Originally Posted by Ken Cox
"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..?