Former World Tour pro rider Dan Craven (Namibia) who runs the incredible Onguza Bicycles company in Omaruru in central Namibia, has launched a pioneering new bicycle design this week.
He has brought 32-inch wheel design to market, across his Mountain Bike and Gravel models.
“I believe the 32-inch bicycles are the future in Namibia. It’s brand new on the cycling scene, and it’s taking off in the world. It’s still early days but because we are small, we can adapt quickly, and we can bring this out before the big companies can and in essence, a bigger wheel means that you don’t sink into corrugation or holes so much. So a rough road will become smoother on a bigger wheel and for anyone doing the Desert Dash, a 32-inch bicycle just makes so much sense,” he told The Namibian newspaper.
Dan’s business and this new model has been manufactured in a collaboration with Namibia’s King Price Insurance Company, led by Braam Vermeulen, who believes firmly in Onguza’s mission to represent Namibian business and quality to a global audience.
“When we started out 10 years ago people said you are crazy, but building bikes from your own backyard is another level of craziness. But that is where our values align – our credo is in Namibia for Namibians and so we really push the Namibian agenda and we are supporting someone who really raises Namibia’s flag at an international level,” Vermeulen said.
At the launch of the bike in Windhoek, Craven credited Onguza’s three master builders Sakeus Mufenge, Petrus Mufenge and Sackaria Nkolo who are an integral part of the Onguza process and journey.
“These bikes have been built by hand by Sakeus, Petrus and Sakaria. They use tubes that come from Milan, Italy and take a hacksaw and a file and cut them so long until they fit perfectly together. They then use an oxygen acetylene torch in 900 degrees Celsius and melt brass – metal and heat are not friends, but if you know what you are doing, if the preparation work is good and the attention to detail with the heat is good, you’re going to get a product that is straight at the end of the day, and with a bicycle, you want our wheels to be straight. And this all happened because I grew up with Sakeus and Petrus working for my family and I know with every cell in my body how amazing these gentlemen are,” he said.
We recently spent time with Dan and his team in Omarura, and recorded an Africa Rising Cycling Podcast with him to hear all about the company, the process, the bikes and his dream. You can listen to this on all major podcast channels – link to YouTube below:
And Onguza is making headlines worldwide now also, winning the ‘Best Bicycle’ award at the recent prestigious Monocle Magazine Design Awards when their custom-built ‘Bliksem’ model was recognised for its functional elegance and bespoke finishes.
Named after the Afrikaans word for “lightning”, the Bliksem promises style and speed, even in harsh conditions.
“Meticulously constructed and with every model custom finished for its rider, this bike proves that keeping people at the centre of a process can put you ahead of the peloton. The brand’s Bliksem model features a hand-built steel frame and fork that can be customised with different finishes and colourways. The Bliksem is the culmination of three years of developing what we think a fast gravel bike should be: clean lines, functional elegance and with standout colour choices that reflect the rider’s unique personality,” said Monocle, quoting Craven.
Dan was suitably excited and humbled by winning this award:
“Monocle is basically the top design magazine globally and it’s sold all over the world. They recently had their best 2026 design awards and we won the award for the best bicycle design. We didn’t even know it was happening, it came out of the blue, and it’s just so amazing to be recognised globally like that,” he told The Namibian.
Congratulations Dan from all at Africa Rising Cycling!
If you want to learn more about Onguza Bicycles, check out their website for more information.
