Do ethnic minoritys ride ?

jairaj

I've adapted the following from Office for National Statistics: estimated population by ethnic group 2007

(numbers in thousands)

Persons: Total: 51092.0 = 100.00 %
Persons: White: 45082.8 = 88.24 %
persons: Mixed: 870.1 = 1.70 %
persons: Asian: 2914.8 = 5.71 %
persons: Black: 1447.9 = 2.83 %
persons: Chinese 400.3 = 0.78 %
persons: other: 376.1 = 0.74 %

Thewaylander

tidy, good info.

Well there are the percentages we hould see on the trail if you don't these people are under represented in our sport for either culteral/ physical or what ever reasons.

bails87

Hmm, I wonder how those numbers add up for rural/suburban areas, which (I imagine) would have a disproportionately high number of MTBers versus more built up areas.

welshkev

where in newport are you from waylander? that's got to be one of the most multicultural places in south wales hasn't it? i'm suprised we don't see more 'ethnic minorities' riding cwmcarn, it's only 10 mins out of town.

Kiblams

bails87 wrote:

Hmm, I wonder how those numbers add up for rural/suburban areas, which (I imagine) would have a disproportionately high number of MTBers versus more built up areas.

Are you suggesting that our increasingly apartheid cities have a low number of MTBs and therefore less ethnic minorities will be found in the forests? :?

That kinda makes sense... :shock:

Thewaylander

I live near asda of junction 28 in the new homes Kev, so i see plenty of multi culture as i work just past Pill, most people you see in that area are asian in origin. but no i never see much diversity at Cwm either.

passout

Surely most mountain bikes are to be found in the city? Alot of urbanites are into MTBing to some degree.

Thewaylander

no idea passout, all my mates and myself are from the more rural country side.

Kiblams

passout wrote:

Surely most mountain bikes are to be found in the city? Alot of urbanites are into MTBing to some degree.

There is a big difference between a chav riding a bike he has stolen in the city and someone who rides/drives/trains out to the forests for a ride. (I both commute and go to trails from the city)

passout

Kiblams wrote:

passout wrote:

Surely most mountain bikes are to be found in the city? Alot of urbanites are into MTBing to some degree.

There is a big difference between a chav riding a bike he has stolen in the city and someone who rides/drives/trains out to the forests for a ride. (I both commute and go to trails from the city)

True, but I still don't think that MTB'ers tend to live in the countryside anymore than walkers or any other group of sportspeople. I used to live in the Lakes and only knew a few locals that were really into it - especially if you minus off-comers. I now live in suburbia and know quite a few MTBers/roadies who live near me. I can't really see much difference in it. But I take the earlier point - those stats are for the whole UK and don't represent rural areas for the most part.

PS Do you think there's enough blood & guts in MTBing to make it a 'countryside sport' / rural pastime. It probably beats 21st century fox hunting anyway.

Naveed

The thing I don't understand about this discussion is its aim. There seems to be a bewilderment about a lack of ethnic minorities riding mtbs out on trails etc. As an ethnic minority I can assure you that this bewilderment doesn't seem to be on the minds of most ethnic people I know.

My black, asian friends don't turn around and say: "Hey Nav, how come asians don't cycle much?" - it's just not an issue as most people don't feel the need to racially quantify their own existence.

However if you put the shoe on the other foot, I have noticed that the majority white population is endlessly fascinated by 'ethnic minorities' or 'people' as I like to refer to them.

I want to say that the vast majority of posts and posters are speaking with good intentions, but as an ethnic person I have to ask: Is it really important? Cycling by and large is an individual sport (hence the Santa Cruz SYNDICATE)

One MAJOR variable that has gone amiss in this debate is that posters are actually saying how they rarely see ethnic minorities - (people, coloured mtbers???) out on the trails - the answer to this is pretty simple - when you're out on the trails you're vacating a secluded spot of land at a given time. Why is it so good to be out on the trails? BECAUSE THERE'S USUALLY NO ONE THERE.

With regards to mtbing I know loads of non white people (effnic minorities ) who ride, work in bike shops, build bikes etc) look in the US for example. There's a huge hispanic population that rides mtbikes (Tinker Juarez, Missy Giove, Rishi Grewal - Indian)

Shanaze Read is a mixed race BMXer who represented Blighty in the Olympics so there's further proof that cycling does indeed reach out to man and womenkind irrespective of race and creed (thank god)

One of the first editors of Mountain Bike Action magazine in the US was Zapata Espinoza and he was also Trek's press man for a while to. So the bottom line is this: Cycling as a sport does indeed have a diverse quality. However translate this to the UK and things start to go the way of the pear.

The cycling industry in the UK certainly does not have the same levels of diversity than the US. It's easy to put this down to demographics and population size but if you scratch the surface, you will find that the reason for this is in no way disingenouous.

Cycling is a passionate sport and this is reflected in how cycling companies recruit and retain staff. Most credible bike shops and companies recruit crazy passionate people who love bikes. Most proper mtbers such as ourselves often see our reflection in the mirror and assume that we are perfectly in keeping with the rest of the population; nothing could be further from the truth.

Cycling passion is a maladjustment, but one we can revel in. Most mtbers are sensitive, educated, sexually frustrated, individualistic beings. This is the currency that unites us, not what one's ethnicity is, that is merely an unintended side effect that should casually reinforce some positivity about our sport.

passout

Naveed wrote:

The thing I don't understand about this discussion is its aim. There seems to be a bewilderment about a lack of ethnic minorities riding mtbs out on trails etc. As an ethnic minority I can assure you that this bewilderment doesn't seem to be on the minds of most ethnic people I know.

My black, asian friends don't turn around and say: "Hey Nav, how come asians don't cycle much?" - it's just not an issue as most people don't feel the need to racially quantify their own existence.

However if you put the shoe on the other foot, I have noticed that the majority white population is endlessly fascinated by 'ethnic minorities' or 'people' as I like to refer to them.

I want to say that the vast majority of posts and posters are speaking with good intentions, but as an ethnic person I have to ask: Is it really important? Cycling by and large is an individual sport (hence the Santa Cruz SYNDICATE)

One MAJOR variable that has gone amiss in this debate is that posters are actually saying how they rarely see ethnic minorities - (people, coloured mtbers???) out on the trails - the answer to this is pretty simple - when you're out on the trails you're vacating a secluded spot of land at a given time. Why is it so good to be out on the trails? BECAUSE THERE'S USUALLY NO ONE THERE.

With regards to mtbing I know loads of non white people (effnic minorities ) who ride, work in bike shops, build bikes etc) look in the US for example. There's a huge hispanic population that rides mtbikes (Tinker Juarez, Missy Giove, Rishi Grewal - Indian)

Shanaze Read is a mixed race BMXer who represented Blighty in the Olympics so there's further proof that cycling does indeed reach out to man and womenkind irrespective of race and creed (thank god)

One of the first editors of Mountain Bike Action magazine in the US was Zapata Espinoza and he was also Trek's press man for a while to. So the bottom line is this: Cycling as a sport does indeed have a diverse quality. However translate this to the UK and things start to go the way of the pear.

The cycling industry in the UK certainly does not have the same levels of diversity than the US. It's easy to put this down to demographics and population size but if you scratch the surface, you will find that the reason for this is in no way disingenouous.

Cycling is a passionate sport and this is reflected in how cycling companies recruit and retain staff. Most credible bike shops and companies recruit crazy passionate people who love bikes. Most proper mtbers such as ourselves often see our reflection in the mirror and assume that we are perfectly in keeping with the rest of the population; nothing could be further from the truth.

Cycling passion is a maladjustment, but one we can revel in. Most mtbers are sensitive, educated, sexually frustrated, individualistic beings. This is the currency that unites us, not what one's ethnicity is, that is merely an unintended side effect that should casually reinforce some positivity about our sport.

Who are you calling sexually fustrated?

Naveed

Just a euphemism - lol for example if I had to choose between
1 - one night stand

2 - sex with my missus

3 - going for a ride on a Niner

I would opt for number 3 every time because I feel it would provide me with infinitely more satisfaction than options 1,2.

bails87

I think you're doing something wrong then mate

passout

I've got to say that it wouldn't be my top choice either but I admire your commitment!

dombra

i think the biggest part of this is the fact that most people are introduced to new experiences by friends/family etc, if you dont have someone to initially pass on knowledge and enthusiasm for something new you are unlikely to try it by yourself.
this does not purposely segregate anyone but does tend to keep things within certain communities, i suppose thats how traditions are founded and keep going.

geordiefreerider

I never had any influence personally, I was the first kid on my street with a mountain bike (middle class ? ) none of my friends or family rode mountain bikes at the time i just embraced the idea of an all terrain bike from an early age for some bizarre reason and never looked back !!

CanalRider

Naveed wrote:

1 ...

2 - sex with my missus

3 ...

I would opt for number 3 every time because I feel it would provide me with infinitely more satisfaction than options 1,2.

It would be so wrong to reply to this with what I am thinking...

welshkev

Naveed wrote:

The thing I don't understand about this discussion is its aim. There seems to be a bewilderment about a lack of ethnic minorities riding mtbs out on trails etc. As an ethnic minority I can assure you that this bewilderment doesn't seem to be on the minds of most ethnic people I know.

.

the thing is naveed i don't think there is an aim. i think it was just an observation by freerider that he doesn't see many 'ethnic minorities' ( i hate thate phrase for some reason) on the trails.

no malicious intent, no underlying factors, just an observation

canada16

I come from canada:

Hey, you dont see many black people or asians in the NHL, so lets talk about that?

Yes in the UK there is not that many PEOPLE that bike, but if you go to the US or japan, there are millions. if not billions.

Have you not seen all the roads in china? its full of bikes.

I can see it now, some white guy biking in japan, the locals probably all turn their heads and go... look a white guy, , dont see to many of those around.... LOL

passout

I used to live in Kyoto Japan and cycled everywhere. Most of my friends cycled and some Tourists from Europe & North America did cycling tours of the old capital. I didn't really get stared at much (even as a white guy / ethnic minority) in the city, but it was different in the countryside. In the quiet areas, of which there are plenty as 80% of Japan is mountians, you do get stared at quite a bit.

But anyway, the ethnic minorities (of which there are few to be honest) are represented on bikes in Japan. The same cannot be said of the UK.

Also there is a big difference between cycling just as a form of transport & as a serious sport. Cycling just to get about is much more rare in the UK and North America than it is in most of Asia.

Steve_b77

Just thought I'd add my 2p's worth.

Last week in the Tour of Ireland there was the first ever black African pro to ride in a Eurpoean pro tour race, I remember a person I was on a bike ride with a while ago going on about what the likely eventual outcome of the growth of pro cycling in Africa, basically assuming that african cyclists would be able to dominate the long distance side of cycling much akin to how they dominate the long distance athletic world :?:

To be honest I don't think I've ever seen a non-white cyclist while out on my bike, saying that I come from a very white area of the country (mid-cheshire) and to my knowledge there are no non-white residents in the village I live in, there's not exactly loads in the nearest town either.

I do think it's definately the case that non-white people don't participate in out-door sports as much, I'm certain this will change in years to come.

On the Chinese/Asian people not being able to hold their beer, it dates back to the middle ages when in developing europe water was purified by adding hops i.e. turning it into beer, where as in asia water was purified by turning it into tea. Hence the resistance to alcohol being built up by europenas over centuries

geordiefreerider

welshkev wrote:

Naveed wrote:

The thing I don't understand about this discussion is its aim. There seems to be a bewilderment about a lack of ethnic minorities riding mtbs out on trails etc. As an ethnic minority I can assure you that this bewilderment doesn't seem to be on the minds of most ethnic people I know.

.

the thing is naveed i don't think there is an aim. i think it was just an observation by freerider that he doesn't see many 'ethnic minorities' ( i hate thate phrase for some reason) on the trails.

no malicious intent, no underlying factors, just an observation

Your exactly right, keep your hair on naveed Its not a bewilderment as you put it, just a mere casual pondering of a subject that happened to pop in my head while out on a ride, as it happens I had no idea when I started this thread it would generate so much interest ! In fact this thread has crept into discussions with my non-mountain biking friends.....

stunnertier1

A great question, I have seen many black guys & girls up at Cannock before, only during summer thow !
This is also a good questio0n us snowboarders ask too, in recent years we have seen many black people on the slopes but NO asians at all, ive often wondered why this is as MTB & Snowboarding are the greatest sports on earth & everyone should do it ! I mean many asians I know dont drink, dont play football etc, so what on earth do they actually do with their spare time?? ill tell you, they play on their PS2's & Xboxes & listen to dodgy music ! apart from that they are making a lot of dough selling telecomms on ebay !

My conclusion to this question is that ethnic minorities just aint cut out for extreme sports !
8)

passout

stunnertier1 wrote:

A great question, I have seen many black guys & girls up at Cannock before, only during summer thow !
This is also a good questio0n us snowboarders ask too, in recent years we have seen many black people on the slopes but NO asians at all, ive often wondered why this is as MTB & Snowboarding are the greatest sports on earth & everyone should do it ! I mean many asians I know dont drink, dont play football etc, so what on earth do they actually do with their spare time?? ill tell you, they play on their PS2's & Xboxes & listen to dodgy music ! apart from that they are making a lot of dough selling telecomms on ebay !

My conclusion to this question is that ethnic minorities just aint cut out for extreme sports !
8)

I find it difficult to believe that you've read all this and 'that' is your conclusion......
I guess that you are trying to wind us up, either that or it's you that voted the BNP in.

geordiefreerider

passout wrote:

stunnertier1 wrote:

A great question, I have seen many black guys & girls up at Cannock before, only during summer thow !
This is also a good questio0n us snowboarders ask too, in recent years we have seen many black people on the slopes but NO asians at all, ive often wondered why this is as MTB & Snowboarding are the greatest sports on earth & everyone should do it ! I mean many asians I know dont drink, dont play football etc, so what on earth do they actually do with their spare time?? ill tell you, they play on their PS2's & Xboxes & listen to dodgy music ! apart from that they are making a lot of dough selling telecomms on ebay !

My conclusion to this question is that ethnic minorities just aint cut out for extreme sports !
8)

I find it difficult to believe that you've read all this and 'that' is your conclusion......
I guess that you are trying to wind us up, either that or it's you that voted the BNP in.

I dont think hes being racist its just a bit tongue in cheek - when i was talking to my mate about it last night who isnt a mountain biker but plays basketball and isnt the most politically correct bloke i know he said "coz there all running corner shops and shooting each other" now thats racist, but i know he was joking

bails87

Hmmm, I was worried this thread would end up going in this direction. Up until now it's been a pretty sensible, but open and interesting debate, lets not get silly!

passout

Well, I hope that it's just a misguided attempt at humour - it's hard tell when its not funny!

dbmnk

canada16 wrote:

I can see it now, some white guy biking in japan, the locals probably all turn their heads and go... look a white guy, , dont see to many of those around.... LOL

That'll be me!
I really feel like the "weird white guy on the bike". Getting starred at a lot, but that applies with and without bike.
Anyway, I've seen two other 2 other roadies out in the mountains during this summer doing my biweekly explorations of the Japanese countryside. When I went back home for a week I saw road racers everywhere.
Mountain-biking, is just not doable here since all land is private. No trails, no nothing. The poor few guys trying to mountain bike here are restricted to public parks - how wild do you fancy that is? I really had hoped for much better mtbing.

welshkev

dbmnk wrote:

canada16 wrote:

I can see it now, some white guy biking in japan, the locals probably all turn their heads and go... look a white guy, , dont see to many of those around.... LOL

That'll be me!
I really feel like the "weird white guy on the bike". Getting starred at a lot, but that applies with and without bike.
Anyway, I've seen two other 2 other roadies out in the mountains during this summer doing my biweekly explorations of the Japanese countryside. When I went back home for a week I saw road racers everywhere.
Mountain-biking, is just not doable here since all land is private. No trails, no nothing. The poor few guys trying to mountain bike here are restricted to public parks - how wild do you fancy that is? I really had hoped for much better mtbing.

ride guide did a thing about japanese mtb ing there was an american guy who lived there and the riding looks awsome, hang on, i'll see if i can find it for you