as they say, is history.. except for Mike Keighrey.. (Mike is the guy in the middle with the blue speedo on)
The whitest Ambassador with the big blue speedo
So, Mike along with the other 39,000 lunatics scheduled to ride the Cape Argus Pick N Pay cycle Sportive in Cape Town including our very own Mick Mitchinson and Spencer Daly, Mike and Moffaman hatched a plan.
"Keighrey, while you’re down in Cape Town, do me a favour....." and he did... At the Expo the day before the Cape Argus, Mike went to meet Trevor to on a misson to find out if 1). he really existed and wasn’t just selling stolen spandex through his secret army of cycle obsessed nut cases, 2). that the cause was a good one and 3). if we wanted to carry on sending Trevor donated kits and other supplies and anything else we can assist with.
The good news is that the answer to all three was a resounding yes and not only did Trevor and the team pass with flying colours, they took Julie (Velo Sport Contract Photographer) and Mike in for a BBQ and beer - amazing considering how little money there is to throw around down there!
As if that wasn’t enough, Trevor’s wife Denise made home made embroidered towels for the Keighrey’s and myself and Mrs Moffa... talk about going out of your way to make an effort. Truly nice people.
Incidentally although I say Trevor is a nice guy, I do feel the need to point out he is a Man U fan. Everyone has their flaws. Its just a matter of time before I convert him to a Fulham fan - Trevor, if you’re reading check out www.fulhamfc.com.
Aside from the wonderful hospitality and genuine thanks received from the club, It’s worth noting here that some of the youngsters in this club rode the Cape Argus as well, and I can assure you that none of them rode it on a £3000 carbon fibre bike - These are hard working lads and very grateful of the opportunity to ride bikes and be free!
So where do we go from here - Can we help further?
Well that’s up to you the Velo Sport membership. If you want to help what Mike and I see as a great cause, add to the £80 or so already donated by the committee and a few others, by donating any of your old Barclays/Jersey Post kits now that you don’t need them anymore (!) or some loose change after the bacon roll run each week - I’m happy to collect your donations!
There is a box under the spare desk in my office in Old Street where you are free to drop in any time for a coffee with old kit or other stuff to help me fill it up. Whenever it’s full, I’ll consult with Dominic at the local branch of UPS and as agreed with him, UPS will ship a box off to Trevor periodically.
Here is an idea of what Trevor feels the club/organisation needs:
Tires
Break Cables (both inner and outers)
Break Components
Gear Components
Break Blocks
Handle Bar Tape
Cycling Shorts and Short/Long sleeve tops - preferably Velo Sport Kits from 2004-2007 (Barclays/Jersey Post stylee)
Shoes/Pedals
Let us know if you have anything and we’ll get it there!
Lastly, here are some document links to show the official intent of Trevor’s project:
Youth At Risk Project Program
Press Release - Peoples Post Maccasa
For more information, have a look at the additional links on the left hand side!
Moffaman
On behalf of myself, Moffa woman, the Keighreys and of course the Committee!