11 Feb 2018

In an effort to bring cycling equipment closer to cycling enthusiasts, Botswana’s leading bike retailers, Ultimate Cycling Base has officially opened new a shop in Sebele Mall.

Speaking at the official opening ceremony, Minister of Transport and Communications, Kitso Mokaila applauded Ultimate Cycling Base management for their role in developing and nurturing the sport of cycling in Botswana.

He applauded Ultimate Cycling Base for opening a store in Sebele mall as the area is highly regarded as a cycling hub due to its proximity to road cyclers along the A1 road.

Minister Mokaila said it was pleasing to see the overwhelming number of Batswana who embraced the culture of cycling hence he would strive to create a conducive cycling environment on the road.

He said he had hopes of infusing the issue of cyclist and the respect of cyclists in his ministry’s reviews of the Road Traffic Act.

Motorists are often inpatient and intolerant to cyclists on the road hence the need to establish regulations that protects the interest of cyclists on the roads, he added.

“Both motorists and cyclists have equal right of way on the roads and stiff penalties for motorists’ accidents on cyclist loom in the near future,” he cautioned.

As a way of ensuring cyclists safety, he said his ministry was contemplating creating cycling lanes to enable cyclists to freely go on with their business even during traffic peak hours.

Ultimate Cycle Base manager, Mr Neville Sparow said his company was committed to taking cyclists to greater levels and keen to assist riders in realising their potential.

He said they were working hand in hand with most cycling clubs in the country to see how best to improve riders and transform them to the professional setup so as to participate in Olympics and Cape Epic competitions.
 

Mr Sparow highlighted that as a way of improving the culture of cycling in the country, they had identified six riders who ride under their banner and had provided them with state of the art cycling equipment and support networks.

He said they also employed their riders so that they could have a sustainable means of living, adding that the Cycling Base aimed to develop cycling across all disciplines and communities by introducing new initiatives in conjunction with the clubs around the country.

He said they would launch three initiatives this year being, a two day stage race in and around Gaborone, a triple century ride from Nata to Kasane to attract top teams from Southern Africa and a lifestyle coaching programme aimed at teaching children from the age of three the safety aspect of riding. Ends