On this land mark event for Uganda, Entrepreneurship Institute of Applied and Appropriate technology as the host had 5 trainees from the cycling fraternity. 3 men cyclists, the principal himself, and one woman cyclists. We used a business model of using sports men and women in the cycling sport who were selected to take part to learn the skills of manufacturing these hand made bicycles out of the abundantly available material bamboo.
The following reasons were used.
1. Cyclists life in this strenuous and high demand and competitive sport is 30 to 35 years after which performance is expected to decline. In most developing countries sports people do not prepair for this early retirement when they can no longer perform and earn.
2. A cyclist would be in a better position to make a better quality bicycle. We would expect them to know what the industry and other sports people needs in a quality bicycle.
3. This provides employment for the cyclist even if they are still performing at the top of their cycling career. Sports people in most developing countries do not have a very high education and high paying jobs.
4. To remain on top, the sports person has to put in regular training for at least 6 hours on the road for minimum of 2 days in a week. This is not going to be accepted by most employing companies as they will suffer loss of production because of the employees absence on these days. Even if the employee returned to work after the training, he/she will be too exhausted to do anything usefully for the company. But in our company this is factored into the work program.
5. Cycling is such an expensive sport with good quality professional grade bicycles in the range of $10,000. Such high quality equipment cannot be easily acquired by our local cycling sports people. The Ugandan Government doesn't not invest readily in this sport. The bicycles that were ever received by the National cycling team were received as donations by outsiders. Without good quality equipment, we cannot expect our sports people to win medals on the international arena.
This project will enable our cyclists gain access to the same quality equipment at a reduced price. This will give them a chance to compete on equal level with the rest of the participant. Also spare parts and repair skills which have been missing will be easily available through this project.
A Test race at the end of the 10 days training.
Background of the Institute.
EIAAT is vocational institute which teaches all categories of people whether literate or illiterate and school leavers a vocation so as to prepare them for a better working life and a bright future. We offer courses like, tailoring, welding, metal fabrication, electronics and repair, Renewable energy development, bicycle repair, computer use and applications.
Why in all are we in bicycle riding than any other sports activity?
Donations:
Our vocational institute, the second largest of the only 3 active programs in Africa, receives donations of 40ft containers of second hand bicycles and sawing machines from Pedals for Progress (P4P) of USA New Jersey. The used bicycles are sold locally. The major income is used to finance the importation project for more containers. The surplus is used to finance the vocational institutions administrative costs and its other development activities. This is among the reasons why the institute wants to develop the bicycle sport with in Uganda.
Manufacturing Advantage:
We are so privileged that starting this year Uganda will be able to manufacture bicycles of its own from bamboo. On this occasion of the race, we will be hosting the training of manufacturers at EIAAT center in Rubaga.
- EIAAT (Entrepreneurship Institute of Applied and Appropriate Technology Ltd.) (5 participants)
- LBCCVSS (Lake Bunyonyi Christian Community Vocational & Secondary School) (5 participants)
- Gulu Hope Group (1 participant)
The reasons why the bicycle shall be of bamboo are:
- Bamboo which forms some of the raw material is grows readily any where in the country and is available in plenty. It does not need to be imported.
- The basic skills needed to make a bamboo bicycle frame can easily be taught to the local not technical and not highly educated people.
- This business model is most suited for us to earn foreign currency by exporting the finished products. This is targeted for the European and USA market where it’s most appreciated and these people have the purchasing power.
- A bicycle is the most convenient means of transport in Uganda a developing country with low income and poor roads.
- Manufacturing it locally will make it affordable to the local people.
- The bicycle frames out of bamboo are very stiff, transferring power efficiently; are double resisting damage from steel and impact are comfortable, surpassing aluminum, steel, titanium ,and most carbon flame in smoothness because it’s out of a nature plant.
- Our cycling sport will receive a boost as the sports people will have a high quality equipment at affordable price.
Promotional advantage:
This year EIAAT has been privileged to host one of the most prominent hand made bicycle maker/ designer from USA called Craig Calfee as the guest of honor on the cycling competition which was held on 27th March 2011 at the conclusion of bamboo manufacturing workshop. This will boost the cycling clubs, associations, and individuals of Uganda and improve on the talents of the youth.
Cycling club formulation:
We hope by organizing this event continuously we shall help in one way or the other in the formulation of cycling clubs in Uganda.
This race will be conducted each year in March and it will be indicated on the Uganda’s cycling Associations calendar.
Tree planting campaign for afforestation
We also hope to start a bamboo planting campaign as an afforestation program. This will spread out into the remote parts of the country. During this program we will be taking the bamboo bicycles and holding bicycle races to encourage cycling in the area where we are holding the program. We will also be supplying bamboo seedlings for planting, and establishing bamboo plant nurseries.
Tree planting campaign for afforestation
We also hope to start a bamboo planting campaign as an afforestation program. This will spread out into the remote parts of the country. During this program we will be taking the bamboo bicycles and holding bicycle races to encourage cycling in the area where we are holding the program. We will also be supplying bamboo seedlings for planting, and establishing bamboo plant nurseries.
Applied Bike Race 20011 registration.
Registration is targeted to Starts 15th Feb 2011
Age 15 and below free
Female free
Other individuals registration 3,000/=
Group Categories
Primary schools 50,000/=
Secondary schools 100,000/=
Tertiary institutions 100,000/=
Individual groups 100,000/=
Company/ organization 150,000/=
Groups shall be of six (6) members but you can include as many as you can in the same name but categorized into different groups.
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