African Roadsters

You may remember that I had stated that my first brake rod roadster sighting wasn't in China at all...It was in Africa. A Phoenix in Moshi, Tanzania, as I recall. We were there to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. Well, while sorting through some old photos of that trip, I discovered that the bikes were not just preserved in my memory, some were preserved in photos as well!

Africa is an important market for both Chinese and Indian roadsters makes, and of course the locals have a colorful name for the bikes. They are known as "The Black Mamba". Quick, like the snake, and of course most of the bikes are painted black.

 

The couple above is peddling through a forest path on their way to the farm fields. The bike appears to be an Indian Hero, 28" of course. Westerners may question the sidesaddle method of riding adopted by the pillion passenger, but this is basically the only way a pillion travels in China as well.

Of course, bikes are also used as work bikes. The picture below, was intended to be one of those, "Filming you filming me" pictures when this gent carting a bike full of brush rode into the picture. As I recollect the locals were collecting tinder.

 

The next pic was taken in town where you can see a few roadsters. The one on the left looks again to be of Indian manufacture, judging by the box constructed fork crown. The bike is also seriously tall. Note where the top bar is in relation to the rider's waist!! The front fork trusses are also apparently designed with curves to allow fitting a basket, which is absent on this bike.

So did we summit Kilimanjaro? Mission accomplished.

Comments

[GL Belyea]

I was quite surprised when I travelled to Malawi eight years ago to see how ubiquitous the bicycle was. Unlike here in Canada, however, mountain bikes were almost completely absent - only foreigners had them, it appeared. Instead, Avon and Hunter brand roadsters, English bicycles built under license I believe, predominated. While many of the bikes were in poor repair even fresh out of the shop,their owners rode the covers off the tires. I saw bikes loaded six feet high with wood for fuel & carving - when mother wasn't riding pillion! - secured with bungee straps made from those same worn tires.

[JS]

Thanks for the comment GL.

Actually, Avon is an Indian brand, and one of the largest bicycle manufacturers in the world. "No license required."

Cheers.

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