Cycling Tips & Stories

Kenneth Walker of the Greater Kansas City Bicycle Federation recently posted:

One of my ambitions is to promote cycling in the African-American community. Well, one of my dreams came true Friday evening, when, for the first time ever, I was able to organize and ride with a group of African-American riders!!!!!!!!! I was so proud, I was about to bust.

We met at my house as I had planned an easy, short ride, since I was not sure about everyone's fitness. As we pulled out, I instantly felt the pressure that ride leaders surely feel, wanting to make sure that everyone would be safe on this ride. Turns out, everyone was fairly fit, were used to riding on the streets and settled in to a double pace line as we rode on Stadium Drive, heading towards Coal Mine Rd. We ended up riding from 30th and Van Brunt to 63rd & Swope Pkwy and back to my house. Then we rode one of the riders down into the city to his house, by 18th & Vine.

And what a response we got! People came running out of their houses, cars honked at us and pulled over to watch us go by. We even overheard one group of people standing at a corner, comment that they had "never seen any @#$* like that before" as we rode by. I know that they other riders were feeling a lot of pride, just as I was. We all realized that we were taking part in something that to our collective recollection, has not happened in our city before. We plan on doing this ride each Friday evening.

If you'd like to join Kenneth's Friday afternoon rides, give him a call at 816 682-4191 (cell) or email (manlyguy4304@yahoo.com). permanent link to article: "A new ride for African American cyclists in Kansas City"
posted by Brent Hugh at 4/12/2005 03:56:00 PM |comment on this article