Retired cycling champ wants to nurture young talent

The 65-year-old retired cycling champion from Kuils River, William Newman, has appealed for donations of bicycles to his project, which aims to cultivate young cycling talent.

His project, Aspire Cycling, was launched on Sunday November 17, after receiving five bicycles from the Bicycle Distribution Project (BDP) of the provincial sustainable transport programme run by Western Cape Mobility Department. 

His project has already completed 12 sessions since the launch.

Mr Newman’s goal is to provide young people with cycling skills, equipment, and opportunities to take in recreational and competitive cycling competitions. 

He started cycling in 1978 at the age of 17 under the non-racial SA Cycling Board, affiliated to the South African Council on Sport (SACOS) and continued participating in various competitions including the World Masters Track Championships in Manchester in 2000, where he placed 5th in the sprint event, which he considered as his best results.

He was recognised by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport by being awarded with the Sports Legends 2008 Award and inducted into the “Legends of the Pedal” hall of fame.

Now he wants nurture aspiring cyclists.

“We are in desperate need of more bicycles, specifically for the younger age group (6-10 years old), as the current five bikes are suitable for kids 12 years and over,” he said.

He added that about 20 kids have been attending the sessions near the Excelsior Street Park in Highbury — most being under10 — and the bikes were too big for them.

“The sessions are held on a multi-purpose court in the park. Unfortunately, the park is not well-kept, with many thorns which are blown or walked onto the court. We therefore have many punctures weekly and have depleted our supply of puncture kits and tubes,” he said, adding that they have relocated to the Metro East Education Department’s parking lot, also in Highbury.

He needs 50 more bicycles, 50 helmets, tool kits and training equipment to sustain the project.

“Having focused on basic skills, the plan is now to introduce Single Speed Grass Track and Criterium Racing. 

“The need now is for suitable bikes for this next level of development for the bigger kids. Having scouted around, I have seen the Avalanche Fixie, which matches our requirements perfectly. It is a simple single-speed bike with minimal maintenance required,” he said.

For more information, you can contact him at 083 321 3695 or cycling@newmaxprojects.co.za