A Bicycle Adventure

Someone asked in a comment on my hang gliding blog if a had ever embarked on any previous adventures, well here is a story of an adventure that happened over 15 years ago.

I was studying Electronic Engineering in the Federal Polytechnic Bida, about 300 kms from my home in Kaduna, Nigeria. For sometime I had always wanted a multi-speed racing bike, and during my holidays, I would go to the supermarkets in Kaduna, looking at the bikes on sale, and dreaming that one day I would buy one for myself, so I started saving some of the money my dad usually gave me when I went back to the Polytechnic. I finally had enough money, so during a half-term break I went back to Kaduna, spent the week at home as usual, with a plan that I would buy the bike on the day I was to return to the Polythecnic, and ride it 300 kms back! The only preparation I had made was having the money for the bike, and travelling light with one bag which I would put on my back when riding.

On the scheduled day of my return, my dad gave me some money for the rest of the term, dropped me off at the bus station where I was to get a car for the 300 km journey and drove off. As soon as he was gone, I picked up my bag, took a bus back into town and went to the supermarket where I proceeded to buy a 5 speed touring cycle. I took the cycle to a local bicycle repairer who checked the bike over, made sure the tyres had the correct pressure and oiled the chain, I narrowly missed my dad in his car as I left, he didn't see me, but I saw him, and he wasn't expecting me to be in town, so did not pay particular attention to the guy wheeling a bicycle on the sidewalk! I was ready for my journey, but was so ill prepared, I hadn't even thought about taking anything to eat or even drink, and I was setting off to ride in 33 degree temperatures in northern Nigeria.

I made my way out of town, and by the time I had ridden about 10 kms I was thirsty and needed a drink, so stopped at a village for water. I spoke Hausa which is a common language in northern Nigeria, so I could communicate with the people, I told them where I was going, and for some reason they thought I was in the Army. Once I was re-hydrated, I got back on the road. Having left Kaduna at around 2-3 pm, and with no previous training, the heat and fatigue got to me, so I finished off the day at about 50 kms from where I started around 6 pm. I was tired, and it was starting to get dark, so I pulled up at a hamlet, asked for some water, and if I could spend the night with them. One of the men kindly offered me his bed, and I was given food and water, and before long I was fast asleep.

I woke up the following morning around 6 am, and took off, wanting to make the best progress before the sun was high in the sky, and it wasn't until about 10 am that I had breakfast which was a loaf of bread and a bottle of coca cola. I also got some water and some biscuits so I could stay hydrated and have something to eat for energy. That day I rode a total of 150 kms, before stopping at another hamlet, this time I had to sleep outside on a mat, but I was given food.

The third day, I woke up early again, and with only 100 kms to my destination, I knew this would be my last day on the road, so I put in some extra effort, and made even more progress than the previous day, arriving at my destination in the early afternoon. I had made it, 300 kms from Kaduna to Bida on a bicycle, with no previous experience or training. My colleagues in the Polythecnic were amazed at what I had done, though I paid for it just one week later, when I suffered from a bout of malaria brought on by exposure to mosquitoes and the battering of my system during the journey.

I later went on to ride the same bike another 300 kms or so from Bida to Ilorin, and then a final 150 kms from Ilorin to Ibadan.

I thoroughly enjoyed riding my bicycle in those days, but I haven't ridden since I moved from Ibadan to Lagos in 1987 and subsequently from Lagos to the UK.

Maybe I might get back into cycling this year, maybe!