Most Rwandan children grow up around bicycles. In many villages, bicycles are used to carry everything: bunches of bananas, sacks of beans, jugs of water, school books. Some people even use big strong bikes as taxis - the rider pedals and the passenger sits on the back. So most Rwandan children can ride a bike before they can read.
Because Rwanda is so hilly, riders develop strong legs from a very young age. Going up a hill on a bicycle is hard work. Going down a hill is faster - and you have to be careful with your brakes. Rwandan cyclists are famous for their climbing ability: they can ride up steep slopes that visitors would have to push their bikes up.
The Tour du Rwanda is a multi-day bicycle race that travels around the country every year. Riders come from all over Africa, Europe and the Americas to take part. The race winds up and down the green hills and through small towns where children line the roads and cheer. The winner gets a yellow jersey, like the famous Tour de France.
Rwanda was even chosen to host the cycling World Championships in 2025 - the first time the event has ever been held in Africa. Cyclists from all over the world raced across Kigali and the surrounding hills, and Rwandan riders rode in front of cheering home crowds. It was a very proud moment for the country.