Heideveld Cycling Club’s young riders have come a long way since its establishment in 2021 when a group of cyclists caught the eye of coach Reginald De Lilie during a community fun ride through the neighbourhood.
De Lilie and his wife Ingrid have since taken the youngsters under their wings and introduced them to the joys of mountaineering, hiking, camping and other outdoor activities, including competitive cycling.
Along the way, De Lilie’s employers and other individuals assisted the club with a few basic needs, kit and entries to the upcoming Cape Town Cycle Tour.
While some have some experience in tackling the 109km ride, most of the club’s riders will have their first taste of the Cycle Tour come Sunday, March 11. Others who have joined more recently, will not take part in this year’s Tour but have taken part in every exercise leading up to Sunday’s big race. As part of their preparations for the Tour, the youngsters were put through their paces under all sorts of conditions over the past few weeks, from pedalling long and winding roads to uphill climbs and even windy conditions.
Although getting everyone across the finish line in one piece in Sunday’s big race is the main objective, De Lilie is a strict disciplinarian who believes that each rider should take responsibility for his bike when out on the road. “It’s much more than cycling, it’s about teaching them life skills, he said.
In terms of their mental preparation and making sure an element of fun is built into their efforts, De Lilie and the young riders visited the Cape Town Museum of Childhood, in Rondebosch, at the weekend, to take part in a day of T-shirt design and printing.
“Each child received his/her T-shirt with the club logo and emblem, they had to add their own individual artwork to it to make the T-shirt unique to each person,” said Sarah Atmore, project manager at the museum.
The T-shirts, sponsored by the museum and others, include the HCC logo and motto “Changing lives one pedal at a time” as well as a unique artwork that was designed and painted by each child during the interactive workshop presented by Brendon Bussy, the art and design teacher at the Dominican School for Deaf Children in Wittebome.
“The concept behind it is to recognise that we are all part of a community,” said Atmore, “one whole, and to celebrate that community is made up of unique individuals, each of whom bring their own skills, talents, perspectives and personality to the party.
“Each of us has something to contribute and each child in the club is celebrated for who they are,” she said.
