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DOUBLE YOUR GIFT THIS SEASON
Due to the generosity of an anonymous donor, all gifts received by December 31, 2008 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $750,000 - that's $1.5 million toward The Power of Bicycles! Please help us reach our goal today!
Please consider making a contribution to purchase a bicycle, or give a gift in honor of a friend or loved one. Each bicycle costs just $134, and will help up to 20 people likw Katendi, a widowed mother of three who is a volunteer Caregiver. To see the impact of our programs, watch this piece from The TODAY Show that aired in September.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE by F.K. Day, President of World Bicycle Relief
THE INTIMACY OF GIVING 
A few months ago, in a rural Zambian village, I attended a gathering of parents, community leaders and elders. I stood there beside Bruce Wilkinson, head of the cutting-edge, World Vision-led HIV/AIDS program that we support with bicycles. Bruce asked for anyone who had taken in orphans or vulnerable children to raise their hands. All but a few indicated that they had.
Until recently, most countries in Southern Africa had no word for "orphanage." Instead, it was traditional that if one or both parents died, their children would be cared for by family and friends. But as the HIV/AIDS epidemic ransacked stable homes and killed or disabled parents and providers, communities quickly became overwhelmed.
None who answered Bruce's question would consider their act of taking in an orphan one of generosity. Rather, they consider the future of each child as an imperative. Their dream, just like ours, is that their children have a better life than they did. These people have much to share: their belief in family, belief in community, humbling endurance and vision of what the future can hold.
It is not us and it is not the bike that helps people. A bike simply magnifies the intensity of Zambian parents and guardians in their commitment to their children. Transportation in the form of a bicycle opens up possibilities that were previously inconceivable.
In a time of global financial crisis and scarce resources, please know that your investment in those possibilities is powerful and lasting. During this time of mind-numbing news, treat yourself to the intimacy of giving: The next time you see someone on a bike, or are sitting in traffic, think of a Zambian woman riding her daughter to school 3 miles on the back of her bicycle over a packed dirt path, before she heads off 5 more miles to the market to sell her produce. Now imagine her on foot. The difference is remarkable.
Your generosity can put so much into their reach. You can make a difference. Thank you. -- FK
STORIES OF CHANGE by Leah Missbach Day
MEET 'BICYCLE CHARLES'
Charles Mwanjeleka, a self-made Zambian artist, is a businessman first. He  designed these delightful figurines after noticing tourists being drawn to photographing bicycle riders who carry incredibly large and exotic loads. The figurines are crafted from wire, brown paper and Mealie-Meal (white cornmeal, a Zambian food staple) in his home with the assistance of his wife Christabel and his brother James. Especially for World Bicycle Relief he now produces Caregivers with their kits or carrying sick patients to clinic. The increase in demand is inspiring Charles to dream of a separate studio space and a safer neighborhood for his family.
FROM THE FIELD by Dave Neiswander, Head of Africa Operations
IMPROVING ACCESS TO RURAL HEALTHCARE
Having delivered close to 18,000 bicycles in Zambia over the past 16 months, World Bicycle Relief has earned the reputation of supplying strong, reliable bicycles supported by a network of well-trained field mechanics. Because of this, we were approached by TransAid, a U.K.-based non-profit that works to improve local transport management skills and solutions in Africa. In partnership with TransAid and Disacare, a Lusaka-based organization that manufactures durable mobility aids for persons with physical disabilities, we are piloting a bicycle ambulance trailer program in the Eastern Province of Zambia through a grant from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
A critical barrier to timely access of health services by expectant women and other patients is the lack of transportation particularly in rural areas. This project aims to improve access to rural health care services through the provision of innovative and cost-effective intermediate transportation - bicycle ambulance trailers. The project will operate in three rural communities in Eastern Province: Chipata, Katete and Petuake. Ten World Bicycle Relief field mechanics were selected from these communities to be trained in Lusaka on the proper assembly, maintenance and repair of the ambulance trailers.
Once assembled, the 40 ambulance trailers will be distributed to community home-based care volunteers through the RAPIDS program partners, World Vision and CARE. These home-based care volunteers have already received World Bicycle Relief bicycles through the RAPIDS program and the trailer hitch is designed to easily transfer from one bicycle to the next. Ambulance trailers will be placed within the communities or at local health clinics and their usage will be monitored through a log system. The training and assembly took place in September with delivery into the field in October.
While this is a pilot program, it is hoped that the lessons learned through the monitoring and evaluation conducted by Transaid could become a model for thousands of bicycle ambulance trailers to enable rural populations to access health services.
This is a perfect example of how the power of partnership can leverage programs: the durable bicycles and trained field mechanics of World Bicycle Relief; the administrative and management expertise of Transaid; the design and manufacturing capabilities of Disacare; the caregiver networks of World Vision and CARE empowered by RAPIDS; and, of course, the funding of the Canadian High Commission. These organizations can come together with their respective strengths to help more people.
DEVELOPMENT UPDATE by Jill Reid, VP of Development
Benvenuto Cycle Italia and Grazie!
 Cycle Italia, a premier bicycle touring company that offers a world-class assortment of multi-day Italian road biking adventures, has come on board as a partner of World Bicycle Relief. Realizing the importance of sharing their passion for bicycles with those less fortunate, Larry, co-owner of Cycle Italia, shared his reason for his desire for wanting to support the mission of World Bicycle Relief, "We chose to help the organization in an effort to help a charity, one that can make a major, even though simple, improvement in the lives of others who may not be as fortunate - using one of our favorite things - the bicycle". Cycle Italia will be including World Bicycle Relief's information in all pre-departure materials for their clients as well as supporting our efforts through their generous social responsibility efforts.
For more information on Cycle Italia visit www.cycleitalia.com
'Ultra Rob' supporting World Bicycle Relief through web sales
 Rob Lucas, otherwise known as "Ultra Rob," knows just how much difference a bicycle can make. He began a campaign on November 24 and is donating 10% of earnings from his website, www.ultrarob.com, to World Bicycle Relief, through December 25. With his website listing over 200,000 cycling and outdoor gear products from over 60 online stores, Rob is confident his contribution is going to make a big difference.
Ultra Rob hopes to create a positive impact for bicycle recipients. He will tap into the generosity of a current World Bicycle Relief supporter who will match donations dollar-for-dollar through the end of the year. "The money I raise will go farther," Ultra Rob points out. "One bicycle costs only $134. It won't take much to raise funds, and every dollar adds up to make a big difference. I'm really excited about this campaign."
Bicycles have deeply impacted Ultra Rob's life. His love of cycling goes back a long, long way. "I've been competing for nearly 20 years. I've participated in the world's toughest cycling event, riding 2,000 miles in eight days," he notes. "I had the best equipment. There are people in the world who need to deliver life-saving medicine or care for the sick, and they don't even have the most basic equipment to get where they need to be."
"I'm proud to support World Bicycle Relief," Ultra Rob states. "It's the best way I can think of to use my website and my love of cycling to give people the resources they need for a better life."
To participate in Ultra Rob's donation campaign, visit his website at www.ultrarob.com.
GEARGRINDER launches Graphic Tee Collection
and other unique eco-friendly gifts
Featuring an array of unique, eco-friendly cycling-inspired clothing items and accessories, World Bicycle Relief partner GEARGRINDER active apparel company has launched its new e-commerce site at www.gear-grinder.com. Included in the launch is the Wearable Art Collection, which features comfortable short-sleeve tees with limited-edition one-of-a-kind cycling designs crafted by cyclists.
 GEARGRINDER also donates a portion of the proceeds from each online sale to a cycling-related organization that uses the bicycle to improve the health, welfare and safety of people and the planet. From a list of select organizations, including World Bicycle Relief, customers are empowered to select one to which they want GEARGRINDER to make the donation.
"Our Give Back initiative stems from the GEARGRINDER founders' desire to give back to the cycling community," says GEARGRINDER co-founder Paul Weaver. "These organizations all use the bicycle to promote safe bike routes, protect the environment, fight childhood obesity, and more =E2=80=A6 incredible programs that we want to help promote and sustain."
While the GEARGRINDER "Cycling Inspired Apparel for Your Active Lifestyle" brand, founded by four cycling enthusiasts, draws its inspiration from the cycling culture, its product line appeals to cyclists and non-cyclists alike as the clothing line is intended for "off the bike" or "after ride" wear.
According to Weaver, "We offer cycling-inspired active apparel, not hard-core cycling jerseys, but our base layers are performance-based so you could jump on a bike for a quick ride to the office, take off your helmet, and go about your day in the clothes you rode in on."
Other recent eco-friendly additions to the GEARGRINDER site which would make for unique gifts for cyclists include the long-sleeve Kona tee derived from bamboo, the extended-tail Hybrid jersey for after-ride wear, the carbon-embedded Carbon Polo, and the Podium jacket and vest with reflective piping for combined safety and style as well as wallets, belts and messenger bags made from recycled bike tubes.
"ENVIRODE" is GEARGRINDER's initiative to clearly identify those products that meet the company's highest standards of environmental stewardship through use of ecologically sensitive materials, fair trade manufacturing, sustainable practices and social responsibility.
GRASSROOTS ROUNDUP
'ROLLERCOASTER ROAD' GETS 'ADOPTED!'
We at World Bicycle Relief would like to extend a 'thank you' for one of the more creative ways to spread The Power of Bicycles: adopting a road!
Chad Behnken of Colorado Springs, Colorado, put in an application that was approved to adopt a 2-mile stretch of Rollercoaster Road. The area is approximately 3 miles directly east of the Air Force Academy, between Old North Gate Road and Stella Drive, an area popular with local cyclists. The Stella Drive sign is right outside the entrance to Fox Run Regional Park!
Chad plans to partner with the SRAM office in Colorado Springs next spring for work days along his adopted street. A bird's eye view of the area is available via Google Maps, and feel free to visit in person if you're ever in the Springs!
It's easy to get involved as a Team World Bicycle Relief member. Volunteer opportunities are available in the Upcoming Events listing to the right, or visit the web site and download the Grassroots Empowerment Kit to learn how you can work within your own community. Get started today!
TECH NOTES by Craig DeAmbrose, Product Manager
APPROPRIATE MULTI-SPEED BICYCLES
In the previous newsletter we talked about the merits of the single-speed drivetrain: its durability, simplicity and serviceability. That being said, we realize the world is not flat! While an appropriately geared single-speed drivetrain can work remarkably well in hilly terrain, there are clearly regions that can benefit from a robust, multi-geared bike.
 The world of multi-gear drivetrains is split in to two categories: Internal Gear Hubs (IGH) and derailleur systems. Simply put, internal gear hubs place the shifting mechanism inside the hub and derailleur systems have the mechanism outside of the hub. If you've ever seen an old Schwinn or Raleigh with 3 speeds, it was probably a bike with an IGH. In the U.S., most bikes purchased in the past 30 years have a derailleur system. Each drivetrain has its strengths and weaknesses, and each is better adapted to certain types of riding and situations.
World Bicycle Relief is currently testing and considering a number of multi-gear options for bicycles, as it could very much benefit people in hillier regions of Africa. No matter which direction we choose, multi-gear drivetrains are more complex and require more maintenance than a single-speed drivetrain, making a stable supply of spare parts that much more important. Many multi-geared bikes make it to Africa, but end up being modified to be a single-speed or just junked due to inappropriate design, poor quality or a lack of spare parts.
One of our most difficult tasks is to ensure spare parts are available deep into the field. We try to do this by building off of or strengthening the existing infrastructure.
Unfortunately, the existing infrastructure is weak and fractured, and quite frankly the poorest people are often overlooked in the formal economy. The success of a multi-gear option for the bike is very much tied to the success of spare parts getting to those in need. All bikes even the simplest and strongest, need fixing eventually.
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Give the Gift of
World Bicycle Relief
Donations make the best gifts!
Just $134 purchases a complete bicycle, and any donation amount will help provide The Power of Bicycles.
Contributing is easy: just follow the link at the bottom of this newsletter, for convenient credit card, check or wire transfer instructions, or visit us online at www.worldbicyclerelief.org
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Upcoming Events
Join us for these important upcoming events! Contact Chris Strout at cstrout@worldbicyclerelief.org if you are interested in volunteering.
December 3: World of Chocolate, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Chicago
March 14: Solvang Century, Solvang, Calif.
May 1-3: Wildflower Triathlon, Monterey County, Calif.
Hosting a World Bicycle Relief event? Please let us know!
The Power at Home
Seeing the bicycles we provide can be a grat starting point for a conversation. These photos show two examples in action!
Our partners in Zambia, World Vision, displayed information about the RAPIDS program at the Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago recently.
The display bicycle included a Caregiver Kit strapped to its heavy-duty rear carrier.
The SRAM office in Colorado Springs displays a bicycle in its sun-lit entrance.
The office helped arrange for some of Leah's photos to be displayed at a local gallery, and have now put them on display.
The view from outside the office.
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