The Biker Boys

“Maybe you should call us the cyclists, because bikers makes us sound a bit… well… intense.”

Well maybe you should put on some leather pants and ride your hogs.

As I was cooking up a Tuesday morning gastric delight last week, I received a most interesting text message.

“We are cycling from Durban, South Africa to Kenya and we got your number from the Peace Corps Volunteers in Xai-Xai. We need somewhere safe to keep our bikes if you have some space.”

Well, shoot, I love visitors and never get them (except Julia, who came twice. Raise the roof for Julia… but it appears my other friends aren’t too adventurous).  So, anyway, of course these ambitious men in spandex can stash their bikes in my house… and maybe even stay a while.

And then they rode up in zebra print bike jerseys and ratty converse “trainers”, and I knew I was receiving two little pieces of joy. And of course I thought of my mother who would have commented on their lack of sensible shoes.

The project is called East Africa Cycle Against Malaria, and the leather-less biker boys are 23 year olds Pete and Tom from England. They actually grew up right near Norwich, where I lived for a year in college as I nursed my Virginia Woolf literary obsession in her homeland, which was a pleasant discovery as we chatted and they re-hydrated on my porch.

Pete worked in the air force and now does something else with planes (forgive me Pete for forgetting exactly what!), and Tom is a paramedic taking a one year “Career Break.”

Do they let you do that in other places/companies in the world? Say ‘oh sure, go ride your bike, your job will be waiting for you.’ I just remember being 17 and working at Nordstrom’s Rack, where my somewhat cantankerous manager wouldn’t allow me to go on a 5 day Family Vacation. I, of course, then had to quit and give up my nordies discount for 5 days crammed into the back seat of a sedan. Oh the horror (though I’m sure I loved the trip mom). So I am going to say it’s more common for bosses to say ‘you can stick your first born on the bike and throw it into the fucking inferno because your mine.’

But their cause is fantastic. Pete and Tom have been working to raise money to purchase and provide mosquito nets to families in Malawi, where they are scheduled to arrive next month. 100% of money raised goes to purchasing nets. This is a crucial step in lowering rampant rates of malaria infection, because sleeping under a $6  net at night drastically reduces a person’s risk of infection. It just doesn’t make sense that such high numbers of people, especially children, die of a disease that is preventable and treatable. So raise the roof to Pete and Tom. And maybe donate if you’ve got a few extra bucks.

Sidenote: I tried to teach my students to raise the roof yesterday in class. Either the words don’t translate well or the dance really was just an unfortunate and internationally unappreciated blip in US history, because they just looked at me like the crazy white girl and refused to throw their hands up in the air and wave them like they just don’t care. Their loss

In the meantime, on their way to Malawai, “The Guys” as Iraque calls them, are peddling along the EN1, experiencing the inspiring Mozambican beaches , the eager  Peace Corps Volunteers, and any other projects where they can lend a hand along highway.

“So, were you big cyclists back home?” I enquired.

“No, not really. We just did a few practice trips. Do you cycle?”

And then I hesitantly shared with them my disgust for bicycles and how I would rather walk 10 miles than get on a bike. Raise the roof for the Portland MAX train.

So, anyone and everyone, if you see the zebra topped, converse shoed, British cyclists rolling along the Mozambican Highway, wave hello, give em a hoot and a holler, and know that if you have an extra bed, these two lads are the most delightful houseguests.

“Youre being too polite again!” I protested as Tom asked if they could perhaps have seconds at the dinner table.

“Well, they say you can take the man out of England, but you can’t take the Englishman out of the man.”

Now raise the roof just because you love it.