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At 58 years old, Mateus Nascimento travels 928 kilometers between Suzano and Vitória on a bamboo bicycle made by him, combining physical challenge, faith, and sustainability
Mateus Nascimento, an artist and cyclist from Suzano, São Paulo, traveled about 928 kilometers to Vitória, Espírito Santo, on a bamboo bicycle made by him. At 58 years old, he combined sports, sustainability, and faith in a journey that drew attention for its effort, environmental proposal, and the symbolism of the project.
The bamboo bicycle was born at home
The bamboo bicycle emerged from videos shown by Mateus’s son on the internet. The content taught uses of bamboo in different projects and sparked in the artist the desire to try something new.
Known as the bamboo man, he was already working with the material in the production of furniture, such as chairs and tables. Later, he decided to expand this use and create a bamboo bicycle with its own structure.
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The project required adaptation and resilience
The construction process was not simple. Mateus faced technical difficulties during development, but he managed to assemble a resistant and functional structure with the material that was already part of his routine.
The proposal was to create a bamboo bicycle that was lighter and less polluting than traditional metal models. The result showed that bamboo can be a viable alternative in projects of this kind.
The journey involved long hours of pedaling
To complete the route of over 900 kilometers, Mateus pedaled for up to 12 hours a day. The breaks for rest were few, which made the journey even more exhausting.
The route passed through cities in the interior of São Paulo, such as Jundiaí, Campinas, and Ribeirão Preto. The last stretch was noted as one of the most tiring of the entire journey.
In addition to the physical effort, the journey required emotional control, discipline, and focus. Even in the face of fatigue, he pressed on with the bamboo bicycle and maintained his goals throughout the way.
Health, faith, and sustainability on the same route
Mateus used the journey to promote sustainable practices and also express his faith. At the same time, he transformed the route into a way to take care of his health and overcome his own limits.
The story gained prominence after being published by the Sim Notícias website. The repercussion reinforced the reach of an initiative that goes beyond sports and draws attention for its combination of creativity and persistence.
Plans include records and new routes
Mateus wants to be recognized as one of the few cyclists over 58 years old to travel long distances on a bamboo bicycle in South America.
In the future, he intends to expand his travels and seek a place in the Book of Records.
Pedal after pedal, he shows that simple ideas can come to life, occupy the streets, and generate great transformations.
With information from Gazeta de São Paulo.
