Category: News

Published Tuesday August 17th

It’s been a year since the Black Lives Matter movement changed the world, but cycling still has a long way to go to make the sport more inclusive. Rapha is publishing the first book of its kind about black champions in cycling, written by Dr Marlon Moncrieffe, featuring historical research as well as conversations with contemporary riders such as Justin and Cory Williams, Shanaze Reade and Kévin Reza. 

The book reveals the often overlooked achievements and challenges faced by black riders, and could be an essential publication to help inform the conversation of anti-racism in cycling going forward.

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Desire Discrimination Determination – Black Champions in Cycling will be the first book of its kind, providing a collation of international and historical stories of the black athlete experience in the world of competitive cycling. Written by Dr Marlon Moncrieffe, this book is set to make a groundbreaking contribution of knowledge desperately needed in the global cycling industry, taking on issues regarding access, diversity, inclusion, representation and anti-racism in policy and practice. This book will provide much-needed insight into the rich history of black cyclists that has been largely overlooked until now. Marlon takes his own racing experiences, research, and analytical expertise through a wide range of stories, personal reflections, and oral testimonies and interviews. We learn from different generations of well-known black cyclists from across the UK, USA and beyond including; Major Taylor, Maurice Burton, Russell Williams, Kittie Knox, Nelson Vails, Justin and Cory Williams, Shanaze Reade, Kévin Reza, Tre Whyte, Rashaan Bahati, David Clarke and Charlie Reynolds and many more.

The book explores how these protagonists first discovered cycling, their mentors, their ambitions and desires, as well as the explicit and implicit forms of discrimination they faced due to the colour of their skin. It seeks to understand and uncover how despite the white-dominated sport they inhabited, their determination to succeed was never dampened. Marlon brings an expert interpretation of the recent cultural shifts seen through the growing participation of black people in cycling at recreational grassroots and competitive levels, providing a frank analysis of the reception black people have been given in the face of an exclusionary sense of white-only entitlement within the sport.

In a fitting tribute to these athletes’ extraordinary stories, Desire Discrimination Determination – Black Champions in Cycling is lavishly illustrated with rare photographs and reproductions spanning decades, from the first non-white rider to race the Tour de France in 1914 to the black athletes pushing boundaries in the present day. This book is published by the bespoke design, illustration and photography teams from award-winning book publishers Rapha Editions, in collaboration with Bluetrain publishing.

 

Calling all cyclists! The newly launched  National Cycling Show is set to welcome thousands of budding and experience cyclists through its doors at the NEC in Birmingham on 18-19 June 2022. Bringing a premier retail experience, a first-class speaker line-up, a plethora of impressive interactive features, plus the ability to try-and-buy a huge variety of bikes including road, mountain, commuter, family and gravel at the show, the event is set to be a one-stop-shop for every cyclists needs, no matter how far or fast they go.

The two-day event is aimed at established, lapsed and new cyclists and will play host to some of the Cycling scene’s biggest names including Sir Chris Hoy, Jenny Tough, Mimi Anderson and Marlon Moncrieffe, who will lead a packed schedule of motivational talks on the Inspiration Stage. With a strong focus on supporting new cyclists and upskilling existing enthusiasts, the Show will also provide a Cycling 101 Stage which will offer workshops and sessions such as Safety on the Roads, Maintaining your bike, Cycling as a commuter option and Getting started in Cycling from experts and professionals from across the industry.

6-time OLY gold medallist and National Cycling Show speaker, Sir Chris Hoy, commented: “I am delighted to be speaking at The National Cycling Show. Being able to share my experiences, the highs, the lows and everything in between and inspire others to get on their bike and experience all that cycling has to offer, is an honour. Exercise, health and mental wellbeing have never been higher on the agenda and for me, and many others, cycling offers an escape, a release and that well-known Cyclist’s high that not only promotes health but also improves confidence and all-round mental and physical well-being. I look forward to meeting both new and experienced cyclists at the show in June and hope that my story might inspire experienced riders to dream big and absolute beginners to jump on their bike and get started.”

The event will also boast an on-site Testing Area to allow visitors to try out bikes on a variety of different terrains, a Spinning Zone, E-bike Stage and Meet & Greet Area so visitors can meet their Cycling idols after hearing them speak.

Helen Cook from Cycling UK commented, “This show is set to open up the incredibly diverse world of cycling to people who have participated for decades as well as those who have perhaps taken up the sport over the last year of national lockdowns. We are delighted to be Partnering with The National Cycling Show to provide opportunities to welcome new participants to the sport, build a community of people from every background and cycling discipline, to support, encourage and motivate cyclists to get fit, upskill and fully immerse themselves in the world of cycling over two days in June and far beyond.”

Tickets will go on sale on Friday 4^th June, the first 2,000 people to follow The National Cycling Show on social media and/or subscribe to the mailing list, will receive a free ticket to the event (RRP £10).