humanitarianism trumps bike-bling-lust

Copy below scrounged from cyclingnews.com

Kona reveals Africabike
Bike maker Kona - best known for its tough downhill and freeride mountain
bikes - has been working for the last several months on something very
different. The Africabike is Kona's contribution to the fight against HIV
and AIDS in Africa. It's designed to be a durable, practical bike for the
conditions humanitarian aid workers encounter in Botswana and Kona is
scheduled to ship 200 of the bikes in April.

A far cry from the carbon wonderbikes and long-travel suspension machines we
covet in the west, the Africabike features a steel frame (for ease of
repair); a step through frame (to accommodate female riders who wear
traditional skirts); Shimano coaster brakes (chosen because they are more
durable than pull-brakes); a singlespeed drivetrain (which has fewer parts
to break); and 26-inch mountain bike rims with specially designed
Continental tires that are resistant to the thorns and rocks that litter
Botswana's roads.

More info: www.konabiketown.com.

Interesting to contrast Kona's creation with
Xtracycle's take on what is wanted/needed by
disadvantaged people & communities in Africa.

From http://www.xaccess.org/

"The Bikes That Haul, For All

XAccess (Xtracycle Access Foundation) makes load-bearing
bicycles possible for people who need them most yet can
least afford them.

We help create economic opportunities by allowing people
to move themselves, their goods, and their families,
using human power.

XAccess is the nonprofit sister company of Xtracycle
LLC, maker of the world's first Sport Utlity Bicycle.
Profits from Xtracycle LLC support XAccess.
Read more about Xtracycle and its products at
http://www.xtracycle.com"

Pete.B

jim wrote:
Copy below scrounged from cyclingnews.com

Kona reveals Africabike
Bike maker Kona - best known for its tough downhill and freeride mountain
bikes - has been working for the last several months on something very
different. The Africabike is Kona's contribution to the fight against HIV
and AIDS in Africa. It's designed to be a durable, practical bike for the
conditions humanitarian aid workers encounter in Botswana and Kona is
scheduled to ship 200 of the bikes in April.

A far cry from the carbon wonderbikes and long-travel suspension machines we
covet in the west, the Africabike features a steel frame (for ease of
repair); a step through frame (to accommodate female riders who wear
traditional skirts); Shimano coaster brakes (chosen because they are more
durable than pull-brakes); a singlespeed drivetrain (which has fewer parts
to break); and 26-inch mountain bike rims with specially designed
Continental tires that are resistant to the thorns and rocks that litter
Botswana's roads.

More info: www.konabiketown.com.

Skewer Wrote:
Interesting to contrast Kona's creation with Xtracycle's take on what is
wanted/needed by disadvantaged people & communities in Africa.

From http://www.xaccess.org/


On this theme, the Chicago Work Bike crew repair bikes & send them to
developing countries. Are there any similar initiatives in Aus?
http://www.biketraffic.org/content.php?id=345_0_16_0_C
http://workingbikes.org/


--
cfsmtb