"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.

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


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

"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
:

There should be some way to combine this thread with the new one about
train tracks being converted into bicycling routes.

After all, this is clearly a third rail topic.

"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

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?

You're right that most cycling clubs demographics skew heavily Caucasian
(FWIW, I suspect Asians are also underrepresented).

Of the clubs in my area, only the Oakland Yellowjackets
(http://www.oaklandyellowjackets.org/) swims against this tide in the make
up of their membership.

Unfortunately, since I am stuck in the 'burbs, I rarely have opportunities
to ride with their members so I won't claim to have any insights into why
this is the case.


Chris Neary


"Science, freedom, beauty, adventu what more could
you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the elements I
loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

On Fri, 4 Mar 2005 10:06:35 -0500, "Brendon M. Troy"
wrote:

"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".

So ah, what part has he got wrong? Cycling isn't expensive after all? Black
people are somehow unique in considering the cost of a sport?

Or is your dudgeon all the explanation necessary?

Ron