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Have ridden the Major Taylor Velodrome on our tandem in Indianapolis, IN.
He was a cycling icon/legend . . . |
Originally Posted by paul_in_toronto
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..? what are you talking about?. . .that was the most useless bantering I have ever read. get of your high horse, canuck. . . . . |
Originally Posted by ChicagoxBoston
what are you talking about?. . .that was the most useless bantering I have ever read. get of your high horse, canuck. . . . .
Um im not sure I dig the use of the word canuck, it sounds to much like f*** ..HEY go canuck yourself eh? MARSHALL..HMM that name has possibilities.. Sloppy fembot:.. is it not pronuced: war-chester? ps are you any relation to BENDER? When is major taylor's BIRTHDAY? anyone know? I think my real disgust lies in the fact that this great athlete was really given the shaft. Id like to post as many links to articles as I can here. Im now reading on about how he was buried in an unmarked grave, theres another where people were afraid he would bring down the property values when he bought a house in their neighbourhood. Heres a very moving story about Major taylor Hay decided it would good publicity for the shop if the "Major" at least started the race. He approached Marshall about participating in the race, he declined the offer to compete after all he had never even seen a bicycle race before and did not want to be part of it. Hay carried the boy kicking and screaming to the start line. Mr. Hay whispered in Marshall's ear "you don't have to ride the entire race just go up the road at little way and quit." The gun sounded starting the race scaring the daylights out of the young boy. He started riding and crying and hearing the crowd screaming and cheering as he rode, he liked the sounds. Ten miles later, much to his surprise, the fourteen year old Marshall "Major" Taylor won the bicycle race and became the proud owner of that gold medal he had been admiring. And, the love affair with bicycle racing began. Wow huh? His life would make a great movie.. Heres another..this is how he got his name The shop owner provided Marshall with a military style uniform to perform in; people began to call him "Major". ---------------------------------------------------------- those damn can***king mounties borrowed my bike again.. .. tabernac !! |
Thanks for the 411 as to where the name of my track bars (Major Taylor) came from. I had this strange idea that it was some British twit on a big wheel traversing the globe, and designed the bars for his trip. The Major Taylor bars are my fave at the moment. They aren't cliquey yet, not like Nitto 128s.
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Originally Posted by paul_in_toronto
Sloppy fembot:.. is it not pronuced: war-chester? ps are you any relation to BENDER?
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Originally Posted by paul_in_toronto
Sloppy fembot:.. is it not pronuced: war-chester? ps are you any relation to BENDER?
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Originally Posted by paul_in_toronto
<snip>When is major taylor's BIRTHDAY? anyone know?
http://www.jackedinger.net/images/MT_06-1.jpg http://www.jackedinger.net/images/MT_08.jpg |
Originally Posted by paul_in_toronto
Wow huh? His life would make a great movie..
i was working on a screenplay a few years ago, naturally. might pick it back up again soon. supposedly whoopi goldberg's been trying to get one made for a while, she owns a huge collection of MT memorabilia. |
Originally Posted by ZachS
if by "great," you mean "has more cliches than any other movie ever made in the history of cinema," then yes.
i was working on a screenplay a few years ago, naturally. might pick it back up again soon. supposedly whoopi goldberg's been trying to get one made for a while, she owns a huge collection of MT memorabilia. I can easily see densil washington in the role. |
C U B A C U B A
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Originally Posted by dirty cookie
C U B A C U B A
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Originally Posted by sivat
Is this an attempt at being clever?
He can ride a bike backwards for ever dontcha know. What a storyteller he is... . Cool. I wonder if Whoopi rides? |
all too old.
i would say lebron james, but he's too tall. |
My guess is Major Taylor climbed that thing with +- 85 gear inches, since that was the "sprinting" gear he used. Regardless, he may have used a different gear inch for riding around town. Call it 70 gear inches and it is climbeable ... barely.
Ah ... he was left out of the African American history canon because he was not really an activist, and mostly a political conservative. He was aquinted with Washington, Dubois, and Harvey; however, his social participation in the improvement of African Americans was only through church. Using Google Earth, I located the Main and George street locations 480 feet over sea level at the bottom of George @ Main Street. 548 feet over sea level at the top of George @ Morris Sq. 548 - 480 = 68 feet (+- 6 feet ) Being %grade = rise over run = 68 feet/548 feet x100 = 13.6 grade level If we take Google earth innacuracy into account = 14.8 Not really 18% to me ... may someone run to George street really quick and take accurate measurements? Thanks |
I read something about Major taylor investing in or owning a bike company/manufacturing plant in worcester.
I was wondering if that still exists in there? It would be great to get some pics of the town... Ok you know who could play the role of major taylor .. MOSDEF ! |
Originally Posted by paul_in_toronto
Ok you know who could play the role of major taylor .. MOSDEF !
m. |
i feel a little bad throwing out some random black actor to play a black athlete, as though that's all it takes...but actors often look nothing like the person they are to portray.
but yeah, i think don cheadle's a good vote. that and mos def. |
What about one of the riders of Major Taylor's Team (Little 500) to play Major Taylor?
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50 cent
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but yeah, i think don cheadle's a good vote. that and mos def.[/QUOTE]
Theres only one actor who can pull it off, and that actor is... "Samuel Jackson" I dont need to say anymore the mental image speaks for itself.. |
mos def is the best suggestion so far... but there are enough serious black actors not getting any work right now that it would be kind of mean to give it to a musician....
it takes an athlete to play an athlete, period. a good actor of any skin color will rise to the occasion if and when needed. this is why there is only one john goodman. john goodman will not play major taylor. |
terrence howard or jeffery wright. not a close resemblance, but both great actors.
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Originally Posted by ZachS
it takes an athlete to play an athlete, period.
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