Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Major Taylor

I flew back to Worcester, Mass, last week.
On the way I bought the latest BICYCLING magazine at one of the connecting airports.

I read an article entitled RACE which discussed the struggles of some black bicyclists who participated in a college bicycle race called The Little 500.
The team of black bicyclists went by the name of THE MAJOR TAYLOR TEAM.

They had named themselves after a professional bicycle racer, Major Taylor, who had black skin and who competed in the late 1890's and early 1900's when bicycle racing represented the largest spectator sport in America; greater than the other big spectator sports, baseball, football, rowing, and track.
The fact that he had black skin has relevance because of the times.
White America could not, would not accept a black superstar athlete.
And so, Major Taylor dominated professional bicycle racing during a time in which the white audiences racially abused him; which, in my humble opinion, makes him all the more the hero.
He had to contend not only with the other racers but with the racists as well.

How interesting, then, to find out that Major Taylor lived and trained in Worcester, Mass.
According to the article, Major Taylor used a very steep hill called George Street as an important part of his training.
In modern times, they have a race every July on George Street, up this impossibly steep hill, of only 500 feet.

So, I spent two and a half days in Worcester.
During my visit I asked about Major Taylor and no one knew about him.
Except, the people whom I had gone to visit and work with knew of a "bicycle nut" who rode to work all the time, and they thought he might know something about this Major Taylor person.

I went into Stephen's office (the bicycle nut) and he had two beautiful Major Taylor posters on the wall of his office.
He knew all about Major Taylor, but, even though he lived and rode in Worcester, he didn't know the whereabouts of George Street.

When I got back to the hotel on my last night in Worcester, I asked the desk clerk about George Street.
The desk clerk had never heard of George Street, but he took it as a challenge, and, after more than a few minutes of research, located George Street on a map.

I drove the few blocks to George Street and found it between two large brick office buildings, both well over 100 years old.
Barely an alleyway with a street sign, George Street went only one block, almost straight up, it seemed, between a series of very old brick buildings.
Cobblestone sidewalks and granite curbs lined the one-way street.

I drove my rental car halfway up George Street, found a small level pull-off where I could park, and stepped out into the cool dark night.
Quiet except for distant yet near city sounds.
Unexpected emotions, strong, welcome, beautiful.

I walked up the street on the right side and then down the left.
I could not remember a city street this steep, although I can imagine some in San Francisco.
Details.
Questions.
What time of day would Major Taylor train, and who would have watched him from the windows?
Did he have straps on his pedals with which to pull himself up the hill, or did he do it all by standing on the pedals and mashing them?

At first I thought, "I can do this."
Then, as I walked up the street the second time, I began to wonder about it.
Did Major Taylor ride a fixed gear bike?
What did bikes look like in 1899?
Wooden rims?

Anyway, the next Major Taylor George Street Bike Challenge takes place this July 23, 2006.
It looks perfect for a fixed gear bike.

What do the present-day competitors ride?
Where could I train here in Bend (we don't have a hill that steep)?
What would I have to do to get my bike and myself to Worcester this July?

Perhaps my fellow forumites already know all about Major Taylor and this race.
If not, well, check it out.

http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/events.shtml

nice read

Ken: thanks for the write-up. I've been interested in George Street since I first read about the race after some random googling. I'll be in Narragansett for a week at the end of July; maybe I'll find a way to make it as far North as Worcester and see for myself. Until then, I can read this.

Thanks again.

I lived in Worcester, MA near George St. for seven years and I never heard of this. Despite what people say, Worcester is a great town and I would be happy to travel from Chicago this summer to participate.

Despite what people say, Worcester is a great town...

I had a wonderful time in Worcester.
Everyone treated me so nicely, and when I would comment on the friendliness of Worcester's citizens, they would look at me like "who me? friendly?"
But, yes, very friendly.

Nice restaurants, interesting architecture, NO street signs (initially hard to get around town with so few street signs).

Worcester

right sure

Listen kids, its funny that you americans are all GA GA over major taylor..years later now that he is dead.

The cold reality is, and perhaps this is left out of your american history books (along with other things your goverment doesnt want you knowing about) He was not allowed to race in the united states.

So he ended up over here in canada. I think racing at maple leaf gardens here in toronto and other places. And europe. He's kind of an important figure here, well because we accepted him.

Canada...

pfft.

maybe I should hop on that commuter line some day and check it out. any bostonians game?

I read at least part of that article, didn't have to time to finish it. It's an interesting and important part of cycling history.

I read at least part of that article, didn't have to time to finish it. It's an interesting and important part of cycling history.

Listen kids, its funny that you americans are all GA GA over major taylor..years later now that he is dead.

The cold reality is, and perhaps this is left out of your american history books (along with other things your goverment doesnt want you knowing about) He was not allowed to race in the united states.

"Kids"?
"...things your goverment doesnt want you knowing about..."?

Paul doesn't seem to have a very high opinion of America or Americans.
Too bad.

I find some reassurance and confirmation of my American identity in the observation that we Americans can examine ourselves and our history, perhaps more rigorously, critically and honestly than one might expect of kids.
I guess we could have swept Major Taylor under the rug, or rewritten his/our history to make America sound, smell and look better than the reality of it; but, in that case, we wouldn't have the opportunity to grow and learn from the experience.

Has Paul read the RACE article in BICYCLING?

The George St. Race is supposed to be a lot of fun, but I always seem to be busy when it comes along.

maybe I should hop on that commuter line some day and check it out. any bostonians game?


According to what I can figure out on gmap pedometer using the elevation function, George St. is about 80ft of climb in .10 miles. A steep hill, no question, but still very climbable. Parker Hill Ave up to the bend in Mission Hill is over 100ft in .16 miles, but if you climb after the bend as well, to the peak of the hill, it's 170ft in .35 miles.

For any reason other than nostalgia, that little climb isn't worth the commuter train fare.

There are people that hit that hill on a fixed gear for that race they do, although I've never seen any of them do very well......

Listen kids, its funny that you americans are all GA GA over major taylor..years later now that he is dead.You're right, Paul. I sincerely regret my lack of support for major Taylor during his career. I could have done much more to help fight the good fight to get him admitted to the best velodromes in the United States, despite the fact that I was born 36 years after his death.


He's kind of an important figure here, well because we accepted him.I see, you accepted him. Tell me, how many times did you see him race when he was competing in Canada?

Listen kids, its funny that you americans are all GA GA over major taylor..years later now that he is dead.

The cold reality is...He was not allowed to race in the united states.



Only because he beat every one and the race promoters were incahoots with the then sanctioning bodies.

Not because his skin was brown.

Very nice writing Ken! Posts like yours are always a welcome read for me here at BF.

Paul- posts like yours make me sad. No flame intended. Why does skin color STILL figure so prominently in our lives?

~jg
in Alabama

For any reason other than nostalgia, that little climb isn't worth the commuter train fare.

The hill seemed very steep to me, and yet I submitted in my original that I could imagine steeper hills in San Francisco.

A person would attend this race or climb this hill for personal or historical reasons, and not because of its steepness.

Worcester

right sure

Listen kids, its funny that you americans are all GA GA over major taylor..years later now that he is dead.

The cold reality is, and perhaps this is left out of your american history books (along with other things your goverment doesnt want you knowing about) He was not allowed to race in the united states.

So he ended up over here in canada. I think racing at maple leaf gardens here in toronto and other places. And europe. He's kind of an important figure here, well because we accepted him.

What a laugh. Yeah, he faced incredible racism - but he raced in the US all the time, at least according to one American history book - his autobiography. Then he ended up in France. I'm sure he was in Canada too, and I'm sure he received much better treatment there. But he raced and rose to prominence in the US.


Only because he beat every one and the race promoters were incahoots with the then sanctioning bodies.

Not because his skin was brown.


If you honestly believe this, you're a racist and an idiot.



in Alabama

ahh. maybe that explains it.

after more than a few minutes of research, located George Street on a map.

is this it?
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=George+Street,+Worcester,+MA&ll=42.268036,-71.801705&spn=0.005812,0.013561&t=h&om=1

What a laugh. Yeah, he faced incredible racism But he raced and rose to prominence in the US.



If you honestly believe this, you're a racist and an idiot.



ahh. maybe that explains it.

You may be right concerning Major Taylor and his facing racism.

But you my friend either speak before you should or are just, simply, a small minded person if you refer to me as a racist.

Let's look at your past posts on all the threads and we'll see your track record.

~jg
still in Alabama

I
At first I thought, "I can do this."
Then, as I walked up the street the second time, I began to wonder about it.
Did Major Taylor ride a fixed gear bike?
What did bikes look like in 1899?
Wooden rims?

http://fixedgeargallery.com/articles/halloffame/taylor1.jpg
http://fixedgeargallery.com/articles/halloffame/taylor2.jpg

That hill doesn't really look that steep.

Great article. Yes, he faced racism. Yes, it still affects us today. Many in the Bicycle/Motorcycle world (and elsewhere) are affected by it, but yet no "one" is a racist?? Major Taylor and the current Supercross champion James "Bubba" Stewart*have much in common. They both excelled in spite of racism, not because they were a darker shade of pale.

No need to wallow in guilt and/or denial, we just need to do things differently than they have been done the past 400 or so years....




*still booed at the podium

I rode at Indiana during the peak of Team Major Taylor. I would hardly call the problems that they went through "struggles" based on racism alone. The problem with Team Major Taylor was their coach. The guy (also an African American) promised numerous cyclists scholarships which never amounted to anything... The race card just distracts people from his misdoings.

I rode at Indiana during the peak of Team Major Taylor. I would hardly call the problems that they went through "struggles" based on racism alone. The problem with Team Major Taylor was their coach. The guy (also an African American) promised numerous cyclists scholarships which never amounted to anything... The race card just distracts people from his misdoings.

yea i read that article too.. it was hard to tell if it was racism, or the coach was just a difficult guy

You may be right concerning Major Taylor and his facing racism.

But you my friend either speak before you should or are just, simply, a small minded person if you refer to me as a racist.

Let's look at your past posts on all the threads and we'll see your track record.

~jg
still in Alabama


my words may have been a bit too harsh, but I really question your motives in asserting that he didn't have any problems because of the color of his skin.

it is an undeniable historical fact that marshall taylor's life - like that of most african-americans in the late 19th and early 20th centry - was negatively affected by racist whites from the day he was born until the day he died. regardless of what you think about the current state of race relations in this country (which I suspect we would disagree on too).

~zs
in racist south carolina for only another 10 days, thank God

10 days? let's ride in 11, then.

10 days? let's ride in 11, then.

alright! it'll be my first time on an FG for a long time, and probably happen more like two weeks from now..... i can't wait to try out the 925.

Links

http://www.majortaylor.com/
http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/who.htm


http://www.teammajortaylor.com/

Velodrome in Indiana named after Major Taylor
http://www.majortaylor.info/

Book about Major Taylor
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0801853036/103-2798195-0320626?v=glance&n=283155


Major Taylor was not allowed to race against white professionals until his fame and prowess made it impossible to keep him out. Bikes back then were fixed, wooden rims.

"Kids"?
"...things your goverment doesnt want you knowing about..."?

Paul doesn't seem to have a very high opinion of America or Americans.
Too bad.

I find some reassurance and confirmation of my American identity in the observation that we Americans can examine ourselves and our history, perhaps more rigorously, critically and honestly than one might expect of kids.
I guess we could have swept Major Taylor under the rug, or rewritten his/our history to make America sound, smell and look better than the reality of it; but, in that case, we wouldn't have the opportunity to grow and learn from the experience.

Has Paul read the RACE article in BICYCLING?


Ken

I was thinking twice about replying to this post but....

I'll start off my reply this way.
Back in the mid 90s I bought a track bike, for 2 reasons. 1 to resell, 2 so when I went of for a ride I got the most out of that ride.. ie no coasting. Fixed gears or track bikes started to get more interest back then. Even then there was clique that was trying to dictate what the bike should look like and have on for
COOL ness factor.

I think the reality that is lost on most is that bikes are to many a mode of transportation, an important exercise tool, a tool. Maybe ive got the wrong idea but seems to me alot of people are turning it into a status symbol and a certain clique is trying to dictate what type of bike is cool or not. What frames are cool, what hubs are cool.

How is this different from the same pack of people that decided wheter major taylor could race or not?

I reas post where people build a bike, post about it on here and get ripped because oh it didnt have a cool part on it or they did something wrong.

Do I have a high opinion of americans? As a whole I have to say no. As individuals yes. Ive been to your country. I have been well recieved all over.

What was major taylor thinking? He was probably thinking can I do this race without getting beat upon by the other riders. Can I feel good about my win? Is someone going to smash my bike up?

BTW

Check this out.. I pulled this from an about.com article

*When the League of American Wheelman voted to ban black members, it was here in Louisville, Kentucky, where I live, during their 1894 convention. Earl Jones, an African-American attorney, president of the Louisville Bicycle Club, and president of the League back in 1988 was rather surprised to find that the League never officially reversed that decision. So, when the League held its 1999 convention in Louisville, Jones asked the board to formally repeal the ban. When I asked Earl about it this evening he told me, "Obviously, the ban hasn't been in effect for years, but we wanted to do something official." On May 5th, 1999 the board adopted the resolution to repeal the 1894 ban that had kept Major Taylor out.

Im sorry to cast a shadow on this thread, but it is about MAJOR TAYLOR.

I think that, instead of trying to be so textbook hip. One should look back on what happened and when someone is trying to fit in dont make him feel un-welcome.

Fixed gear bikes have been around for years. Its one of the simplest bikes you can ride. If you love Major taylor so much perhaps you should organize a MAJOR TAYLOR ride.. Heck I think I might.

Im sorry my first post came out the way it did but im getting sick of posts where..its like ok this is cool, that isnt cool.. this guy is cool no no he isnt cool. Back in major taylors day you might not have thought he was so cool depending on the side of the fence you were on.

Id like to end this with this thought. When I do ride a fixed gear bike, I ride it because its alot of fun, and so I get the most out of my ride "no coasting".
I remember when I first had that no brakes bike and most of my friends were afraid to ride it..ha ha things have come along way...

I dont think the idea of being cool ever came into the equation(sp), perhaps I shouldnt ride one then..?

+1

I wanted to add this and keep this mind

When I ride a fixed gear I ride it because it is fun and for fitness.

When major taylor was riding a fixed gear he did it out of love for the sport, and a something deep inside him that was driving him past the insults, past the objects being thrown at him, etc...

Keep that in mind when you are thinking about "how cool am I that I ride a fixed gear"

Keep that in mind when you are thinking about "how cool am I that I ride a fixed gear"

I'm cool whatever I ride, I'm pretty sure Major Taylor would of agreed.

When major taylor was riding a fixed gear he did it out of love for the sport, and a something deep inside him that was driving him past the insults, past the objects being thrown at him, etc...


and also because they didn't have freewheels yet.

I flew back to Worcester, Mass, last week.
On the way I bought the latest BICYCLING magazine at one of the connecting airports.

I read an article entitled RACE which discussed the struggles of some black bicyclists who participated in a college bicycle race called The Little 500.
The team of black bicyclists went by the name of THE MAJOR TAYLOR TEAM.

They had named themselves after a professional bicycle racer, Major Taylor, who had black skin and who competed in the late 1890's and early 1900's when bicycle racing represented the largest spectator sport in America; greater than the other big spectator sports, baseball, football, rowing, and track.
The fact that he had black skin has relevance because of the times.
White America could not, would not accept a black superstar athlete.
And so, Major Taylor dominated professional bicycle racing during a time in which the white audiences racially abused him; which, in my humble opinion, makes him all the more the hero.
He had to contend not only with the other racers but with the racists as well.

How interesting, then, to find out that Major Taylor lived and trained in Worcester, Mass.
According to the article, Major Taylor used a very steep hill called George Street as an important part of his training.
In modern times, they have a race every July on George Street, up this impossibly steep hill, of only 500 feet.

So, I spent two and a half days in Worcester.
During my visit I asked about Major Taylor and no one knew about him.
Except, the people whom I had gone to visit and work with knew of a "bicycle nut" who rode to work all the time, and they thought he might know something about this Major Taylor person.

I went into Stephen's office (the bicycle nut) and he had two beautiful Major Taylor posters on the wall of his office.
He knew all about Major Taylor, but, even though he lived and rode in Worcester, he didn't know the whereabouts of George Street.

When I got back to the hotel on my last night in Worcester, I asked the desk clerk about George Street.
The desk clerk had never heard of George Street, but he took it as a challenge, and, after more than a few minutes of research, located George Street on a map.

I drove the few blocks to George Street and found it between two large brick office buildings, both well over 100 years old.
Barely an alleyway with a street sign, George Street went only one block, almost straight up, it seemed, between a series of very old brick buildings.
Cobblestone sidewalks and granite curbs lined the one-way street.

I drove my rental car halfway up George Street, found a small level pull-off where I could park, and stepped out into the cool dark night.
Quiet except for distant yet near city sounds.
Unexpected emotions, strong, welcome, beautiful.

I walked up the street on the right side and then down the left.
I could not remember a city street this steep, although I can imagine some in San Francisco.
Details.
Questions.
What time of day would Major Taylor train, and who would have watched him from the windows?
Did he have straps on his pedals with which to pull himself up the hill, or did he do it all by standing on the pedals and mashing them?

At first I thought, "I can do this."
Then, as I walked up the street the second time, I began to wonder about it.
Did Major Taylor ride a fixed gear bike?
What did bikes look like in 1899?
Wooden rims?

Anyway, the next Major Taylor George Street Bike Challenge takes place this July 23, 2006.
It looks perfect for a fixed gear bike.

What do the present-day competitors ride?
Where could I train here in Bend (we don't have a hill that steep)?
What would I have to do to get my bike and myself to Worcester this July?

Perhaps my fellow forumites already know all about Major Taylor and this race.
If not, well, check it out.

http://www.majortaylorassociation.org/events.shtml

That was awesome. Thanks.

Koffee

true.

personally, i don't see a big reason to get worked up over any of this. i couldn't have gone "hey, major taylor is awesome" in 1899 because i wasn't around then. i couldn't have done it in 1999 either, cuz i didn't know jack crap about bicycling then. now that i've learned about major taylor and eddie merckx, et al, i can. i think that's all it is for many of us here as well.

- i found Andrew Ritchie's "The Extraordinary Career of a Champion Bicycle Racer: Major Taylor" to be a great read... ISBN 0-8018-5303-6, published 1988, softcover, pp. 303 (i think i bought it via Nashbar?)

- tks for the poster putting up the photo of one of Taylor's bikes - very cool!

also, everyone should try to read Taylor's autobiography, "The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World." It's rare and expensive (http://dogbert.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?sts=t&y=0&tn=the+fastest+bicycle+rider+in+the+world&x=0) these days, but quite a few academic libraries have a copy at least.

I've read both books. Racism aside, yes Taylor was a victim, he was still the best rider around at the time. Being the best has it's price too.

I'm odd man out as a teacher in an all minority urban high school.

I know racism as a victim first hand.

I'm still teaching there.

I ride bikes. Taylor is a bike hero.

All bikes are cool.

All bike riders are cool.

Just look around you at all the people who don't ride bikes.

Bike riders are in the minority.

Zach- good luck on your adventures out of Carolina.

~jg

holy **** paul in toronto.. or whatever.. shut the **** up.. how is major taylor suddenly all about you? honestly.. im being play harsh here.. but your ramblings are ********

edit: i think the your worst points are comparing racism to making fun of radial laced wheels..or njs.. or whatever..and stop telling us how youre one of the "real" riders.. sheeesh

Zach- good luck on your adventures out of Carolina.

~jg

thanks! keep up the good work in Alabama.

btw, some people have a different definition of racism that you may have - the difference being that you have a possible escape from a situation where you face discrimination as a minority: i.e., 'reverse racism' can't exist. i only partially buy into this idea, but it is something to mull over.

zach

yes Taylor was a victim

~jg

Not to pick a nit over semantics, but Major was no victim. He was a victor.:beer:

Not to pick a nit over semantics, but Major was no victim. He was a victor.:beer:

who, despite a total lack of vices and bad habits, died broke and alone in a chicago SRO. that ain't going to happen to lance, folks.

everyone dies alone :beer:

is this it?
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=George...13561&t=h&om=1

Yes.
Notice it only runs for one block and then its name changes.

Thanks to onetwentyeight for the picture.

from the site:

"The distance is 500 feet, and the average grade is 18 percent."

18 percent is some ****. i've ridden up some badly-designed roads in the czech republic, one actually had a sign that indicated a 20% grade... but that wasn't 500 feet.

also, fwiw, i think canada is awesome.

Maybe ive got the wrong idea but seems to me alot of people are turning it into a status symbol and a certain clique is trying to dictate what type of bike is cool or not. What frames are cool, what hubs are cool.

How is this different from the same pack of people that decided wheter major taylor could race or not?
About four or five orders of magnitude, unless you think the disapproval of a bunch of under-fed twits in girl pants is equivalent to being hanged, shot, or burned to death.

I lived in Worcester for 4 years. Props to Ken Cox, it takes a really optimistic person to see the good in that city. ;)

George St. is a *****. I worked one summer on the main street that it abuts (like Ken said, no street signs!) I rode my mountain bike to work a few times, when I was too late to walk, and I never went up or down that one. In fact, I don't think I would walk up that thing. It is ridiculously steep.

For those of you who have traveled to Mt. Washington in NH, it is very much like the last 200 yards of the carriage road.

I want to thank Ken for writing this thread even though I went abit wiggy, heck at least I said my piece. I ve
decided when my "budget" fixie frames eventually are ready. Ill be picking a name that has to do with major taylor.
Maybe Ill just call the frames major taylor, or worcester or something.. hmm has that been done before?

I want to thank Ken for writing this thread even though I went abit wiggy, heck at least I said my piece. I ve
decided when my "budget" fixie frames eventually are ready. Ill be picking a name that has to do with major taylor.
Maybe Ill just call the frames major taylor, or worcester or something.. hmm has that been done before?

there are the soma 'major taylor' bars.

you could call the frame a "MARSHALL," which was his real name. the press gave him lots of quasi-racist nicknames ('major' was from his childhood), like "the dusky whirlwind" which can be made inoffensive through the removal of adjectives.

I want to thank Ken for writing this thread even though I went abit wiggy, heck at least I said my piece. I ve
decided when my "budget" fixie frames eventually are ready. Ill be picking a name that has to do with major taylor.
Maybe Ill just call the frames major taylor, or worcester or something.. hmm has that been done before?

just spell it phonetically so the canadians dont say it wrong

"wussstaaa"

kinda sounds like pista actually