inkdwheels

How many african american road cyclists are here on B.F.? Im just checking because im curious, how old are you? Where are you from? How many black riders are in your area? Im not asking about who is racist about what or how whatever makes you feel because i don't want this thread to be locked up or removed.

I live in Honolulu, previously from Atlanta. Im 25, I know 2 other guys who used to ride and i've seen a few but i currently don't know or ride with any.

baiskeli

Does African living in the U.S count ?

If so, count me in.

Almost 32 years old, originally from Nairobi, Kenya.

I don't see many black riders in my area but then again I am in New England. I know a couple of African American cyclists and I think one of them is a Cat 3 racer.

Totally unrelated, I saw the tag line about you moving to SF. I worked there for a months a few years back and I thought it was heaven (apart from the property prices). Always wanted to move there at some point in the future.

nova

OT
My 10th grade biology teacher goes to kenya once a year to every 2 years. Kind of a working vacation deal she goes there for 2 to 3 months each time. Id not mind takign a trip there my self after seeing her trip photos beutiful country. Hmm a bike tour of kenya hell yeh that would be fun.

kevinmcdade

I live in a suburb of Dallas Texas. I am 34 years old and only know 1 other black cyclist in the area. I have other friends who are interested in cyling but they all say it's too expensive. I am currently building up a budget bike just to show them it can be done with minimal funds. Alot of my friends think that they have to automatically go spend $5000 to enjoy the sport.

cuda2k

*Gives a wave to Kevin*

In the N. Dallas area I've probably come across maybe a half dozen cyclists of African American heritage. Most I've seen during the weekly rides from the local bike shop.

And just to be clear - I'm a pasty white guy. Well, I'm a little tanner than usual now with all this riding.

inkdwheels

Thats cool. I knew you guys were out there. It just feels better to know im not the lone ranger.

pinky

Don't see a lot in New England but NYC has a bunch and they fall under 'nasty'

ed073

Aww....I thought this thread was gonna be about Nelson Vails.

cyclintom

If you're moving to San Francisco and you want to hook up with some REALLY GOOD black cyclists check out the Oakland Yellowjackets Bicycle Club. https://www.oaklandyellowjackets.org/ They have all levels and some of the training rides they put on attract 100 riders.

These guys do a ride to Monterey each year which is about 110 miles and the fast group completes in a little under 5 hours. OUCH!

But anywhere in California at least, any bicycle club would be happy to have you ride with them. I'm not sure why blacks seem to have so much trouble riding with whites. Of course it's awkward until you get to know someone but isn't it that way everywhere?

I remember when I was racing, a couple of black guys came out to the training races. They were doing it all wrong and several people tried to help them - shoving them into the pack when they were riding outside in the wind and all - but that seemed to intimidate them and they stopped coming. Most of those involved were sort of sad not knowing if they'd insulted them or what. Racing is a hard sport and no one but a star athlete can ride well sometime for a couple of years of working into it. But the feeling of pulling in a big pack when you're doing 28 or more and then you drop into the middle of the pack and it feels like you're coasting is just fantastic. I'm too old now and they stopped putting on the really old farts races.

kevinmcdade

I have no problem riding with anyone. I will leave my house on a Saturday or Sunday morning, if I am not doing a group ride, and ride with whoever I come up to first. I always speak, am always cordial and will always ask if I can join a group or an individual. If I had trouble riding with anyone other than other black guys I would always be riding alone because there are not many other black cyclists in my area.

nova

Not many african americans here that ride bikes. Ive met up with maybe 7 or 8 this season. Damn strong cyclists all of them. Im white my self but am color blind when it comes to people i dont care if your green long as your friendly.
Oh the other day i did meet up with a old friend of mine i went to high school with. I hear "hey watch out that you dont become a hood ornament". I knew the secound i heard it who it was. He was one of about 10 black kids that went to my high school back then that were not from other schools in open inrolment. Were suppose to meet this week end for a ride on the tow path if he doesnt have to work this week end. Hes still a damn strong rider unlike me he never had 4 years pluss with no rideing heh.

minder357

tons of black guys riding bikes around here in the east bay. . . mostly they wear hoodies and dont pedal! (I think I know why nobody rides fast thru the ghetto. . .pit bulls love to chase bikes)

CTBiker1001

I"m not African America, but one of my good friends, who is also a co-worker and favorite cycling pal is African American. We are in New England and ride a lot together and have done some organized rides together. I'm constantly slowing him down (if someone is going to run over a piece of glass and get a flat, it's going to be me), but it doesn't seem to bother him at all. We've had a great summer of riding.

Az B

I found a '98 Trek 2120 for $200 in a local ad. It hadn't been ridden much as the nubs were still on the tires.

Sure it needed some TLC from sitting so long, but a carbon frame with 105 components and a triple for $200? That's plenty good enough for anyone to get started enjoying riding.

I won't go into how nutty it is to even have $5k consumer bikes, but to think that's what you need to get started is pretty high on the whack meter.

Az

bigdraft

Here in the L.A. area we have quite a large number of black riders. Here's a gallery link from one of the biggest clubs in the area. It's called Major Motion Cycling Club and they are responsible for bringing more juniors into the sport then any other club I am aware of.

https://www.majormotioncycling.org/Im...lbum/index.htm

inkdwheels

Ha same here. In fact if i had a problem like that i don't think i'd even have any friends here in Hawaii.

baiskeli

Never really had any problems riding with groups. I actually find roadies here to be very friendly, quite a contrast from N.E unfriendliness off the bike. I am an introvert but have a much easier times making friends while biking. Its human nature to be able to make friends with people in a shared group activity because
1. You already know you have something in common
2. The fact that you are in a shared activity makes people more likely to look past superficial differences (skin color, class, gender etc)

I love the group that I currently ride with once in a while (life seems to be seriously cramping my cycling time)

Guest

I think I know a guy who is a crazy mad cyclist in Honolulu. If you're interested, I can give him a call. He's always looking for a riding partner.

Koffee

baj32161

I am a 44 year old African-American cyclist in Ewing (Trenton) New Jersey. I have met a few other African-AMerican riders but never when they are on their bikes. I always see them at the pub up the street from my job whe I go there for lunch on Wednesdays, when I work from 2PM-10PM. I have given them my email address and my cell# and I have yet to hear from them. This was 4 months ago. I don't really see many other riders at all in my area due to my odd hours. I really wish I did.

Cheers,

Brian

voltman

I see lots of black cyclists on my Sunday rides. All the ones I've seen thus far are club kitted and can hammer.

terrymorse 

Our club president is African American, and a very strong rider. After you get to San Francisco, come on down the Peninsula for a group ride.

https://www.westernwheelers.org/main/index.htm

EURO

Not interested in black guys from around the world then?

inkdwheels

Just seemed easier to type in African American in case someone got offended by black. Im interested in black cyclists everywhere.

lamagy

shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit, i have troubles finding any riders to ride with let alone trying to find some in my own racial group...

but i've joined a club and i compete every weekend..and its painfull but fun..

lotek 

American-African?
Could I claim that since I lived in RSA for five years ?

Kevin, there's an african-american guy who rides out
of RBM in Frisco absolutely rips everyone's legs off
maybe that's why no one likes to ride with him?

marty