What is an early memory of riding your bike?

My dad taught me how to ride a bike.  When I was a kid I was never allowed to go very far on my bike unless I was with my dad.  He and I would ride everywhere.  In hindsight, I realize how unusual that was for black folks in my hometown to hop on a bike and just ride all afternoon.

Describe your favorite bike.

I’m still learning about bikes but I really love the one that I have now.  It’s a Bianchi Eros.  It’s light weight and it is the perfect size for me.  I experienced a lot on my bike – the most memorable being the AIDS ride from San Francisco to L.A.  My bike was so good to me, I didn’t catch a single flat!

How did the RBG ride come together? It’s intentions?

RBG started with me reaching out to a bunch of friends and saying, “Hey, let’s start a bike group!”  The whole thing started by word of mouth.  We would just invite people that we knew had bikes and would be down for something like this, told folks to bring friends, and hoped for a good turn out.  Needless to say, we got off to a slow start.  I think it’s because none of us were exactly sure what we wanted this thing to look like – we just wanted to see black people on bikes.  We saw bike riding as a unique approach to bringing people together and actively responding to the issues around health, environment and economic status within the black community.  Now we see RBG as a way to build community and promote health.

Describe the type of people who ride with RGB?

The photos are of Marshall “Major” Taylor, which were a pleasant surprise, as I had no idea that he even existed!

More about this man’s life can be found here and here. But basically, he was a turn of the century record breaker in cycling who also broke through the lines of discrimination.

But the most poignant reason to share these images, is that they are yet another reminder that African American engagement with outdoor activities is not at all new.

What is your family history involving bike riding?

While I am still recovering from the planning and fun of the bike ride on Sunday, I could not let another day go by without sharing and thanking everyone involved with the event to make it a success in every possible way!

The Scoop:

A total of twenty-three bikers of a wide range of ages and abilities wheeled though the underrepresented parts of Richmond, California. East Bay Regional Parks Naturalist Bethany Facendini was an amazing resource, providing loaner bikes for those who did not have one, and gave talks during our breaks with demonstrations to educate the group about the local watershed.

Urban Tilth’s Doria Robinson was also on hand to share information about native plants and other fascinating lore about Richmond’s expansive shoreline.

The ride was mainly a flat 12 miles that meandered along the Wildcat Creek line, through neighborhoods, and ended at the San Francisco Bay with sweeping views of Mount Tamalpias in the distance. This ride went further than many in the group had ever travelled by bicycle. Even more compelling is that several participants were either new bike riders or had not been on a bike in decades. More experienced riders, including two from the East Bay Bicycle Coalition seemed glad to slow their pace and support the newer riders.

Richmond Spokes, a community bicycle coalition and job training organization, was on hand adjusting many of the bikes that had not seen the light of day in years. Executive Director Brian Drayton assisted on the route, and coached less experienced bikers to make small changes in posture and pedaling to help them get more enjoyment out of the bicycling experience.

As we rode through neighborhoods, residents were more than a little curious to see so many people of color riding through on bicycles. But there were frequent cheers and other gestures of support. Participant Delane Sims said, “A black bike ride has more impact on our inner city neighborhoods than we might imagine. It made my heart smile to hear all the love and support via car horns and cheers from our brothers and sisters!”

Comments like Delane’s were echoed by other participants, and a reminder that the most powerful way to get more people involved with outdoor spaces is through role-modeling culturally relevant examples.

Thanks again to all who participated to create such a wonderful, life-changing experience. I assure you Outdoor Afro and its partners will do it again – and in a city near you!

So, what would it take for you to bike in your local urban area?

For those who live in the San Francisco Bay Area, join us for an innagural Outdoor Afro Bike Ride, designed for people who have not been on a bike in years!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Richmond BART (with plenty of FREE parking)

10:00 AM for bike inspection

11:00 AM depart

Registration Required: 1-888-EB-PARKS (1-888-327-2757, option 2,3)

This easy flat ride is FREE and co-sponsored by the East Bay Regional Parks and led by the Richmond Spokes crew. We will begin at the Richmond BART and pedal through communities of color along the watershed to the San Francisco Bay. This is a terrific opportunity for people of color to be visible in both urban and natural spaces to inspire others to get out and enjoy the simple pleasure of riding a bike, while learning about the watershed.

Click for Press Release!

MAP:

Helmets Required. Also bring water, sunscreen, sack lunch, and sunglasses.

For day of event questions, phone: Rue Mapp 510-913-6100

See you then!

Continued from Part 1

Now you need something for the head and hands. I usually wear a synthetic stocking cap. The word synthetic pops up a lot because it is the fabric most commonly used in designing “performance clothing” that is clothing specifically desinged to be used in a number of outdoor activities from climbing to cycling, running etc.

I think I own more performance wear than I do any thing else. A good fleece hat and they come in many weights can really help you regulate body heat. A good hat will be soaking wet at the tip top on the outside, leaving your head bone dry, that is the beauty of performance wear. The head, as you probably know, is like a chimney. Massive amounts of heat can easily be lost if it is left uncovered, so get a good fleece hat. Now you need gloves or mittens. My preference is mittens. Fingers together in a dark warm place are much warmer than gloves with fingers separated by fabric with cold spaces in between.

Footwear depends on what you plan to do outside. Don’t wear snow boots and go for a run. You will be sore and sorry you ever left the house! Blisters will do you in even before you get started. If you are going running, wear running shoes and wool socks. If you are going to hike, wear a boot that will give you full range of motion, that is not too heavy and won’t sweat your feet out causing more blisters. With skiing,  you  simply have to wear ski boots.

Now move your body! The trick here is slow and steady, slow and steady. When the temps are in the single digits or below zero you want to move just enough to get a work out in and just enough to heat the pockets of air between your skin and the clothing you have on. You will be amazed at how much heat you can produce running down a trail covered with snow in 20 below zero wind chills. Here in Northern Minnesota I will get in 20 to 25 miles of running a week on snowmobile trails through the woods in the dead of winter. I also cross-country ski most winters and find it a blast even when it is zero degrees out. I also bike all winter over snow packed country roads if conditions are not too bad. The same principals apply in all cases, dress in layers.

So if you’ve never tried exercising outdoors in the winter, treat yourself to a whole new world of fun. If you follow these tips you just might enjoy winter again, just like when you were a little kid.

Dudley Edmondson is the author of Black and Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places, and is available for speaking engagements.

If you are thinking about riding a real bike in the Bay Area, instead of a stationary bike at the gym, try riding with the Oakland Yellow Jackets. Their first ride of the season is this Saturday! The first ride is traditionally a completely flat 10-mile ride that starts at Lake Merritt, goes to Alameda then heads back to The Lake where a potluck awaits! You can also join the club for only $30 for the year for guided rides that are planned at least once per week.

I love the Yellow Jackets because you don’t need an expensive bike and fancy gear to ride with them. They also organize group rides based on ability and stamina, so you can ride an easy flat ride if you’re a beginner or take on a more challenging ride if you’re a stud.

Check them out!