http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/12/commentary/rwanda-and-the-transformative-power-of-the-bicycle_310981

An inspiring article in VeloNews of Tom Ritchie, Jonathon Boyer and the Rwandan cycling team.  I will have to get the book

We all know of Tom Ritchie as the founder of the mountain bike.  Many of us know Jonathon Boyer as around the 2nd to make it in Europe (after George Mount), the first American to ride the Tour and key teammate to Bernard Hineault.  Few of us know of Ritchie's depression and self-searching after his divorce.  Far more about Boyer's legal troubles and jail time.  Rwanda's civil war with its nearly million deaths slid under America's radar for the most part.

Tom Ritchie started going to Rwanda and started the Wooden Bicycle Classic.  (Working bicycles were a casualty of the war.)  In 2006 he invited Boyer to join him.  Their work and persistence has led to a bicycle team and pro rider in Europe as well as cargo bike to transport coffee to market, resulting in better quality beans at market and better prices for them.  Huge kudos for those two for sticking this out!

I look at this as a spiritual journey.  And like many of the great spiritual journeys, it is happening with feet on the ground, not head in the clouds.

Ben