The Rise of Mountain Biking in Lesotho 🇱🇸 “the country that nobody heard of”

Written By Christian Schmidt

Tucked away in the rugged, high-altitude terrain of Southern Africa, Lesotho also known as the Mountain Kingdom has been part of the Mike’s Bikes Sister Shop network since 2010. It has also become a destination to watch for adventurous mountain bikers. This post isn’t just about epic landscapes and flowing singletrack. It’s also about passionate individuals like Nthati Letsie, the only female bike mechanic in the country, who is changing lives —especially for women— one bike at a time.

Nthati riding her new Juliana thanks to a donation from Jack Duncan


🌞 Meet Nthati Letsie: Mechanic, Mentor, Mountain Biker

Nthati Letsie isn’t just a skilled rider; she’s also the most qualified bicycle mechanic in Lesotho. She obtained her Cytech certification at Torq Zone Academy in South Africa and this places her in rare company across the continent. But her work extends beyond technical repairs. Nthati is a community leader and advocate for women’s empowerment through cycling.

She is the owner of Lesotho Bike Hangar, a Mike’s Bikes sister shop since 2015. It’s a community-based bike shop and skills center that not only provides essential repair services but also trains locals - especially women and girls - to ride and maintain bikes. For many the Bike Hangar is more than a workshop - it’s a symbol of mobility, independence, and opportunity. 

🚲 Powered by Partnership: Mike’s Bikes Foundation

A major catalyst in the growth of the Lesotho Bike Hangar has been the Mike’s Bikes Foundation, through the donations of used bicycles, parts and equipment. Through this initiative, thousands of bikes have found their way to Lesotho in the last decade and a half.

Nthati and her team refurbish these bikes and get them into the hands of students, healthcare workers and aspiring athletes. This partnership not only improves access to education and work but also fuels the growing MTB scene in Lesotho.

“Bikes can change lives” says Nthati. “They take you places. And they give women freedom - freedom of movement and freedom of choice.”

🚴🏾 World Ride 🇺🇸 and Lesotho 🇱🇸 Empowering Women Through Adventure

The US based nonprofit World Ride shares Nthati’s vision. Their mission is to empower women globally through mountain biking by supporting local guides, organising bike tours for women with female guides as well as training of mechanics.

Lesotho became part of the World Ride network in 2022. The organization offers guided 10-day MTB tours through the country’s breathtaking highlands, remote villages and cultural landmarks like Thaba Bosiu and the Maletsunyane Falls. The upcoming tour dates can be found on the World Ride website.

Each tour supports local female guides and reinvests into cycling infrastructure, training and community initiatives - many of which are led by Nthati and Lesotho Bike Hangar.

🚴🏾 Riding the Kingdom in the Sky

Lesotho’s terrain is uniquely suited for mountain biking. At elevations above 1,400 meters (4,600 feet), the kingdom offers sweeping alpine plateaus, steep descents and natural trails forged over generations of foot traffic. Riders encounter everything from rocky ridgelines to flowing jeep roads with the added bonus of cultural immersion in remote Basotho villages.

One highlight is the Pump for Peace pump track - part of a global effort to bring safe, fun riding spaces to underserved communities. These tracks provide not only recreation but a place for young riders to build skills and confidence.

🪨 The Road Trail Ahead

The story of mountain biking in Lesotho is still unfolding and it’s being written by people like Nthati Letsie - people who believe in the power of two wheels to change lives. With support from World Ride, Lesotho Bike Hangar and the Mike’s Bikes Foundation, the future is taking shape. 

By donating a bike through Mike’s Bikes, joining a World Ride tour or simply sharing this story, you’re helping build a future where more women can ride, lead, and thrive.

Learn More:

Christian Schmidt
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