History of 2x2 Bike Ride

• We are American students who studied abroad at the University of Cape Town; we never met prior to Cape Town, but our shared experience in South Africa has inspired us to pursue this project.

• Initially, our plan was to travel across Africa via motorbike or car, but our mission later evolved into something far more purposeful: the 2x2 Bike Ride.  We bicycled for approximately nine weeks, covering nearly 3000 miles from Cape Town to Nairobi.

• We are motivated largely by our own frustration with Western perspectives.  Upon presenting our plans to friends and family, we were met with uninformed assumptions and misplaced doubts regarding the region through which we were to travel.  We know that African nations are not all hopelessly plagued by violence, disease, and corruption.  It is our goal to demonstrate the opposite.

• We are treating this adventure as an opportunity to reveal the goodwill and hospitality of Africans from a variety of nationalities.  The best way for us to achieve this goal is to pursue our journey, relying on the assistance of individuals and communities along the way.  Rather than be the targets of violence, we will actively engage with Africans and work to promote cultural understanding.

• In order to promote our cause and support our mission, we created Cycle for Understanding, a non-profit corporation.  Cycle for Understanding helps us to raise awareness, communicate our experiences, and achieve our objectives during, and after our journey.