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BUFFALO FOUNDATION | FIX ARTICLE

Quella has recently partnered with The Buffalo Foundation to create a one-off, branded version of it’s iconic Oxford bike. Every Buffalo Foundation bike sold returns 25% of its sale price directly to The Buffalo Foundation. In this edition of The Fix, we talk to founder, Jan Joubert, about the charity and its background.
The Fix: So Jan, for those who don’t know about The Buffalo Foundation, can you give us some background?
J.J: Buffalo Foundation is a charity that supports disadvantaged young people via sport, education, and life skills. Sport & education is taken for granted by most of us, but in a world where people are struggling to make ends meet, it is not even on the menu. We have a heavy focus on the townships in South Africa where I am from and we have plans to replicate this with academies we support in the UK in the near future.

The Fix: Why do you feel that sport and education is so important?
J.J: .Sport takes many forms from a simple pleasure to an all-encompassing passion and our aim is to open the door to this world to people who wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunity. It is not just the pleasure of taking part but the structure that it imposes; the discipline, commitment, and the communication needed to make it work. Sport introduces some of the individuals we work with to these structures for the first time in their lives. In townships where life is chaotic and unstructured, just the process of involvement with sport is life changing along with the added benefit of supplementary education via our academy tutors.

The Fix: Can you give us an example?
J.J: One of our projects that we are involved with is the Kwano Cycling Academy in the Kwanokathula township in Plettenberg Bay. The kids at the academy understand the value of what the Academy offers them, they know that they must arrive on time, that the equipment needs to be looked after in order to perform well and homework complete before cycling training. They relish the rewards of their achievements as payback for their hard work and they flourish in the safe environment of the club away from the dangers of township life.Aside from the cycling itself, the club offers extra teaching and proper facilities for the kids to do their schoolwork.

The Fix: Cycling seems to be at the heart of many of Buffalo Foundation’s initiatives, what is it about cycling that works so well?
J.J: Cycling is a very accessible discipline; it can be learned quickly and at its most basic level it instantly provides a method of transport as well as a route to improved fitness and wellbeing. You literally get back what you put in and with some commitment, improvement is rapid and rewarding. A bike also gives instant freedom, and enables self-sufficient transport whether it be to school, a medical centre or just to visit a friend. The Buffalo Foundation recently assisted with fundraising to deliver just under 250 Qhubeka bicycles via the Murray High School into the community of Kwanokathula.

The Fix: How has Covid-19 affected the academies?
J.J: It’s been tough on the academies throughout the current pandemic. We are in the middle of additional fundraising campaigns to not only assist us with keeping the academies running at cost so they can survive through the lockdowns and new regulations but still be there for when some form of normality returns to life. We have several supporters who have coloured their hair, and beards in the 7 colours of the rainbow and we have also kicked off a campaign for employees to get their CEOs to either colour their hair or shave it into a mohican. Of course there is also our Buffalo Club for people who with to support us on a regular basis. This not only helps our academies survive but has also helped us provide food parcels to all of our academy families who have really struggled with food as they have lost their income as a result of the pandemic. Quella is a partnership we are super excited about as the funds raised will help us to not only maintain what we are currently doing but also help us make a difference to more young people including our UK academy plans.
The Fix: We know you are a committed cyclist yourself and have done some big rides here and back in South Africa. How has your cycling enthusiasm influenced your joint creation and support of The Buffalo Foundation:
JJ: My key reason is I want to make a real difference to as many young people's lives as possible by giving them opportunities to flourish and enable their futures. We can have academies with any sport, it doesn't have to be cycling, but for me cycling has not only helped me keep fit and healthy but also provided me with various networking opportunities, allowed me to experience some of the most incredible rides around the world including within the areas of our current SA academies, and make lifelong friends. I’m passionate and strongly believe cycling has been a catalyst to making a difference to those that are part of the academies.
The Fix: It’s been a pleasure Jan, we are delighted to be involved.
Take a look at a day in the life of Kwano Cycling Academy, one of the Foundation's project partners.


The Buffalo Foundation custom bike can be ordered on-line on the Quella website for £575.00 and for every bike sold £120.00 will be donated straight to The Buffalo Foundation.

RAD-RACE | LAST MAN STANDING
Team Quella rider Callum Jeandin was one of 150 riders let loose for the 2020 Last Man Standing race in Berlin to battle against some of the best fixie riders in the world.

This incredible event takes place on a tight indoor go-kart track with 10 riders per race racing fixed-wheel bikes at the same time with no brakes - sound like chaos?? Yep, it is! It is fast and furious with lots of crashes - incredible bike handling as well as speed and fitness are the key to success.

Last Man Standing is organised by the amazing Rad-Race team and, as well as bringing together some of the world's best Crit riders, they managed to persuade former time-trial World and Olympic champ, Fabien Cancellara to take part. 'Spartacus' was looking very cool and definitely sprinkled some celebrity stardust on this high octane event. Another rider well known to the audience was James Lowsley-Williams from GCN who was here for a second helping having competed last year.
Check out the video that we made from Rad race here - https://youtu.be/YDakFuexQfw

Despite the incredibly high standard of the riders, the backdrop is more like a rave than a pro-sport event with D.J's banging out pumping music, with full light and sound system, and LOTS of noise from a very enthusiastic crowd who make full use of the bar. As well as the super competitive hard core riders, there is also a great reception for those riding in fancy dress or not much dress at all in some cases. The format is brutal, after every two laps, the last rider is pulled out of the race to get down to 4 who progress to the next heat until, eventually, there is only a 'Last Man Standing'. This means the standard gets higher and the races get faster as the evening progresses - it's a fantastic spectacle and a great atmosphere. After holding his own well in his heat, our man in black, Callum, on his Quella Varsity had a minor crash which slowed him up and he just missed out on progressing but survived to tell the tale. Huge congratulations to British rider Alec Briggs who made it to the top of the podium after some very hard racing - amazing performance!! French fixie ace Margaux Vigie was untouchable in the women's event and always looked in control to take the trophy. Once the racing finished, it was time for the music to get even louder and a proper after-party to finish things off.
Will we be back? Yes, for sure, it's epic!!
Big thanks to Limar helmets for hooking us up for the event, check them out here - https://limar.com/?lang=en
Thanks to Henry Little for the film and photography, check his instagram out - @hen_piccolo

JAMES GOLDING | CANCER SURVIVOR AND RECORD BREAKER
The Fix talks to an old friend of Quella James Golding about surviving cancer, breaking world records, and his goal of being the first man to win Ride Across America.

We have known each other a while and we are very familiar with your back story and the horrendous health issues you have battled, but it’s inspirational stuff and it would be great to share it with our Fix readers.
I don’t mind talking about it at all because, horrible as it was at the time, it has brought about so many positives in my life and changed my perspective on almost everything. I was diagnosed with cancer in 2008 and told that my chances of survival were bleak. The following months consisted of some very gruelling treatment and a prognosis that I might well spend my life in a wheelchair. As you can see, I managed to avoid that, but I did spend 4 months in one and then got a second diagnosis of another tumour 3 years later. It was hard going but it was during those times that I developed a resolve to turn the negatives into positives and I will always be grateful for that.

Since your recovery, it is fair to see you have become a fairly bonkers cyclist. Could you give the Fix readers an insight into what ‘bonkers’ about cycling means in your case?
Yes, bonkers is a good way of putting it!! There have been so many big rides and so much training. It is fair to say that some of the early smaller sportives I did after cancer also were some of the hardest at the time when my body was still massively depleted. Since then, I guess some of the bigger ‘headliners’ are LA to Miami (3473miles), London to Edinburgh in 2 days, 9 x Haute Route 7-day trips across the Alps and Pyrenees, the Mallorca 312km and pre-running the Tour of Britain route. The most recent big one was the Ride Across The West in the States earlier this year which has qualified me for the Race Across America 2020. I have definitely missed loads out, but they are all on my website.

And, you have raised a few quid for charity in the process – we know you are a modest soul but please tell us the magic number?!?
I like to think that I am modest, but I am also unbelievably proud to say that I have raised over £3million for charity since my recovery from cancer.
Huge congratulations on breaking the seven day world record, talk us through that.
In a word – hard - 1766 miles of hard! As with a lot of challenges, it becomes a huge mind game. Am I in real distress or real discomfort? Discomfort – keep going!! Do I want to stop more than I want this World record? World record please! I have learnt that if there is a clear goal, I can nearly always keep going. I am definitely an endurance rider not a racer.

So the big project now is Ride Across America, where are you at with that?
I want to be the first British athlete to win and I am confident that I can do it. Endurance races aren’t as well known as the Grand Tours but I can assure you that this is a monster. It is widely recognised as the hardest bike race in the world. To win, you need a proper team behind you and I have secured some great sponsors and we are well on the way but I am still fundraising and would love to hear from any readers who would like to get involved in helping a GB rider make history. It’s a huge financial commitment as well as a personal one and cannot be done without a professional team in place.

Give us a few stats!!
There are many, I know them all far too well!! Here’s a few – the total race is 30% longer than the Tour de France and is complete without any rest days. I’ll race 3000 miles total, approx. 375 miles per day for 8 days against the clock, average sleep per night 3 hours, over 17,000 metres of climbing up to a max height of 3309 metres (1.5 times Mont Ventoux!!) To break the current record, I need to get from San Diego to Maryland in under 7 days and 16 hours! Of all the stats, that final number is the one that I wake up in the morning thinking about. Sadly, all the rest are out of my control!!

Bloody hell!! It sounds horrific. How’s training going?
Really good thanks, notwithstanding a few domestic issues. Louise, me, and our two kids moved to Portugal to give me easy access to the right training environment – better weather, quieter roads, and plenty of climbing. The house desperately needed a new kitchen and a few other bits. The local builders arrived and took it upon themselves to make their first job ripping out the old kitchen, so we are currently living in a house with two young kids and a makeshift kitchen in the front room. The builder is now well behind on the project and Louise’s patience is wearing very thin. Apart from that we love it!!

Is the Quella still getting a run out for the odd trip to the local bar?
Hmmm, I am sad to report that the local bar is not really on the agenda, unfortunately it's definitely more bananas that beer at present and my lovely Quella is hidden at the back of the garage behind the majority of my furniture, a large pile of building materials and a cement mixer!! Get the house finished, ride across America, and then I will be back on my trusty single-speed and definitely enjoying a few cold ones!! As usual, ‘One step at a time!!!’

James – as always its been an absolute pleasure. We wish you the very best luck with the project and the fundraising – if anyone can do this, it is you!
James Golding is aiming to be the first British rider to win Ride Across America, the hardest endurance bike race in the world. It’s a huge challenge and despite having some great sponsors on board James is still fundraising hard in between countless hours of training. There are still some amazing sponsorship opportunities available.
If you are interested in helping James and promoting your brand, visit his website at www.onestepatatimeuk.com
OR
E-mail: simon@jamesgolding.uk.com

THE BRISTOL BIKE PROJECT I AWARD WINNING COMMUNITY PROJECT
Bristol Bike Project is in its 10th year, The Fix talks to Krysia Williams, Community Co-ordinator to find out more.







Quella rides Critical Mass
Critical mass is often described as an ‘unorganised coincidence’. It happens when cyclists congregate in the same place at the same time and decide to cycle the same way together for a while. A social gathering to meet people and share stories from everyday life. On occasions, it offers individuals the platform to demonstrate more concerning issues in society, albeit of an unorganised nature. Onlookers can do nothing but wait patiently until the procession of riders has meandered leisurely on through, and for a brief moment in time cyclists claim ownership of the streets beneath their wheels.
On the last Friday of every month riders from all walks of life converge under Waterloo Bridge in Central London.






PARIS-ROUBAIX | FEATURING GARRETT TURBETT
In December 2002 Garret Turbett was involved in a life-changing road accident. His neck broken in three places and his back in one, he was left with 80% paralysis in one arm. At 34 he became a para-athlete for his native country of Ireland.
This is a story of overcoming adversity, a love for the traditions of cycling and the battles of one man taking on the cobbles of Paris- Roubaix.
FEATURING QUELLA AMBASSADOR GARRETT TURBETT
FILMMAKERS CLEMENT HODGKINSON /2ND CAMERA TOBY RONEY
www.clementhodgkinson.com / www.tobyroney.comSUPPORTED BY QUELLA BICYCLE

Elliot Jones | A Photographer on a fixie
'This is my bicycle, there are many like it, but this one is MINE' is a sentiment most cyclists are familiar with; your bike is precious and personal, a friend as much as a possession. Like a lover, it might have 'issues'; a cranky personality, the occasional breakdown, and the ability to puncture your emotions from time to time. However, together you make a beautiful partnership without the complications of bad sex and arguments about whose turn it is to take the bins out.
Anyone who has owned a bike will know the pain felt when some undeserving, low-life swipes it whilst resting and vulnerable. It is inconvenient, expensive and annoying - really, really annoying.
Elliot Jones, a 22-year-old photographer and content manager at website basementapproved.com, had owned his Quella Nero fixie for precisely 489 days. It had whizzed him across London from Tufnell Park to Shoreditch hundreds of times, always beating the traffic and the tube. Sure, it had thrown him a couple of punctures, one of them in the pouring rain, and it lost its chain bouncing out of one of London's 'infinite' potholes, but it was a good'un - extremely good looking, low maintenance, reliable and steady. So, when he emerged from the pub after a quick post-work sharpener to find what little remained of his lock lying on the floor, he was very, very hacked off. He had lost his loved one to a thief.

Luckily, Elliot is a resourceful fellow and a talented photographer, so when he was told a couple of days later that his insurance company wouldn't pay out – because the bike hadn't been locked in his garage – he came up with a plan. THE PHONE RANG AT QUELLA and Elliot pitched his intent “What if I provide some great photos of your new Varsity range and we work together on some Fixie art prints for the website, could we have a deal on a bike?'. A new partnership was born.
A brand-new chrome finished Varsity Imperial was dispatched and it was time to 'move on'. The old Nero had been great, but the Varsity was a step up. In Elliot’s words; 'This bike really is the business, I love riding it and the chrome frame gets comments every day. I am chuffed to be working with a brand like Quella on an on-going basis, and, as well as the general photography, we are going to partner on some limited edition, 'fixie themed', urban art prints, which is a really exciting project. Getting my bike nicked was a massive pain but every cloud...'
It all sounds like a happy ending, but if you are the grubby 'tea-leaf' that nicked a Quella Nero from outside The Prince Arthur, be very careful you don't get spotted riding it around anywhere near Elliot Jones. We have met him, he is a big lad who's definitely been around the block, I wouldn't fancy your chances.
Elliot's work can be seen at www.quellabicycle.com and on his own website www.photojones.co.uk.
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2 Wheel Gear | The brand that bikes to work
2 Wheel Gear was founded in Calgary, Canada with product manufactured using a borrowed sewing machine. 18 years later the brand is selling successfully throughout North America and has just landed in the UK for the first time as part of a partnership with Quella. The Fix finds out more:

Tell us a bit about 2 Wheel Gear’s background?
The founder, Craig Coulombe worked in downtown Calgary as a geophysicist. His daily attire would typically include a starched white dress shirt and smart pants to the office but got fed up of pulling out a wrinkled set in the locker room following his morning trip to work. Ahead of the trend, Craig would regularly cycle to work, however, there were very few options to transport clothes. Backpacks made his back sweat and were uncomfortable. Panniers at that time were nothing more than open sacks for dumping everything in one place. He decided to make his own way. The first step was asking his mother-in-law if he could borrow her sewing machine!
What was the first product?
In 1999, a very rough looking Classic Bike Suit Bag was born, and It was the first garment bag that kept clothes pressed on their hangers and strapped to the bike rack. Craig knew he had created a new way to bike commute and teamed up with longtime University pal, Ken MacLean to start selling the bags. For years, the Classic was sewn one by one in Calgary and assembled with hand rivets to order.
When did you join the party?
I was brought in by the guys to manage the business in 2010 as a fresh-faced business graduate. I strongly believed in the movement that Ken and Craig had started and felt both the product and brand had a much greater market appeal than its current audience. It was quite low-key to start with, working mainly from my basement on the side of a full-time career. In the early days, a local delivery normally involved me taking an extra suit bag on my commute for delivery on my lunch-break.

When did things start to get serious?
We all agreed the business had great potential from day 1 but required a full-time commitment to be successful. In 2012, using my life savings, I purchased the company outright from Ken and Craig. It was tough to start with but in 2014 we had really broken into the North American market which is when I moved up to Vancouver.
In 2015, Two Wheel Gear started working with MEC, Canada’s largest and most trusted retailer of outdoor and cycling products. The focus is to create the very best bags in the world for professional business commuters and to keep pushing boundaries with bike commuting gear. Our focus is straightforward and simple. We want to make it extremely easy to bike to work.
We love some of the imagery and video you guys have done, how did that come about?
“What do you have there?” Was a common question at 7:30 am while changing in the men’s locker room in my corporate days.
Half or fully naked 40 somethings would always be asking me about my bike bag while towelling off in the men’s change room. I would be pulling my suit out of my Classic Garment Pannier and the bike commuters at the company had never seen anything like it before. I would often go into a full product demo while keeping my eyes up at shoulder height. These moments were the inspiration for our ‘locker room’ comedy footage that everyone loves.
We wanted a strong brand and knew that we wouldn’t create an impact unless the imagery was unique, and our videos generated attention. Our vision was to mix both style and humour across our social media platforms. We have created some great practical photography and video to help explain the product. They both work in different ways.
Finally, how do you see things developing in the UK?
I know that Quella work with some great distributors and they will use those contacts to give the product exposure through retail channels, as well as marketing the range on their website. A Quella bike with a 2 Wheel Gear garment pannier must be the perfect commuter combo! We aren’t expecting miracles, but we truly believe that the product is well-suited to the UK, particularly in the larger cities. If people are worried about the weather, you need to remember that we launched this product on the North-Pacific Coast of Western Canada, no one gets more rain than us!
Thanks Reid – we look forward to seeing you for a few beers in the UK soon.
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