The Radavist

Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…

Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…

Our Radar Roundup compiles products and videos from the ‘net in an easy-to-digest format. Read on below for today’s findings…

Black Champions in Cycling is a book that explores and analyzes in detail the rich and often overlooked history of Black cyclists. A world expert in the history and life of Black cycling champions, former elite racer and academic, Dr Marlon Moncrieffe, combines his own elite racing experience with that of several other contributors. The first book of its kind, this collection of stories, personal reflections and interviews with historical icons of sport and current agents of change, addresses the essential questions of access, diversity, inclusion and of representation. Exploring how figures such as Major Taylor and Maurice Burton discovered cycling, the book sheds light on the mentors who encouraged them to pursue their ambitions as well as the explicit and implicit forms of discrimination they faced. From the first non-white rider to compete in the Tour de France in 1914 to the Black cyclists who push the boundaries today, discover how the determination to succeed despite discrimination defined the careers of these great athletes.

Includes interviews with:

Major Taylor, Kittie Knox, David Weller, Maurice Burton, Russell Williams, Nelson Vails, Justin and Cory Williams, Gregory Bauge, Rashaan Bahati, Kevin Reza, Tre Whyte, Shanaze Reade, David Clarke, Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, Nicholas Dlamini, between others.

In stock now at Rapha.

This just in from our friends at Rivendell…

Starting October 12, Rivendell Bicycle Works, the 26-year-old San Francisco Bay Area bicycle company, is rolling out reparations pricing for Black customers.

Rivendell’s CEO, Grant Petersen says, “The American bicycle industry has been racist, often overtly racist, since 1878, and Rivendell has been obliviously—not “obviously”— racist ever since 1994. We say this not to scold the industry, not to scold other bicycle businesses, and not to be on-trend.

For the last two years, Rivendell Bicycle Works has offered a 45 percent discount to Black customers who shopped in person. COVID has curtailed that. They are going national with the same plan, but now with a name and an acronym: Black Reparations Pricing (BRP).

Ten percent of Rivendell’s bikes and frames will be allocated for BRP. In the 12-month period beginning October 2020, they’ll make about 850 bikes, 85 of which will be set aside for the discount program.

In its BRP plan, Rivendell adds, “Racism doesn’t respond to inaction or self-proclamation. In other words, it doesn’t go away when you know, even in your bones, that all people are created equal. It responds to anti-racist action. Reparations are an example. Not because Reparations are “a nice thing to do,” but because they’re owed.

Reparations acknowledge that, in this country, white wealth—recent or inherited/generational, has been ‘earned’ by the labor of Black people, who, even after slavery, were never given a leg up. Your non-Black tycoon great-grampa may have been born poor, may have been a sharp and clever go-getter at the top of his class, but he wasn’t born Black.”

Rivendell is also offering its customers the opportunity to contribute to the BRP fund with every purchase they make.

For further information about BRP, please follow this link:
https://www.rivbike.com/pages/black-reparations-pricing

To contact Rivendell regarding this story, please email john@rivbike.com

Last night was the premiere of the roundtable discussion Swift Industries hosted called Black in the Saddle. Head back to this post for more information and watch the whole video here.

Swift Industries is proud to announce Black In The Saddle, an online panel discussion moderated by Devin Cowens exploring the Black cycling experience, as told by featured panelists Lydia Moore, Kaiden Nia-Ali, William Lloyd, Duncan Benning, and Erick Cedeño.

This virtual event takes place on Thursday, September 3rd, at 5:30 pm PST / 8:30pmEST, and is free and open to the public.

Expect a lively conversation around the panelists’ cycling origin stories, their most memorable adventures, and how they’ve been handling this tumultuous year. You won’t want to miss this! The culture-shaping events of 2020 have awakened the Cycling and Outdoor industries to the existence of the many BIPOC communities whose incredible stories and experiences for too long they’ve ignored. Black In The Saddle is Swift’s effort in helping to amplify these important perspectives. This project invites the brand’s fast-growing audience to get to know amazing personalities and athletes core to our adventure-cycling community. Fans can set a reminder and/or tune-in for the live-streamed virtual event by visiting the YouTube event page.

Meet the panelists below!

Over the past few months, we’ve seen a lot of organizations formed to grow diversity within the cycling industry, and this week, Grow Cycling Foundation was formed. This is their mission statement.

“There is inadequate diverse representation in Cycling competition, business, media, and development opportunities. To sustainably grow our industry, we must first build authentic foundations of diversity from within that don’t employ superficial or exploitive solutions. With ears on the ground in these communities, we can provide the education, access, and opportunities that directly address the barriers they face. We will start in North America and expand globally because this is a global problem.”

Head to Grow Cycling Foundation to learn more!

This September, John Shackleford, a 25-year-old NYC bicycle messenger, will traverse 1,114 miles on a bicycle along a mixed-terrain route known as the Underground Railroad, all to inspire the Black youth of America to experience cycling. Who else is hyped for this one?

Head to Underground Railroad Ride to find out how you might be able to help John on this life-changing experience.

Kittie Knox might not be a name you’re familiar with and that’s ok! Let’s learn about her today. She was a bike racer at the end of the 19th century, the first black person to be inducted into the League of American Wheelman, and pushed the paradigm at the time by wearing clothing only associated with males, like pants! Kittie fought for the rights of black Americans as cyclists, pushing for the ability for more to be allowed into the League of American Wheelman.

Head to Medium to read this great story.

When you’re done there, head to Bicycling.com for more stories by and about black cyclists.

Justin and Cory Williams from Legion of Los Angeles give the new Tarmac SL7 a rip.

REI‘s latest video showcases a group of female black cyclists as they embark on their first-ever bikepacking trip. Watch the premiere here with a panel discussion with the film makers after.

“Despite never having camped or ridden a bike off the pavement, Analise Cleopatra sets out to take on a week-long backcountry mountain biking adventure in Central Oregon on a journey of self healing and growth. Along with fellow beginner Dejuanae Toliver and professional mountain biker Brooklyn Bell, she discovers the joy of sleeping under the stars, the power of biking and the strength that comes with pedaling through.”

Our friends at Crust Bikes, Rons Bikes, and Ultradynamico have officially sponsored Leo Rodgers to their Factory PRO Recreation TEAM for 2021. Check out the full press-release below!

We should all take the time to read this article by Ayesha McGowan on Outside Online if you haven’t…

“It’s been just over a month since George Floyd was murdered in the street by the police. After eight days of marches and protests all over the world, the four officers involved in Floyd’s death were arrested and charged. That glimmer of hope for justice is too little, too late. The Black community has endured centuries of witnessing Black death at the hands of the law enforcement officials who are supposed to protect us.”

In 2019 Jonny Moses biked the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. The GDMBR is a 2700 mile off-road bike tour that follows the continental divide along the spine of the Rockies from Banff Canada to Antelope Wells New Mexico. He rode this route in order to both challenge himself and to challenge the narrative of who does or doesn’t belong in the outdoors. His aim is to encourage kids of color that the outdoors and outdoor recreation IS for them.

The Black Foxes is a collective of black cyclists and outdoors-people who have created a platform to share and control their own narratives. Check out their introduction video here and then visit theblackfoxes.com for their manifesto.

Check out what the LA Bicycle Academy is all about, as Justin Williams inspires the future of black cyclists in Los Angeles…