Heard about an incredibly brave group of people who cycled to Cotonou a few weeks ago and wondered what on earth might possess them to do such a thing, then you’re in good company. They are the first organised riding club of their kind in Nigeria, and bring a group of 20 – 50 something year olds together for fitness, fun, and camaraderie. Their ride to Cotonou is the first in a long line of ambitious adventures they have planned.
It is no secret that riding is a brilliant form of exercise. It builds muscle tone, improves cardiovascular health, burns calories, and improves circulation. Frank Ozoma, the Captain of Cycology, explained how he began cycling as part of his desire to adopt a healthier lifestyle. He noticed, much to his delight that the weight he had been trying to shift dropped off, and cycling has remained the mainstay of his fitness regime. Cycling has the added benefit of being lower impact than running, for example, so is a great option for people who want to keep fit without aggravating their knees.
It was inspiring to spend the evening with so many passionate, dedicated people – men and women alike. There is great energy buzzing through the Cycology team, and they are very keen to welcome new members. If you have been looking for an activity that will address your fitness goals, and also compliment your social life, Cycology may be worth exploring. They ride every Saturday at 6.30am from either Chicken Republic Awolowo Road or Admiralty Way, Lekki 1, depending on the route of the day’s ride.
Cycology Riding Club is a club whose members are passionate about cycling and it seeks to promote cycling as a healthy lifestyle, and through cycling help raise public awareness about various problems plaguing our community. The club sponsored the cyclists that represented Lagos State at the last National Sports Festival tagged Eko 2012 and it hopes to do more to promote and develop the sports in Nigeria. Captain of the club, Frank Ozomah spoke to journalists recently
Why the choice of cycling?
Cycology is a club made up of professionals. The primary reason was for a bunch of us to keep healthy and promote cycling as a lifestyle alternative. The objectives of the club are 3 fold: i) promote cycling as a healthy lifestyle alternative (ii) draw attention to social issues through cycling, (iii) promote and sponsor a professional cycling team that would represent Nigeria someday at the Tour de France.
Can you let us into some of the activities you have been involved in lately?
We have undertaken a number of charity rides this year. There was the Ride for Life in May, were we supported the Child Developmental Center an NGO that takes care of children with disabilities, we did the Lagos Cotonou ride a ride we undertook in support of 3 charities, we part sponsored the Lagos State Cycling Team. We also presented gifts to the motherless babies home. We have also grown the club from about 15 members to over 100 members out of which 80 are paid up members. In the coming year we intend to support more charities and further draw attention to social issues afflicting our community we will also begin a grass root development of cycling as a sport in Lagos State by introducing it to schools and begin talent hunting for a cycling team. We will also try and grow our membership by at least another 100 people.
What are you doing to promote the sports in Lagos n particular and the nation at large?
Well cycling is actually a sport and not a game and it’s a serious sport at that. We intend to hold a number of events that will promote cycling. Also in conjunction with the Commissioner of Sports who has been very supportive and the State Cycling Association we intend to organize a major Cycling event in Lagos State. Consolidate on what we did this year. Drive membership, undertake more charity rides, start a grass root program targeting schools, start the process of starting a professional team, and start a Cycology Club in the UK. We have a board of trustees headed by Dr. Richard Ajayi and Mr Dipo Balogun as Secretary. Our Executive Committee is made up of myself as Captain, Ladipo Soetan as Vice Captain Admin and Mohammed Ramadan his Egyptian as Vice Captain Riding. The club currently is just open to professionals.
Are there other projects in your agenda?
Yes we are a change agent that wants to sensitize the State Government to be more mindful of cyclist in infrastructural development. We also intend to get Lagosians riding for us this helps us impact our community as we help in our own little way promote a greener environment. To have a team at the Tour de France and put Lagos on the cycling map. We also want to become the largest cycling club in the country with State chapters. Starting a grass root program in schools, and proving the enabling environment, spend money on training, coaching, providing the right equipment and proper exposure, and getting the cyclists to compete internationally is one of our major priorities.
Creating awareness and a new generation of Nigerians using cycling, what suggestions will you make?
I will like to say all our secondary schools should at least have a cycling club. What will this entails? It will entail just a few tips from the Lagos Cycling Association and some of the growing cycling clubs in Lagos to go into the schools or to enable the schools to embrace the idea of cycling into their sporting activities. I have been to so many inter-house sports, cycling is not one of the sports being competed for, it is never done.
Meanwhile, it is something that can help these students. And all these schools can have competitions, a summer holiday can be so full of activities, children will not just go anywhere else but just to hang-out with their mates and do a lot of things around cycling. So I would suggest that we start by going into the schools and helping them to set up bicycle clubs, from there, we can set up bicycle clubs with our paramilitary, army, the police and customs. And organizations should be encouraged to set up cycling clubs for their staff and families. We have organizations with branches round this country, they need to set up a cycling club and have competitions among zones. It will reduce emission and help the people to stay healthy. You remember Obama, when he came in with the health reform, his idea was prevention. When you have more people going on cycles, you have less expense on drugs. People do not have the danger of using fake drugs, if they go on their bicycles regularly, they will be healthier and they do not have to go to the hospitals, if they have to go to the hospitals, it will be for check-ups, which is very important. But they will spend less on trying to treat diseases, all because they have been on bicycles for a while.
As mentioned above. We raise funds for Charities; distribute bikes to rural communities to help children get to schools and farmers getting their produce to the markets. Draw attention to various social ills. Very good form of cardiovascular exercise. Membership dues and sponsorship from corporate entities.
