In 2011, at just 16 years old, Melisa Rollins travelled to Zambia with her family as part of a life-changing journey in support of World Bicycle Relief.

Today, Melisa is a well-known gravel cyclist. But it was that early trip—far from the start line—that shaped her view of bicycles and their transformative power.

“The trip was part of a fundraising project my stepdad organized [for] World Bicycle Relief. He had set an ambitious goal: to raise enough money to fund 1,000 Buffalo Bicycles for schoolgirls in rural Zambia,” Melisa says.

“He called it the ‘Grand Slam for Zambia’ (‘grand’ meaning 1,000), and it was all about creating access to education through mobility. He achieved this goal and more. He ended up fundraising over $156,000, or [enough for] almost 1,200 bikes.”

After the fundraising was complete, Melisa travelled to Zambia with her parents and stepbrother. “It was such a powerful experience to meet the girls who were receiving them and to see firsthand the impact a single bike could have on a young person’s ability to get to school and pursue an education.

“That trip was a turning point for me. It opened my eyes not only to the transformative power of bicycles, but also to how far a meaningful idea can go.”

One of the moments that left a lasting impression happened during a visit to Chikumbuso, a community project in Zambia. “These women, many of whom were living with HIV/AIDS, made beautiful baskets out of recycled plastic bags. It was humbling to sit with them, hear their stories, and see how they turned something so simple and often discarded into a source of beauty, income, and dignity.

“One woman told me how each basket helped her pay for her child’s school fees. That moment really put into perspective how different our lives are. Where I might recycle a bag without a second thought, for her it was a lifeline.”

Melisa also recalls a more lighthearted but equally revealing experience. “Another memory that sticks with me is when we went to get water from the well. It was a hot day, and we followed the local women who made it look effortless. After we filled our buckets, we tried to carry them back on our heads… because that’s how they do it there.

“Let’s just say it was not effortless for us! We were laughing, struggling to balance the heavy containers, while the local women smiled patiently and showed us how it’s done. It was funny and eye-opening at the same time.”

Reflecting on that trip, Melisa says it fundamentally changed how she views the bicycle. “Before that trip, bikes were always a part of my life, mostly as a hobby, but I’d never truly grasped the depth of what they could represent until I saw them in a different context.”

She adds: “What stood out to me most was how a bicycle could literally change the trajectory of a young woman’s life. In many of the communities we visited, girls are responsible for household chores—fetching water, caring for siblings, cooking, cleaning—and those responsibilities often come before anything else, including school. Without a bike, many of them had to walk long distances to school after finishing their chores, often arriving late or missing class altogether.

“But with a bicycle, everything changes. Suddenly, a girl can finish her chores and still get to school on time. She can attend more regularly, stay focused, and have a real shot at completing her education. A bike is more than just a form of transportation. It is freedom, opportunity, and dignity all in one.”

Looking back, Melisa often thinks about the girls she met. “We came from completely different worlds, but in that moment, we shared a powerful connection through a simple bike and what it symbolized. I often think about those girls and wonder where they are now. Were they able to stay in school? Did they get the chance to go to college or follow a dream they once told us about?

“I’d love to sit down with one of them and hear how life has unfolded.”

Now a professional cyclist, Melisa says bicycles continue to shape her life on and off the road. “Cycling has taught me discipline, resilience, and self-belief. It’s been a way for me to challenge myself, mentally and physically, and come out stronger on the other side. Off the bike, it’s shaped how I see the world. It’s connected me to people and places I never would’ve encountered otherwise.”

Her message to young riders? “Every ride has the potential to be a gift. It’s a chance to step outside the noise of everyday life, to reconnect with yourself, and to discover what you’re truly capable of…

“A bicycle can be a vehicle for opportunity, connection, and even change. Don’t underestimate what it can unlock.”