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By Raine St.Claire

Caroline Matsimela, a passionate advocate for cycling, has embarked on a mission to inspire more women to embrace the sport. Transformed by the joy of cycling, Caroline is driven by a positive outlook and a desire to share this empowering experience, especially with women who seek solace during challenging times like COVID.

In 2020, Caroline initiated the Matsimela Ladies Cycling Clinics (MLCs), a non-profit organisation based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since then, her dedication has been focused on expanding women’s presence in the cycling community. Her goal is to empower every African woman through cycling, regardless of gender, shape, size, or location.

Caroline envisions cycling as a journey of personal liberation, where every African woman can experience the joy of navigating life on two wheels without societal restrictions.

But Caroline’s path into exercise and cycling had its struggles. 

Caroline’s journey into fitness, starting with running and later cycling, mirrored the experiences of many women. Overcoming postpartum challenges and battling depression, she turned to running for its weight loss benefits, inspired by her father’s Comrades running legacy. Progressing from solo jogs to marathons, her development flourished with community support. In 2017, completing her first ultra race boosted her confidence. Despite the gruelling nature of events like the Comrades Marathon, Caroline’s resilience grew, affirming her belief in overcoming challenges.

Yet, Caroline’s heart yearned for something new.

She longed to learn how to ride a bike, with the goal of completing a 97 km road race. This marked the beginning of her cycling journey. Caroline, referred to by her running community, was guided by Mandisa Makalima. “Mandisa literally held my hand. Having someone like her made entering the world of cycling easier. We not only became friends, but we also shared a vision of empowering more women to embrace cycling.”

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And so it began.

“The challenges of Covid were profound, and our community faced overwhelming hardships. Personally, cycling became my escape, my coping mechanism.

But in doing so, I encountered a sense of isolation and pondered ways to expand the community. I realised I didn’t want to be the sole cyclist in my circle, prompting the question: How could I make cycling more accessible and inviting?” Caroline explains.

This led Caroline and Mandisa to initiate the cycling club in August 2020 as a Women’s Day project with just two participants. The initiative quickly gained momentum and in 2021, amid easing restrictions, they registered it as an organisation, emphasising teaching women cycling for health and well-being. The club expanded with a focused effort on increasing women’s participation.

Early “veterans” now serve as experienced guides in the cycling club, assisting newcomers in acquiring essential skills. The club caters to three groups: beginners, those seeking skill improvement, and those wanting to give back. With branches in five Gauteng regions – training is provided on both weekdays and weekends. The focus is on teaching fundamental cycling skills, covering topics such as riding techniques, navigating corners, maintaining balance, and ensuring safety. Beginners start on grass, progress to roads with traffic lights and cars, evolving from not knowing how to climb on a bike to completing distances of 35 or even 97 km in the 947 Ride Joburg race within two years, boasting a 100% success rate.

No small feat!

“In three years, 115 women have successfully completed the graduate programme since its launch in August 2020,” says Caroline. An  impressive accomplishment, considering her role as a Human Resource specialist, managing the Clinic while juggling work, kids, and family.

The clinic’s success is evident, with 11 women participating in mountain biking at Ride Joburg in 2023 and 82 women on the road, indicating significant growth in women’s mountain biking.

Reflecting on her early cycling days, Caroline notes, “When I started, no African women participated in this type of sport. It bothered me, prompting a decision to challenge and change perceptions.”

Statistics reveal that women currently constitute around 20-25% of South African mountain bikers, marking a growth of approximately 4% since 2018.

The success of the Matsimela Ladies Cycling Clinics is clear in the transformative stories of its participants. “We’ve seen women who never thought they could ride a bike now confidently tackling challenging trails,” Caroline says with pride. “It’s incredible to witness their progress and see how cycling has positively impacted their lives.”

Through her journey, Caroline aspires to inspire women. ” Doing things that push you out of your comfort zone is a complete game-changer. Cycling taught me resilience and determination,” she states with conviction. “I want every woman to feel that sense of empowerment, both on and off the bike.”

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