Do ethnic minoritys ride ?
Comments
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dave_hill wrote:What about the bloke from Zimbabwe who rode in the XC race at the Beijing Olympics?
And there was also a guy from Rwanda competing in this years' Tour of Ireland.
dave_hill - Difficult to have role models when people who follow the sport don't even know their names.
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I've never seen anyone white playing Kabaddi......................... :?:0
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dave_hill wrote:Inverted8 wrote:Why are there not any top black swimmers in the Olympics?
That's easy - swimming does not come naturally to people of African descent. They are not blessed with the same amount of sub-cutaneous fat as Caucasian (and in some case Asian) races and therefore do not have the same natural buoyancy.
If you ever get the chance to read the book "Black Hawk Down" by Mark Bowden (which incidentally is far more exciting that the film, although that's bloody good), it explains that at the time of the Battle of Mogadishu there were only two fully-qualified black Rangers in the entire 75th Ranger Regiment - this was nothing to do with racial discrimination but was down to the fact that the majority of black applicants failed the rigorous swimming tests which were necessary to gain entry.
There is also a very small number of black Royal Marines for the same reason.
Very interesting !!0 -
geordiefreerider wrote:Yeah thats what I thought, I think its probably just the places i've been riding more than anything else, im from newcastle in england but only ever see white folk riding, yet on a night out it's like a united colours of benneton advert !!
really? you from the city or somewhere? I lived and was brought up in Gosforth before I switched sides and moved to Aberdeen. Up here I very rarely see the people you mention but in Newcastle I see plenty. Jesmond dene is quite popular, although it's not really testing. Newcastle's got a massive nigerian, albanian, pakistani, indian and chinese community to name but a few.. not sure where you mean mate, do you mean newcaste's surrounding areas or somewhere?
peace
G0 -
geordiefreerider wrote:dave_hill wrote:Inverted8 wrote:Why are there not any top black swimmers in the Olympics?
That's easy - swimming does not come naturally to people of African descent. They are not blessed with the same amount of sub-cutaneous fat as Caucasian (and in some case Asian) races and therefore do not have the same natural buoyancy.
If you ever get the chance to read the book "Black Hawk Down" by Mark Bowden (which incidentally is far more exciting that the film, although that's bloody good), it explains that at the time of the Battle of Mogadishu there were only two fully-qualified black Rangers in the entire 75th Ranger Regiment - this was nothing to do with racial discrimination but was down to the fact that the majority of black applicants failed the rigorous swimming tests which were necessary to gain entry.
There is also a very small number of black Royal Marines for the same reason.
Very interesting !!
Sometimes you just gota love this site :idea:0 -
bay73 wrote:Difficult to have role models when people who follow the sport don't even know their names.
Exactly - I don't follow XC racing, all I remember is this bloke falling off a lot and getting in everybody else's way...0 -
short answer.
yes.0 -
Shaums March, anyone? Used to ride for Marin?
What about the bloke from Zimbabwe who rode in the XC race at the Beijing Olympics?
And there was also a guy from Rwanda competing in this years' Tour of Ireland.
True enough but pointing out the exceptions doesn't change the fact that ethnic minorities are under-represented in outdoor pursuits. Maybe cultural memory takes a long time to fade, and in a lot of cultures being outdoors and getting around by bike is (or was until relatively recently in generational terms) was something you did out of necessity, not for fun. So for cultures we might associate with developing countries (for want of a better description) it's perhaps not surprsing that these are not things to aspire to- yet!0 -
Not sure if this has been mentioned, but its kinda funny when you think about how many people cycle in China, Africa and other parts of the developing world. Guess there is just a difference between using a bike as part of your daily life, and for a bit of competitive fun at at weekends. I know in some African countries, there are sponsorship programmes starting to make headway with local riders, so hopefully we'll see a few more of them on the international stage soon.Scott Scale 20 (for xc racing)
Gary Fisher HKEK (for commuting)0 -
dave_hill wrote:Inverted8 wrote:Why are there not any top black swimmers in the Olympics?
That's easy - swimming does not come naturally to people of African descent. They are not blessed with the same amount of sub-cutaneous fat as Caucasian (and in some case Asian) races and therefore do not have the same natural buoyancy.
If you ever get the chance to read the book "Black Hawk Down" by Mark Bowden (which incidentally is far more exciting that the film, although that's bloody good), it explains that at the time of the Battle of Mogadishu there were only two fully-qualified black Rangers in the entire 75th Ranger Regiment - this was nothing to do with racial discrimination but was down to the fact that the majority of black applicants failed the rigorous swimming tests which were necessary to gain entry.
There is also a very small number of black Royal Marines for the same reason.
Very true but alsoi due to a different achilles tendon structure - which makes black people VERY good runners. There were a couple of black blokes at Lympestone when I did my POC - flippin eck they were bloody massive!!0 -
bails87 wrote:Hmm, going on my genes, I wonder if I've got black or white tendons? could be one of each I suppose, that would explain why I can only swim in circles......
rofl Orange 2010 P7 - Custom Build - My New Bikey Poos
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bails87 wrote:Hmm, going on my genes, I wonder if I've got black or white tendons? could be one of each I suppose, that would explain why I can only swim in circles......
ROFLMFAO!
I just read Dave_Hill's, Surf-Matt's Posts and bails87's reply to a black colleague at work who also laughed until his eyes welled up with tears..
Man this is an etnertaining Thread in many aspects..0 -
geordiefreerider wrote:Im not being funny it's a serious question, on my ride yesterday while I pondered everything from the creation of mankind to what it would be like to have an invisibility cloak, I came to the conclusion that I cant remember seeing an asian or black guy etc riding mountain bikes in my many years of riding and the more I thought about it, it seems to me its a predominantly white caucasion activity.
Is it just me that thinks this and does anyone have any theorys as to why, I mean in the UK there are massive ethnic minority groups so what is it that mainly attracts whites and not other people ? :roll:
Also I dont think i've ever met a gay rider (roady jokes will no doubt follow) it's not exactly a macho sport like rugby or anything !
Maybe it's just me and I haven't met enough riders but I would like to hear other peoples opinions, maybe it's different in say somewhere like California or something.......
There is some truth to this but I know a few non-white riders. Anyway, sport is a part of culture (just like music) and different nationalities & ethnic groups tend to have different cultures. This is less clear in a multi-cultural/ethnic society but it still persists very often. Cycling isn't the best example - Basketball and Celtic Sports are even more clearly so. Thats part of the answer anyway IMO.
The whole ability thing is misleading I think. Culture and tendency to choose certain sports (due to expectation, prejudice of coaches & even tradition) are more likely to be answers.
Also sport, like many things, it's just racist (even if it doesn't know it). The differences between individuas is far more important than minor differences between races. Anybody see the Japanese basketball team or watch the film cool runnings?? Athletes and audiences have pre-judices...that's the other part of the answer!'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.0 -
That's not an example of racism, at all. Nobody expected a Jamaican bobsleigh team, because Jamaica has an astonishing lack of snow, or ice, or bobsleigh runs. There was nothing about "race" involved.passout wrote:Also sport, like many things, it's just racist (even if it doesn't know it). The differences between individuas is far more important than minor differences between races. Anybody see the Japanese basketball team or watch the film cool runnings?? Athletes and audiences have pre-judices...that's the other part of the answer!
Also, people finding surprise in a basketball team from a nation which does, generally have a shorter population, is not racism.
It would be racist to deny those countries the right to take part, on race grounds. But it is not racist to be surprised by the unexpected.0 -
yeehaamcgee wrote:
That's not an example of racism, at all. Nobody expected a Jamaican bobsleigh team, because Jamaica has an astonishing lack of snow, or ice, or bobsleigh runs. There was nothing about "race" involved.passout wrote:Also sport, like many things, it's just racist (even if it doesn't know it). The differences between individuas is far more important than minor differences between races. Anybody see the Japanese basketball team or watch the film cool runnings?? Athletes and audiences have pre-judices...that's the other part of the answer!
Also, people finding surprise in a basketball team from a nation which does, generally have a shorter population, is not racism.
It would be racist to deny those countries the right to take part, on race grounds. But it is not racist to be surprised by the unexpected.
ditto....
one of the greatest B'Ball players was white, Boston Celtics player.
Also the main rival to the US basket ball Olympic team was Russia....doh.
Although that south african athletic is really a man you know....0 -
GmanUK101 wrote:one of the greatest B'Ball players was white, Boston Celtics player.
Also the main rival to the US basket ball Olympic team was Russia....doh.
Although that south african athletic is really a man you know....
That'll be Larry Bird then, good player nearly as good as me..............
Michael Jordan is the greatest ever though............FACT0 -
cheehee wrote:That'll be Larry Bird then, good player nearly as good as me..............
Michael Jordan is the greatest ever though............FACT
yeah that was him, he was ace....yeah no one has really come close to Jordon yet, there have been people who have come close, shaq, rodman (too much lipstick there though)... but no one to touch him. He has a lot to answer for ,, R-Kelly for one!!! my ears!!!!!0 -
Woody Harrelson was also quite good. What was that documentary he was in, "White Man Can Jump" was it?? 0
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Swinley is my fave riding spot, and I quite often see black and asian people riding there. One of the lads who sometimes rides with us is black, he rides a norco atomic, he's a feckin good rider and a great laugh.Raymondavalon wrote:At Swinley I've seen serious mountain bikers of all races. When I say serous, I don't mean some person on a Sunday ride on an Apollo bike.0 -
Surf-Matt wrote:Very true but also due to a different achilles tendon structure - which makes black people VERY good runners.
Makes you wonder why they excel at running yet don't go for cycling - surely wheeled transport is better than running?
Mind you I suppose when a lion's chasing you you don't really want to stop to unlock your bike and put on your helmet....
JOKE!! NOT BEING RACIST!!! No seriously though, take my mother-in-law...0 -
Thats just it though dave, all through this thread you can sense people choosing their words carefully for fear of being branded racist, maybe thats a part of it, ethnic minoritys see mounatin biking as being a predominantly white activity in the UK and it puts them off, being a minority in an activity, as opposed to a sport like running, boxing or basketball where they are part of an established group of participants..........0
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.geordiefreerider wrote:Thats just it though dave, all through this thread you can sense people choosing their words carefully for fear of being branded racist
True enough. If I posted a lot of what I really think, I'd be banned from the internet for life... :roll:
I think when you look at it though, it's as has already been stated - in so-called third world countries, a bicycle is a form of transport (and very often a primary and/or only form of transport). It's not there for fun or keeping fit, it's a necessity.
Enjoyment and leisure time is taken up playing football, cricket, basketball or whatever.
Is it possibly why there aren't many Afro-Caribbean or Asian racing drivers (Lewis Hamilton being the exception of course)? That Indian bloke didn't last long in F1, did he? Again, in more developed Asian or African countries where car ownership is possible/probable, a car is a way to get to work or your goods to market - it's not a tool for showing how fast it can be.0 -
dave_hill wrote:
.geordiefreerider wrote:Thats just it though dave, all through this thread you can sense people choosing their words carefully for fear of being branded racist
True enough. If I posted a lot of what I really think, I'd be banned from the internet for life... :roll:
Ha ha I have to work hard to hold my tongue sometimes ! I've never seen a thread get so many responses so quickly as this !! :shock:0 -
Raymondavalon wrote:Northwind wrote:A good friend of mine is bengali, moved here when she was about 10... Now, she just doesn't get why I ride a bike, and when her son decided he wanted a bike she was horrified- to her a bike's a poor person's transport, she's worked her a**e off all her life to stop her wee boy having to travel on 2 wheels and even though he wants to ride it's almost a mark of shame to her to have her kid riding (though she's a cool lady and got him one anyway)
Very good point there Northwind. I had this very conversation with a youngish Indian couple who have settled in the UK whilst riding the Bristol-bath cycleway. They had very nice hybrids and their families were shocked and astounded that they even wanted to own/ride bikes, never mind spend so much money on them too. The guy told me in India "a bicycle is bicycle" and it's "the transport for the poor"
Inverted8, also a valid point.. however when I raced radio controlled cars (whilst living in the US and here in the UK) , there were quite a few Chinese / Asian racers. It seems to be a hobby/sport they are absolutely passionate about and spared no expense or attention to detail on either. If you think MTB'ing can be expensive try racing 8th scale road or rallycross RC!
Perhaps choice of activity is in some way culturally driven?
Try RC helicopters! Large 90 sized nitro ones not the crappy little electric ones. Tell me about it. RC cars is just peanuts in comparison. The only thing that just tops RC helis in terms of expense are the Jets. I must have spent 20 - 30 x the amount on RC helis than I've already spent on MTBiking. Funnily enough RC helis is also very popular with Asians.0 -
Surf-Matt wrote:dave_hill wrote:Inverted8 wrote:Why are there not any top black swimmers in the Olympics?
That's easy - swimming does not come naturally to people of African descent. They are not blessed with the same amount of sub-cutaneous fat as Caucasian (and in some case Asian) races and therefore do not have the same natural buoyancy.
If you ever get the chance to read the book "Black Hawk Down" by Mark Bowden (which incidentally is far more exciting that the film, although that's bloody good), it explains that at the time of the Battle of Mogadishu there were only two fully-qualified black Rangers in the entire 75th Ranger Regiment - this was nothing to do with racial discrimination but was down to the fact that the majority of black applicants failed the rigorous swimming tests which were necessary to gain entry.
There is also a very small number of black Royal Marines for the same reason.
Very true but alsoi due to a different achilles tendon structure - which makes black people VERY good runners. There were a couple of black blokes at Lympestone when I did my POC - flippin eck they were bloody massive!!
Dense bones?
That gives me a good excuse for not being able to swim very well. I float like a brick! If drinking were a sport, then I would also be severely handicapped. Apparently it is scientifically proven that Chinese lack the resistance to alcohol gene in their bodies. I have been trying to disprove this theory all my life!0 -
Inverted8 wrote:Apparently it is scientifically proven that Chinese lack the resistance to alcohol gene in their bodies. I have been trying to disprove this theory all my life!
ROFLOL.. comedy.. :P0
