Father-and-daughter duo Colin and Bianca Cooper completed their 9 Peaks adventure two weeks ago. They rode their low-cost, low-maintenance Qhubeka Buffalo bicycles between each of the nine peaks, the highest points in each of our nine Provinces, climbing to the top of each mountain. They started this home-grown journey in mid-March and completed their last climb around 1 May 2015.
During their adventure I kept an eye on their website - heavymetalbikes.co.za – and FB page (9 Peaks Qhubeka Tour). What a most wonderful adventure! On their blog you can read about their travels and they’ve posted some great photos.
If you’re wondering what Colin has done to his Qhubeka to pimp it… He removed the heavy stand, the chain protector and added mountain bike handlebars for long-distance comfort. For the rest, they’re riding standard made-for-rural-Africa Qhubeka bikes.
Having completed the 9 Peaks, they were up for more. Colin and Bianca continued on their bikes to visit Biana’s friends in George. As Bianca had to return to Jo’burg for work, Colin decided to tag on a few more days of riding. He rode through to Cape Agulhas and then to Cape Town (arriving 6 May).
And then he headed North – by car – to Beitbridge and from there cycled to Haenertsberg, where he and Bianca started this journey two months ago. Colin arrived in Haenertsberg today! Coming ‘full circle’ back to Haenertsberg completes a North-South line travelled across South Africa.
Colin’s wife (and Bianca’s mom), Maggie, has been their support driver for this adventure.
P.S. Having followed Colin over the past few years, I got an itch for a Qhubeka too. And now I have one and it is divine! Solid, simple and fun to ride.