June 9, 2010 – Jeff Reid has a strong connection to cycling in Cuba. He travels there often and has put together a program to donate used road bikes and cycling equipment to junior Cuban cyclists. While in Cuba this past January, Reid met a young cycling team in Banes where they have a full-time coach. According to Reid, “They have 13 riders on the team all sharing one very old and very unreliable bicycle.” He left them with his titanium road bike along with his helmet and has had great success in getting donated bikes and equipment to support Cuban riders.

So far Reid and Bikes For Cuba have equipped the kid’s team in Banes Cuba with six decent road bikes along with helmets, jerseys, shorts, etc. all donated by Canadians from as far west as Canmore, and all the way east to Montreal! Six additional donated bikes are all ready to go.

All the bikes, clothing and equipment were donated by caring Canadians. “Finding people to take the bikes to Cuba is the big hurdle and that’s where we need most help,” says Reid who reps SKINS and Etonic products in Canada as his full time job.

This is just the first phase and the second shipment of another 5-6 bikes is going soon. The bikes are all ready, just waiting for Canadian tourists to transport them. The most recent donation came from Mark Dwyre at T. I. Cycle in Gananoque. Mark donated a new Cervelo RS! This is a true gem and will be used by the team coach and two of their top kids. Thanks Mark!

Bikes For Cuba is still looking for donations, decent road bikes (smaller sizes), clothing, wheels, etc.

Jeff can be reached at jeffsreid@rogers.com if you have donations.