Ever ridden a tandem?  How about for 100 miles?  Right, neither had we.  But on July 11-12 we rode 200 miles together in the Seattle to Portland Bike Classic to raise money toward World Vision's Bikes for Africa project. We saw thousands of beautifully engineered bikes built for recreational road riding.  We rode on a steel bike that had been donated several years ago to a local Bike Ministry and that we re-built and tested so it could go the distance.  The ride was a challenge, the bike was great and we had so much fun.  We are so grateful for the opportunities and abundance in America.

A good, solid bike in Africa costs around $100. In rural Africa, a bicycle is not a toy or a novelty. It is a key to unlocking significantly better well-being in terms of family health, education, and household businesses. A bicycle increases the distance a person can travel by 400%, and increases a person's carrying capacity 500%. It causes a transportation revolution! In places where roads are poor or non-existent, a bicycle moves farm products to market, allows a small farmer to get better seeds and fertilizer, helps children and teachers get to remote schools, and transports the sick to medical care.

World Vision has partnered with World Bicycle Relief in Africa, which has worked hard with bike makers to improve and radically "ruggedize" the standard one speed bike. This bike can carry over 220 pounds of cargo, and is much more reliable than a standard "American" bike. We have established parts and maintenance service centers. We are ready to roll!

According to experts like the World Bank, the reason that bike ownership in rural Africa is a problem is that no one will lend folks the money needed to buy the bike. These bikes will be purchased on a lease-to-own basis. That way, instead of a $100 gift meaning one bike for one person, a $100 gift means that in one year two people will own a bike. In two years that same gift means that 4 people will own a bike.

Some of the biggest names in cycling are getting behind our ride. Will you get behind us?  It costs about $100 for a bike. Help us put thousands of bikes into rural Zambia and help us make life better for the children of Africa.

You can help us buy one or more bikes with your donation. If you can't give $100 or more, you can still contribute. Any size contribution will help.  Also, if you can't give online you can give us your contribution in the form of a check or cash.  For directions on how to do that contact Mrs.Haas at susanwhaas1@comcast.net and  we can still add it to our total.  Our fundraising site will be active until early October 2009.

Thanks so much for reading about our adventure and for your support!