Life on the road as a female long rides cyclist

The 28-year-old’s hobby, which she started at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a fun one.

The past three years have been filled with long rides lasting days at a time. Wendy is the queen of long-distance cycling, and the saddle is her throne. To put that into perspective, she has cycled 630 kilometres to Malindi once, and twice to Moshi in Tanzania.

At the time of this interview, she and her team were planning to cycle to Diani in the coastal region. For many people, like Wendy, this type of cycling is like jumping rope.

“First, you choose to ride, and then the bike continues to choose you. Even on days when you don’t feel like riding, your body and mind are telling you to get ready and take on this adventure,” she says.

It is a hunger that knows no satisfaction, a delicate balance that must be maintained.

“It’s hard to live an active life on the road and still have other young adult priorities. I’m a young woman with a fun life and friends to spend time with. I’ve had to be very careful about how I spend my time to be healthy.”

Wendy makes two basic preparations before she sets out. The first concerns the road and the second concerns her life off the bike.

“I prepare myself mentally first, you win on the road when your mind is well prepared. To prepare physically, I do shorter trips for several days and even months for longer trips. I maintain the right diet for the intense activity that awaits me,” she says.

To this end, she eats a lot of carbohydrates to improve her endurance on the road. Finally, she maintains her bike, stocking up on spare parts and tools in case she needs them on the road, and getting the right equipment, both in terms of quality and quantity.

“Once I have my route planned, I plan when I will be away from home. As a mom, these plans are so important for my peace of mind while traveling. They help me plan for school, meals, sports, health, and more. Being a cyclist doesn’t mean you can’t be a mom. The opposite is also true,” she points out.

“We ride as a team led by a leader who has more experience in long-distance cycling and understands the route and terrain to our destination better. We ride with paramedics – a safety protocol for accidents and emergencies. During the trip, we also have vehicles carrying our supplies such as snacks, extra water and luggage.”

They plan the route, plan stops and estimated time for each trip, and get a briefing on the general weather forecast for the route.

Each stop on the roadside is a moment to refresh, evaluate the journey, and think about what to expect in the future. The leader will tell the team if they have met expectations and recommend improvements if needed.

For their cross-border trips, they take immigration protocols into account and plan accordingly.

For Wendy, travel is a combination of challenge and self-denial.

“You are challenging the limits of your body, the weather conditions, and gender stereotypes. You are denying yourself the opportunity to be an open-minded young woman in Nairobi. However, the satisfaction I feel when I finish the tours is nothing compared to the long suffering I go through,” she laughs.

She constantly thinks about the risks associated with her hobby.

“It is imperative that we first think about what might happen. My family was afraid that I would deliberately put myself in danger. But what guarantee do you have that you will be safe if you do not ride the bike?” she pretends.

They and the team recognized the risks and developed plans to mitigate them.

“So, yes, I ride a bike when I’m scared. But I ride anyway. For example, on our last trip to Moshi, I had an accident that left my elbow and left leg bruised.

“Fortunately, we had paramedics on the trip, and I was quickly helped. Two days later, I was on the road, having covered another 25 kilometres. But a word of warning: prioritise your safety. Take calculated risks.”

As with everything in life, cycling is a coin whose other, non-rosy side is not given much attention.

“It’s a challenge we all have to face, especially as female cyclists. I’ve been bullied on several occasions, even on roads that aren’t deserted, where you’d expect more respect. On social media, it’s common to see people making mean comments whenever we share our adventures.

“I have taught myself how to fight on social media. But when I ride with my male colleagues, there is no harassment. So, for us, this is a coping mechanism.

How long will Wendy be on the road?

“Until the day I can no longer ride a bike. There are still roads to travel, sites to see, and memories to make.”