Riding for Change: One Man’s Mission to Pedal for a Brighter Future

Get to know the inspirational Nkosilathi Mpofu (42), bike mechanic and founder of Klipfontein Cycling Academy


AS TOLD TO DAVID MOSELEY |

If there’s a person in South Africa more passionate about riding bikes than Nkosi Mpofu, then he or she must be riding a bike right now. This particular individual must be riding a bike from dawn to dusk and well after the moon has risen. Because that’s how much you’d have to ride to clock more kilometres than Mpofu, who recently attempted to ride 3,000km in 10 days to raise funds for his academy; who rides to work and home every day; and who loves nothing more than a gentle 320km Sunday spin from Klipfontein in Johannesburg to Sun City and back.

“I’m getting kids onto bikes and they love it.”

The only thing that matches Mpofu’s love of bikes is his passion for his community. “I started the Klipfontein Cycling Academy to make a positive change here,” he says. “To get the kids off the streets and away from drugs and other evils. I’m getting kids onto bikes and they love it. I don’t have money to make change, but I have time and I’m putting that time into the academy and the children of the area.” 

I take my coffee after my oats, and usually only on my big Sunday rides. The oats wake me up, then we stop for coffee on the ride. 

I’d love to go for a ride… Right now! My favourite route is to ride from home to Hartbeespoort, then to Sun City – it’s about 320km there and back. Another route I like is out to Bela-Bela and back (also more than 300km). On that route I see so many wild animals and I feel blessed to be on my bike.

The secret to happiness is riding your bike. After riding my bike, I can tell you everything positive about the world. If I’m riding, I’m thinking. It clears my head. If everybody rode bikes, the world would be a happier place. 

Nkosilathi Mpofu (42), bike mechanic and founder of Klipfontein Cycling AcademyMy greatest exhilaration is to be surrounded by the kids when they come to the academy. Seeing the different people in the community come together gives me great joy. 

I fear nothing! Honestly. When I was attempting my 3,000km in 10 days, I was starting at 1am and riding alone in the dark. Some of the areas had no light at all. It was so dark. But I pushed on because I was doing it for the kids. It made me realise that I’m not scared of anything.  

I first knew I wanted to ride when I was about nine years old. My dad would get me these bikes but then he’d send me on these long rides. And I was riding to school every day… I realised one day that all the riding wasn’t to make me suffer; he was trying to open my mind to new things. 

I am passionate about cycling! It’s an amazing thing. I love to work on bikes; then I love to ride the bikes. Then I love to eat after long rides. Meat, salad, bread, anything!

When I wake up I greet my wife. Then I check in on my little one, who is two years old. Then it’s time for oats. I brush my teeth and ride 10km work.

I rage against the way people treat you when you’re cycling on the road. Day by day, I pray that these guys driving cars would share the roads responsibly. We must share the roads, and share this earth. Reckless driving makes me so angry. 

I wish to change as many lives in my community as possible. I don’t need money or a lot of things; I just need to know that when I die, I’ve helped make a better future for someone.  

Nkosi would appreciate any donations. If you have old cycling gear you’d like to pass on, or if you want to help out with the kids at the academy, contact him at 068 156 3786. And follow him on Strava to see his crazy rides!   

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