Calgary cyclist, triathlete recalls the experience of biking across the African savannah in February
"We rode hardtail mountain bikes, which daily took quite a beating on the dirt, sand, lava rock pavement and mud trails," Custer said.
In January, we shared the story of David Custer, a Calgary triathlete who, along with several other riders, was about to embark by bike across the African savannah in February to raise money for much-needed wells. The ride was part of an initiative called “Wheels for Wells,” a fundraising campaign dedicated to providing the developing world with access to clean, safe water since 2011.
Recently, Custer and his squadmates returned, and told Canadian Cycling Magazine about the life-changing experience.
In summing up what prompted he and his team’s mission, he quoted the words of Alex Weber, who founded Wheels for Wells when he was just nine years old: “No one should ever go without water.” Inspired by that, Custer’s involvement led to August of last year, when he and three other riders—Mike Palichuk, Brandon Jones and Sarah Fillier—set out from Vancouver to Calary, drinking only from freshwater sources en route.
Why? As Custer explained it, the reason was to emphasize the ease of finding such freshwater in Canada compared with other countries. In five days, the group covered more than 1,000 kilometers, raising both funds and awareness along the way.
Thus, the model for the Tanzania ride was established.
And it was a success. “The trip raised over $33,000 for World Vision’s clean water projects,” Custer told Canadian Cycling Magazine. “We rode across the African Savannah just south of the Kenyan border into some very remote tribes and villages. We rode hardtail mountain bikes, which daily took quite a beating on the dirt, sand, lava rock pavement and mud trails.” Off the beaten path, exploring the landscape cross country-style, he and his squadmates found the trip’s greatest inspiration, he said.
“We were able to be quite interactive with the local Maasai people,” Custer recalled. “We were welcomed into their hut dwellings and occasionally greeted by traditional Maasai singing and dancing, the most spectacular of which was the Maasai Jumping Dance.” Watching the performance, the squad was drawn deeper into the local culture, experiencing its rich, vibrant character up close. It was also during these moments that Custer and his fellow riders, from the ground-level perspective of the saddle, could see up close what their efforts were supporting.
“On our travels,” Custer said, “we were able to visit a village where World Vision had funded a water project. It was amazing to see first-hand how the communities are impacted by the very funds we were raising.”
The ride itself, Custer told Canadian Cycling Magazine, was exactly the sort of challenging, unforgiving experience one would expect from African terrain, covering low desert stretches and steep ascents. “It was a ride unlike any other,” he said. “We cycled alongside giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, baboons and water buffalo. Along the way we changed 25 to 30 flat tires, often due to the thorns that grew everywhere. The heat was a challenge, every day being at least 35 degrees Celsius. Some areas it was dry and dusty and some areas were incredibly humid.”
“Some of the hill climbs,” the Calgary triathlete described, “were 18-20 percent grade and we climbed to an elevation of 6,000 feet and the Ngorongoro crater. The ride challenged the stamina and perseverance of everyone in the group.”
With the 2016 ITU World Triathlon Series kicking off, a different set of priorities is now ahead for the Calgary triathlete. Looking forward to the finals of that series in Cozumel, Mexico this September, his journey across the African Savannah serves as a springboard into the competitive season that waits. But it’s also a source of profound inspiration, the global experiences of Africa having refined his focus as an athlete—and even his day-to-day local experiences in Calgary.
“As I prepare to represent for Canada at the ITU Championships in Cozumel, Mexico,” he said, “I won’t forget the experiences I had while riding in Africa. What stood out for me the most was the people I met along the way. I got a glimpse into how people very different from me live, and I was able to reflect on my own life and traditions and how I fit in with the world around me.”
For those interested in joining Wheels for Wells, rides are coming up in Alberta and Saskatchewan this summer. Further information can be found at WheelsforWells.ca.
