Made by our most advanced Ugandan group, this frame uses epoxy soaked bark cloth to join the bamboo.

Constructed with bamboo and bark cloth from the ficus tree, this bike represents the pinnacle of achievement by a Bamboosero-trained builder. Hadijah Najjuko is also our first female Bamboosero. She is a resident of Kampala, Uganda and is known to be the fastest female bike racer in the country, possibly in the whole East African region.

She selected the bamboo carefully, especially the unusual chainstays, which have elegant curves to accommodate the tire clearance. The bark cloth has been dyed purple and is appreciated in bright light. Bark cloth is a non-woven cloth that is peeled off the ficus tree, boiled in water and further softened with specially shaped mallets. It is then dried in the sun. Bark cloth production is an ancient craft that is still used today for the traditional purpose of wrapping the dead for burial. Because bark cloth does not rot, it was a popular item that was traded up the Nile river to the Egyptians. So yes, this frame is made with mummy wrap!

The Go Rider is the result of several years of work in Africa, trying to come up with the best bike design for Africans. The Go Rider is designed to be made locally, from local bamboo and various local fibers. The imported components are chosen mainly for their maintenance free aspects. The extra fat tires serve two purposes: to provide suspension and stability on rough terrain and as protection to the rim when under inflated. The Go Rider is designed to be rented to farmers, merchants, tourists and anyone else that would like access to transportation at a low cost. The traditional bike used in most of Africa is a singlespeed roadster that has limited capabilities and remains too expensive for most. The Go Rider challenges the traditional design by providing better functionality and allowing more people to access bikes without having to own it.