The Pedal Power Association is the largest cycling organization in South Africa. It currently has some 16 000 paid-up members, spread all over the country, although the largest component is in the Western Cape, where the Association has its headquarters.

Founded in 1976 as Western Province Pedal Power Association, it came into being as a result of the running of the first Cycle Tour that was to develop into the now-world famous Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour.

An elected committee of 12 persons, who meet once per month, governs the Association. The PPA Office is staffed by ten employees, who administer the running of the Association and co-ordinate the fun-rides that are staged for the benefit of the members and other cyclists within the greater Western Cape.

The largest component of the service Pedal Power provides for its members is the provision of more than 50 organised cycle events per annum. These include mass participation fun-rides, Mountain Bike events, recreational tours as well as events for the more competitive cyclist.

Committee members are each involved on sub-committees that deal with the various aspects of the work of the Association. These portfolios include Finance, Membership, Commuting, Women's cycling, Scholars' cycling, Discipline, Fun-rides, Development, Mountain biking, and Leagues.

The Association expends considerable effort in the field of development of the sport in the poorer, previously disadvantaged areas and presently supports several clubs based in the Western Cape. It is also involved with various safe cycling initiatives.

While the fun rides are co-ordinated by the PPA office staff, each event is granted to an outside organisation that uses the event to raise funds for a charitable or cycling-related cause. The Association provides the organizers with guidance in the form of a reference manual and hands-on assistance from the Fun-ride co-ordinator, as well as assistance on the day of the event.

The Association provides all the equipment required by an organiser for the successful running of an event.

To promote safety at the fun-rides, the Association seeds its members on ability and governs the manner in which the fun-rides are started in order to ensure the safety of the competitors. Cyclists of comparative ability are put into seeded starting groups and starting groups are kept to manageable numbers.

The Association’s income stems primarily from membership fees and, to a lesser extent, from a share in the profit of the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour.

The Association’s headquarters are housed in property owned by the Association in Mowbray. Additionally a satellite service is provided to members at each of the weekend events where staff is on hand to deal with membership and related queries.

Members of the Pedal Power Association’s staff also organise on behalf of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust the only international Cycle Stage race held in South Africa – the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Giro del Capo, which sees European professional cyclists competing against South African teams on local roads in and around Cape Town.

For membership information, please view the "MEMBERSHIP" link above.