mimis

this must have been discussed before in this forum but since i missed it i'd like to reopen and shed some light: why don't we see black or coloured athletes in cycling? OK to accept lack of infrastructure or bike tradition in underdeveloped countries but what about the notorious afr-american production of champions in mass scale? same stands for athletic superpowers like England, France, Holland largely owing their sports profile to coloured athletes. Does it make sense to assume that muscular sprinters wouldn't do the job in track cycling or that long distance runners of north-afr origin with colossal endurance and body type pretty much like a stage racer's wouldn't excel at the Tour or Giro? of course i know the difference in muscle groups they use but the general idea... what do you guys think?

spunkyruss

It has been my observation that many people view roadbike racing as a sport for rich white guys with at least a touch of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

I have further observed that poor folks tend to view bicycles as transportation. They are far too busy busting their asses for survival to have anything left for frivilous things.

I think that people just a few steps above poor are afraid of being mistaken for being poor if they're seen on a bicycle that they could afford. A bucks-up road bike is a status symbol of wealth and prosperity, but anything less might be misconstrued as symbol of being poor or having lost one's driver's license because of a DUI conviction.

Have you ever heard the term "DUI-cycle?" Just think of the stereotypical images that it generates.

Bekologist

Ummm, maybe you need to read up about Major Taylor?

huhenio

There has been one African American international bike racer champion .... the one mentioned above. Some others might have had the opportunity to cross the collor barrier, but by the end of the depression era cycling declined in popularity in the U.S.

Another thing is economics. Ask any CAT 5 to 1 rider how much it costs to get into racing (bikes, apparell, mantainenace, entrance fee's, lodging, etc) and you will find a second factor.

It is true that MOST pro cycling riders in the U.S. are either white, latino, or european. The racial profile of cyclists has been largely other than black; thus, making the sport alien to black identity.

Regardless, there is little pocket of Afro American riders in the Little 500 races held in Indiana. It is taking off slowly but there is only one team among 33.

huhenio

There has been one African American international bike racer champion .... the one mentioned above. Some others might have had the opportunity to cross the collor barrier, but by the end of the depression era cycling declined in popularity in the U.S.

Another thing is economics. Ask any CAT 5 to 1 rider how much it costs to get into racing (bikes, apparell, mantainenace, entrance fee's, lodging, etc) and you will find a second factor.

It is true that MOST pro cycling riders in the U.S. are either white, latino, or european. The racial profile of cyclists has been largely other than black; thus, making the sport alien to black identity.

Regardless, there is little pocket of Afro American riders in the Little 500 races held in Indiana. It is taking off slowly but there is only one team among 33.

mimis

Have you ever heard the term "DUI-cycle?" Just think of the stereotypical images that it generates.[/QUOTE]
never heard of. can you explain this term?

Bekologist

What's the Jamaican Bobsled team doing this summer?

UmneyDurak

People loose their licence after they are busted and convicted of Driving Under Influence. Some turn to cycling as a mode of transportation.

chicbicyclist

The same reason why golf/la crosse/ice skating(but thats just because its gae, most probably)/tennis/ is majorly white?

Cyclist0094

and while you are looking up Major Taylor, take a chance and Google "Nelson Vails"

and here are a few more black pro's at https://www.blackcyclist.com/

alanbikehouston

The majority of cyclists in the Tour de France this year come from a region of northern France and southern Belgium that is smaller than Texas. That region has less than 1% of the world's population, but produces the majority of pro cyclists. A clue as to why: that region will offer offer 100 races between March and September for pro cyclists at every level. This year in Texas, the number of races focused on pro cyclists: zero.

Yet, even in southern Belgium, less than 1% of male cyclists in the age twenty to age thirty group make a living racing bikes. Even with the best equipment, the best coaches, and the most opportunities to race, 99% of cyclists of any ethnic background lack what it takes to succeed at a pro level.

It is GOOFY for anyone to allege that white anglo males have some natural "talent" for pro cycling. Of the twenty million people who live in Texas, two or three million adults ride bikes on a regular basis.

Yet, this year, not ONE Texan will make a living racing bikes. Nor do I expect the Tour de France to be represented by a single rider from about forty-five other states. About 99.9% of the members of EVERY ethnic group fall beneath the physical standard necessary to enter, and finish the Tour de France.

Serendipper 

Probably more of a cultural factor more than anything. I guess you can say there is a lack of south east asian and indian participation as well...

'Black' is a very American concept.

UmneyDurak

Haven't we been down this road before, with end result it deteorating to name calling and people being accused of being racist?

eubi

Don't forget the contributions of black athletes to the sports of:

Ice Hockey
Downhill Skiing
Biathlon
Nordic Skiing
Curling
Swimming
Polo
Crew

Hey, I'm joking!

I think it's more environmental than racial.

classic1

Cool link. They forgot former 6 day rider Maurice Burton (GB), French trackie Grégory Bauge. Barbados rider Barry Forde and Jamaican Gene Samuels.

ignominious

A lot of the issue these days has less to do with overt racism and more to do with inherent stereotypes and key role models. It's pervasive throughout sports and has similar effects on gender divisions as well.

It is something of a two pronged affect. On one hand your aspirations and inspirational figures will be determined by where you see people of similar ethnicity performing and excelling. This is particularly true for non-whites in the western world where ethnicity is often a very formative part of identity. On the other hand those who encourage and motivate you will, potentially quite unintentionally, favour guiding you towards where they see your ethnicity as key figures.

DigitalQuirk

Sports, by their nature, are rooted in culture. Quite often, people of a specific culture will have a predominant skin colour; that is to say, people from France are usually fair-skinned, while people from Jamaica are usually dark-skinned. In today's world, it's possible for someone from france to be dark-skinned, just as someone from Jamaica could very well be fair-skinned. However, these are still exceptions.

Cycling is a sport which is definitely deep-rooted in the culture of France. As has been mentioned by others here, many cultures view cycling as basic transportation rather than as a sport. As such, it's not hard to see why cycling as a sport hasn't really been picked up by other cultures around the world.

slagjumper

There was just an article in the recent Bicyling that speeks about this. An African american is trying to get a black team off the ground at the University of Indiana.

DQ-- There where no soccer moms in the US in 1970. Did a bunch of Brazilians move here in the past 36 years? Who invented the Javolin anyway? Camaroon was a French colony for years. Seems like based on your logic they should be way into bikes. Didnt some Italian guy invent the QR? My gut feeling is that it is allready hard enough getting some "play" if you are an African American dude, you dont need to screw with your sex life by riding around in a goofy pink or polkadoted outfit, you might as well start talking through your nose.

DieselDan

I recall an African-American on the old 7-11 team, and one racing the track at the 2000 Olympics. Of course Major Taylor comes to mind. Last Wednesday's Walterboro Crit had a black man on the Aerospace Engineering team.

I rode the Claxton (GA) Century in 2002, and rode most of the ride with an inner city cycling club from Atlanta, GA.