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Why are there no black cyclists?
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conehead433
Diamond Member
They are too busy playing football and basketball.
compnovice
Diamond Member
You are too late to the party...
HamburgerBoy
Lifer
Soccer and tennis aren't black dominated... are they?
I read this thread when there was about 20 replies, but decided not to post in it. Now there are 50+ replies and there are still no decent replies, except NotFred's.
Socio-economic differences probably play the largest part. I'm willing to bet there are some genetic differences that play a part as well (like why there are not many black hockey players due to their genetically weak ankles).
Why arn't there many black curlers, polo players, water polo (i could be wrong) players, figure skaters, wake boarders, or any number of other sports, etc.
In the countries where many of these sports are popular and predominant the black community still is a minority, so they will probably represent a minority in the various sports and other social activities.
JulesMaximus
No Lifer
Well, if you want to know my opinion here it is. Professional cycling is a sport that requires nurturing and a huge commitment by the athlete. Not only do you need the commitment but you need the equipment and the equipment isn't cheap. I happen to know a professional cyclist and while he is at the level where he could go to the next level (CAT1 racer, Tour de France level) he doesn't want to make the commitment to the life that it would take. You basically have to devote your entire life to training and you really need to have sponsorship.
Also, cycling is largely a European sport. Athletes from other countries aren't really welcomed into this community.
Oh, and go fvck yourself for the comment on my lifer status.
thescreensavers
Diamond Member
Why is it that when people have bad grammar you Fvcking attack the person? Maybe he is an immigrant, or doesn?t know how to spell? Why do you people that have nothing to say but to just bother people about grammar if you have a problem then PM him but don?t humiliate him/her in public.
I have asked a friend of mine that same question before.
Black people have always done well at endurance sports and sports in general (more testosterone on average than other races and more muscle mass). Ethiopians have less dense bones and longer, lankier bodies, which have made them great at endurance running. There are a few black cyclists in biking. One even switched to velodrome ice skating for the Winter Olympics. There just isn't as much interest in those sports by the black community. Once that changes though, it will take a long time, they will be 1337 at cycling. But overall size and muscle strength aren't everything in cycling. A lot of really good cyclists are incredibly skinny, even waifish, and aren't at all the "strongest" bikers on the course, but they are great climbers and they build up endurance of the heart (cardio).
Ulrich is one of the ones that are incredibly huge muscle and mass wise, but still great though (but he started off as a mountain biker). In all, you will probably see a few black riders every once in a while, but there is really no interest in the sport by many of the black community. There are a few great time trialists that are black though. But Time Trials are not totally about long distance endurace. They usually consist of less than 30 mile trips so muscle mass is a lot more important.
As I mentioned in my last post, there is a lack of interest in the sport. You might as well ask why there aren't any great American soccer players in soccer.
There are actually some black riders. Most do not do the long tour rides for the reasons I mentioned above. Many are velodrome track riders, time trialists, or crit reiders, because that requires more overall strength and less overall endurance.
Bicyclist magazine interviewed a Black Time Trialist rider (top 5 in the world) 3-5 months ago. I think I may have the magazine somewhere.
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