World Bicycle Relief’s goal is instantly inspiring
Eliminate distance as a barrier to education, healthcare and economic opportunity.
Even when inGamba was just a fledgling company, founder João Correia knew that he wanted to give back in a meaningful way. Since bikes had changed his life so much—and he continued to do so—partnering with World Bicycle Relief (WBR) was the obvious choice. Founded in 2005, WBR is a global non-profit social enterprise that has equipped over 860,000 students, health workers, and entrepreneurs in rural regions with purpose-built bikes to create opportunities for themselves, their families, and entire communities.
The bikes themselves are a revelation: The Buffalo Bicycle was designed to be easy to maintain, incredibly durable, and inexpensive enough to mass produce and distribute while still being carefully constructed. It’s been a constant evolution, and most recently, the Buffalo Utility S2 made waves when it debuted with the industry’s first two-chain drivetrain to maximize efficiency without sacrificing durability. It makes sense that these bikes are consistently being upgraded in smarter and more innovative ways: top engineers from SRAM, Trek and Giant were involved in the design and product testing, creating a stronger, simpler, and more sustainable bicycle that addresses the critical mobility needs of communities where transportation is a significant barrier to accessing essential services.
Since inGamba became involved with WBR in 2013, the partnership has grown from small fundraisers on some trips to raising over a million dollars for WBR. (We’re actually now at over $1,350,000!) Not only have we donated a percentage of profits to the charity, but we’ve also donated trips as prizes, hosted fundraisers, and become deeply passionate about the work that WBR is doing.
We’ve also seen the amazing things that can happen when the cyclists who join us on our trips learn about WBR and the work that they’re doing. We’ve had riders go from our trips in Tuscany to traveling to Africa with WBR on a bike delivery trip, and we’ve seen so many of our friends and riders get deeply involved with the organization, fundraising through their own cycling adventures.
If you’re someone who loves to ride, you know the feeling of joy, and more importantly, the feeling of freedom that comes from getting on a bike. Imagine being able to bring that feeling to people who’ve never had that opportunity.
inGamba’s Katie Bolling has phrased it beautifully: “Most of the people reading this, I’m guessing, have the gift of having choices in life. For many people in life, it’s not that case. Through our partnership with World Bicycle Relief, we help to provide much-needed transportation in simple, reliable bicycles so more students can get to school, healthcare workers can reach more patients, and more farmers can access markets. I’m asking you to put a ‘why’ behind your choice of cycling travel.”
Because many of our guides are former WorldTour pros, they deeply understand how impactful a bicycle can be. Bikes provided them with a livelihood, a way to see the world, and a chance to change their lives. For us, we know that bikes can be life-changing and life-saving. To be able to support WBR in even a small way has been something we’re the most proud of at inGamba, and we’re excited to celebrate 20 years of their success—and here’s to 20 more!
