The Albion Wheelers Cycling Club, the largest road cycling club in the south of Johannesburg with more than 300 members, has once again shown that strong legs can be matched with even stronger hearts. Comaro Chroniclereportsthat from From December 13 to 16, the club successfully completed its Alberton to Durban Cycle Tour, a four-day, 700km endurance challenge that delivered relentless climbs, powerful camaraderie, questionable saddle comfort and, most importantly, a meaningful purpose. Thirty-two determined cyclists, supported by two ever-patient and coffee-fuelled support drivers, rode from Brackendowns to Durban, conquering more than 6 200m of elevation along the way.
While the ride pushed riders to their physical limits, it was never about bragging rights. Through their collective effort, the group raised R25 000 for Bambanani Southdale Community Service, an NPO doing vital work in vulnerable communities, primarily in the south of Johannesburg. Tour Director Michael Hayes and newly appointed Albion Wheelers chairman Michael Haack said that the tour reflects the club’s growing commitment to giving back.
“Albion Wheelers wants to contribute more meaningfully to community upliftment. Using cycling as a platform allows us to do just that, 1km, and one aching leg, at a time,” they said. Bambanani Southdale Community Service supports vulnerable communities throughout the year, including weekly soup kitchens in Turffontein that feed more than 300 adults and children.
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Each month, the organisation undertakes hands-on community projects ranging from outings with children in the care of Shammah Safe House for abandoned children, to food packs and soup kitchens in informal settlements across southern Johannesburg. Bambanani also hosts high teas for elderly residents in retirement villages, provides ongoing support to organisations such as the Johannesburg Society for the Blind, and assists with feeding schemes and building projects across Southern Africa. Bambanani director Michael Ho expressed sincere gratitude to the cyclists, noting that the funds raised are urgently needed and will enable the organisation to continue its vital work both locally and beyond.
Day one set the tone and soaked the socks. Riders departed Brackendowns in pouring rain that followed them relentlessly to Frankfort in the Free State. Battling wet, pothole-ridden roads, biting cold and a gruelling 170km, the day proved especially tough for first-time tour riders. Spirits were tested and legs complained loudly, but determination prevailed as every cyclist rolled safely into the finish.
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