In a significant boost for the local cycling community, the Elevation Cycling Club has donated 80 pairs of high-performance cycling shoes, valued at more than US$8,000, to key institutions across the island.
The formal handover took place at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat headquarters on the outskirts of Old Harbour Town on Thursday.
The substantial donation will benefit the Jamaica Cycling Federation, Simmonds High Velocity Cycling Club, One Piece Cycling, Dillies Cycle World, and other groups, providing critical equipment to both aspiring and established riders.
Jamaica Cycling Federation first vice president Kamar Jordan praised the Old Harbour-based club for its pivotal role in revitalising the sport.
“Receiving these (pairs of shoes) can help to motivate persons who want to enter the sport,” Jordan said.
He lauded Elevation for “setting the tone and leading in Jamaica as the best cycling club when it comes to the development of youth”.
Founded in 2021, Elevation Cycling Club has rapidly become the island’s most successful club, currently boasting three national senior elite road champions in Barrington Bailey, Jerome Forrest and Melvin McFarlane, along with prodigy Jaequan Dixon, a triple national junior champion and current under-23 title-holder.
Andrew Hancel, an executive member of the club, highlighted the collaborative effort behind the donation.
“This special donation was made possible by the efforts of our president Velana Creary and our partner Major Taylor Iron Riders. We are extremely grateful,” he said.
Hancel emphasised the club’s commitment to the sport’s broader development.
“We recognised very early that the sport needs massive support. Our partners, both local and overseas, are well aware of the challenges facing cycling in Jamaica, and having proper footwear is one of the plethora of issues we are seeking to address.”
He underscored the prohibitive cost of equipment, noting that cycling shoes start at US$100, with elite cleats reaching US$500 per pair. “Very, very few riders here in Jamaica, especially those trying to get into the sport, can afford this,” Hancel explained. “By donating these shoes, it is indeed a significant step in the right direction.”
Recipients expressed profound gratitude for the gesture, noting its immediate impact.
Merrington Hall, founder of Clarendon-based One Piece Cycling Club, which received 10 pairs, said, “It has so far enabled the club to start getting some more youngsters into the system … Overall, it’s a great boost.”
Kevin Dillon, owner of Dillies Cycle World in Spanish Town, echoed the sentiment, stating that the shoes will allow him to support young enthusiasts who visit his shop.
“A lot of them can’t afford it, and this can mean a lot to help boost them and encourage them to ride. So, I’m grateful today for this presentation,” Dillon said.
