David Matovu’s panga has seen many succumb to his skillful force. As numbers tumble, professional cycling is facing a transformation. This bamboo is the mother of Baclo Bike the phrase to mean bamboo plus bark cloth equals to the bike. An innovation to transform Uganda’s cycling just by mining the surroundings around you. In a society of the have-nots, nature is one way to fit in to escape the foreign costly prices. A heavy crash of its stem or branch is for the greater good but well studied to have an impact. “The plant should at least be three years. Determined by how the branches tie knots around the stem. My team is briefed on that.” His support team is aware of the stakes. “The Vanier Caliper gives the measure. The thickness of Upper bar or a cean lower bar for instance.”
David Matovu constantly consults his paperwork which is as important as the Vanier Caliper to fuse the process. “On the job, this forms the lower bar and its thickness.” “It is important we apply insecticides to dry bamboo to protect the plant, or else it is ruined later.” Said, David Matovu – Baclo Bike Manufacturer. The jungle is just a kilometer from a 10-mile production journey. 20 km away, the real work begins. We drive to the Uganda Cycling Federation Technical Center at Kalagi along Kayunga road. Here, the first task is to treat it with an insecticide, stored to dry before being placed on a jib, joints padded with sawdust and bark cloth used to wrap the edges. Shaping and smoothening then happens, sprayed and then waxed for a final product, a consumer can then pounce at a decent price. “If it’s a racing bicycle we charge USD 400 due to its various specifications yet an ordinary frame is less that figure.”
The local federation here sought cheaper means yet an effective avenue to cycle a dream. “Now bamboo is available everywhere you can easily get them. Now when we train cyclists how to make bikes, these bikes will be sold both locally and internationally and some profit will go to develop the project and the profit will run the sport and we will give you the jobs.” Said, Mathias Lukwago – President, Uganda Cycling Federation. The bike is designed to meet the asking international standards. A bamboo bike absorbs vibration and suitable for rough terrain a measure of aluminum, carbon, and titanium. many have been produced and others shipped to foreign destinations to the delight of the Ugandan Cyclists.
