"Whites Only"?

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
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

"Chris Zacho "The Wheelman"" wrote in message
...
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.

"Gooserider" 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

"Brendon M. Troy" 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

: 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
:

"Pat" wrote
: 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.
:
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?

Well, I figured quoting him in my original post was enough, but
perhaps I should've quoted it again in my self-reply; sorry. The
offensive bit was as follows:

Where are all the black riders? (OP)

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

Anyhow, like I said, I discovered that he's got a prejudiced chip
on his shoulder towards a lot of groups, so I'm no longer
surprised by this. I thought he was a seemingly normal rbr
contributor when I got all "bent of shape".

-Brendon

"Brendon M. Troy" wrote in message
...
"Gooserider" 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?

Are you actually going to argue that black people do not have an affinity
for basketball? Have you seen a basketball game? Basketball is the favorite
sport of black people by a large margin. Its popularity is no doubt due to
the fact that it is very inexpensive to play, and regardless of your
hypersensitivity, a disproportionately large number of black people are
economically disadvantaged. What is your problem?

Sat, 05 Mar 2005 01:48:44 GMT,
, "Gooserider"
wrote, in part:

Basketball is the favorite
sport of black people by a large margin. Its popularity is no doubt due to
the fact that it is very inexpensive to play, and regardless of your
hypersensitivity, a disproportionately large number of black people are
economically disadvantaged.

In other places, like Africa and South America, soccer is the game but
there are also professional teams with lots of exposure. Maybe that's
why Ultimate Frisbee isn't more popular among the poor. Flying discs
are easier to shoplift than soccer balls. Vancouver has a small black
population but so maybe that's why I've never seen any blacks playing
it or disc golf. Perhaps those games are just too assinine

Most school yards have hoops and there are several ball hockey "rinks"
around town though there are far more soccer pitches.

I have a friend who is a self-confessed "gear freak". His attraction
to a sport or hobby is directly proportional to the amount of "must
have" stuff hyped in the speciality magazines.

Hockey over skiing, baseball and tennis over basket ball. He went
crazy with photography before the advent of digital cameras. He loved
technical rock climbing and ice climbing but scoffed at free climbing.
Now he's started playing golf though he's learned to minimise his load
for the marathon sessions. (He played 81 holes in one day, on foot,
carrying his own bag, to establish a course record.) He'd only been at
it for two years. I'd imagine he has gone through a few carts and sets
of clubs by now. He's never had a wife. He's married to his current
obsessions.

I'm too short to play golf. I can't reach the ball washers.
--
zk

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

- -

"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
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

(Gooserider) wrote:

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

Sorryt bout the double post, my finger slipped.

Who needs a $2000 bike ? Maybe if you're seriously into competition,
perhaps considering going pro, maybe, but you don't need to go overboard
for an ordinary club ride. Hell, I've done fine for years, pulling off
single, double, and even triple centuries on a Schwinn valued at _maybe_
$400-$500.

As for the "status factor", I would think that being able to fork out
$2000+ "just for a bicycle" would qualify very nicely.

- -

"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
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner