"Whites Only"? - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

03-04-2005, 02:00 AM

I have been riding for over 30 years now. I've been the member of many
clubs, large and small, on both coasts and in the middle. I've been to
and done many organized rides (short, long and "are you nuts?") and bike
rallies boasting attendances ranging from the hundreds to the thousands.

Yet at any one of these organizations or events, I could count the total
number of "Afro-American" riders with the fingers of one hand. The
portion of South Carolina where I live now, according to the latest
census, has a population that is about 60% black. Yet the local club,
which has nearly 100 members, to my knowledge has only one black
cyclist. Hardly an accurate representation of the population at large.

In fact, I'll be willing to bet, that out of all the posters on this
board, only one, maybe two, max. are black. If indeed anybody here is.
Where are all the black riders? What is it about our sport that makes it
so unappealing to an entire race of people?

Anybody have any theories?

- -

"May you have the winds at your back,
And a really low gear for the hills!"

Chris Zacho ~ "Your Friendly Neighborhood Wheelman"

Chris'Z Corner
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

03-04-2005, 02:56 AM

"Chris Zacho "The Wheelman"" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].webtv.net...
> I have been riding for over 30 years now. I've been the member of many
> clubs, large and small, on both coasts and in the middle. I've been to
> and done many organized rides (short, long and "are you nuts?") and bike
> rallies boasting attendances ranging from the hundreds to the thousands.
>
> Yet at any one of these organizations or events, I could count the total
> number of "Afro-American" riders with the fingers of one hand. The
> portion of South Carolina where I live now, according to the latest
> census, has a population that is about 60% black. Yet the local club,
> which has nearly 100 members, to my knowledge has only one black
> cyclist. Hardly an accurate representation of the population at large.
>
> In fact, I'll be willing to bet, that out of all the posters on this
> board, only one, maybe two, max. are black. If indeed anybody here is.
> Where are all the black riders? What is it about our sport that makes it
> so unappealing to an entire race of people?
>
> Anybody have any theories?

1) Cycling is a dorky sport. Seriously. It's a tech driven sport, and it has
no street cred.

2) The clothes we wear are not attractive.

3) Our sport is very expensive. $2000 bicycle is far more expensive than a
basketball and a pair of Nikes.

4) A larger percentage of blacks live in neighborhoods with high crime
rates, making it likely to have a bike stolen.

Of course, I could be off base here. I just don't think that cycling is that
attractive to blacks, culturally. Black people like to run, lift weights,
and participate in ball sports. I live near one of the best Rails to Trails
in the country, and I've never seen a black person on the trail. I've seen a
few in town, but they were riding 'mart bikes.

03-04-2005, 02:56 AM

"Chris Zacho "The Wheelman"" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].webtv.net...
> I have been riding for over 30 years now. I've been the member of many
> clubs, large and small, on both coasts and in the middle. I've been to
> and done many organized rides (short, long and "are you nuts?") and bike
> rallies boasting attendances ranging from the hundreds to the thousands.
>
> Yet at any one of these organizations or events, I could count the total
> number of "Afro-American" riders with the fingers of one hand. The
> portion of South Carolina where I live now, according to the latest
> census, has a population that is about 60% black. Yet the local club,
> which has nearly 100 members, to my knowledge has only one black
> cyclist. Hardly an accurate representation of the population at large.
>
> In fact, I'll be willing to bet, that out of all the posters on this
> board, only one, maybe two, max. are black. If indeed anybody here is.
> Where are all the black riders? What is it about our sport that makes it
> so unappealing to an entire race of people?
>
> Anybody have any theories?

1) Cycling is a dorky sport. Seriously. It's a tech driven sport, and it has
no street cred.

2) The clothes we wear are not attractive.

3) Our sport is very expensive. $2000 bicycle is far more expensive than a
basketball and a pair of Nikes.

4) A larger percentage of blacks live in neighborhoods with high crime
rates, making it likely to have a bike stolen.

Of course, I could be off base here. I just don't think that cycling is that
attractive to blacks, culturally. Black people like to run, lift weights,
and participate in ball sports. I live near one of the best Rails to Trails
in the country, and I've never seen a black person on the trail. I've seen a
few in town, but they were riding 'mart bikes.

03-04-2005, 03:24 AM

Most cyclists cycle alone; I'd say, based on the numbers of cyclists
I encounter going the other way, that there's no noticeable shortage of
black cyclists.

Not that I encounter large numbers of cyclists. The ``serious''
cyclists show up only in nice weather, in my experience. Serious
means with expensive bicycles and flashy togs.

So I'm not talking about huge absolute numbers of black cyclists,
but neither is it huge numbers of white ones. But they do show up.

As to groups, if I can't stand them, I'm ill prepared to judge why
black cyclists in particular might not like them. It seems natural
to me whatever your color is.
--
Ron Hardin
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

03-04-2005, 03:24 AM

Most cyclists cycle alone; I'd say, based on the numbers of cyclists
I encounter going the other way, that there's no noticeable shortage of
black cyclists.

Not that I encounter large numbers of cyclists. The ``serious''
cyclists show up only in nice weather, in my experience. Serious
means with expensive bicycles and flashy togs.

So I'm not talking about huge absolute numbers of black cyclists,
but neither is it huge numbers of white ones. But they do show up.

As to groups, if I can't stand them, I'm ill prepared to judge why
black cyclists in particular might not like them. It seems natural
to me whatever your color is.
--
Ron Hardin
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

03-04-2005, 06:40 AM

"Gooserider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote
> > Where are all the black riders? What is it about our sport
that makes it
> > so unappealing to an entire race of people?
>
> 3) Our sport is very expensive. $2000 bicycle is far more
expensive than a
> basketball and a pair of Nikes.

Are you KIDDING me??? Did you, not an apparent troll, really just
say that in a public forum?

> Of course, I could be off base here.

You could be, and are.

> I just don't think that cycling is that
> attractive to blacks, culturally. Black people like to run,
lift weights,
> and participate in ball sports.

<shaking head, rubbing eyes>

-Brendon

03-04-2005, 06:40 AM

"Gooserider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote
> > Where are all the black riders? What is it about our sport
that makes it
> > so unappealing to an entire race of people?
>
> 3) Our sport is very expensive. $2000 bicycle is far more
expensive than a
> basketball and a pair of Nikes.

Are you KIDDING me??? Did you, not an apparent troll, really just
say that in a public forum?

> Of course, I could be off base here.

You could be, and are.

> I just don't think that cycling is that
> attractive to blacks, culturally. Black people like to run,
lift weights,
> and participate in ball sports.

<shaking head, rubbing eyes>

-Brendon

03-04-2005, 06:43 AM

"Brendon M. Troy" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote
> > 3) Our sport is very expensive. $2000 bicycle is far more
> expensive than a
> > basketball and a pair of Nikes.
>
> Are you KIDDING me??? Did you, not an apparent troll, really
just
> say that in a public forum?

Oops, sorry, just checked your posting history and realized that
while you're not really a troll, this kind of comment really
isn't out of the ordinary for you. Never mind; go about your sad
existence and I'll ignore you.

-Brendon

03-04-2005, 06:43 AM

"Brendon M. Troy" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote
> > 3) Our sport is very expensive. $2000 bicycle is far more
> expensive than a
> > basketball and a pair of Nikes.
>
> Are you KIDDING me??? Did you, not an apparent troll, really
just
> say that in a public forum?

Oops, sorry, just checked your posting history and realized that
while you're not really a troll, this kind of comment really
isn't out of the ordinary for you. Never mind; go about your sad
existence and I'll ignore you.

-Brendon

03-04-2005, 06:54 AM

: Oops, sorry, just checked your posting history and realized that
: while you're not really a troll, this kind of comment really
: isn't out of the ordinary for you. Never mind; go about your sad
: existence and I'll ignore you.
:
: -Brendon
:
Instead of just reacting off the wall, why don't you take a few moments and
explain why what he said got you so bent out of shape? Are the rest of us
supposed to read your mind?

Pat in TX
: