why professional cycling is so white?

[niggle]

I was thinking the other day and thought: when you look at professional cycling it seems there is (still) a huge predominance of white competitors compared to in most other sports- why is this?

[Mark1978]

Perhaps it's more that running is different rather than cycling is? I know running is particularly popular in African countries, Ethiopia / Kenya etc, I don't know if it's just a cultural thing or if genetics also plays a role in the athletic performance.

Of course cycling is an equipment sport, and not cheap equipment at that, so would naturally tend to favour 'first world'' countries, who tend to have majority white population.

[Freddie]

Still? You say that as if there is some discrimination against blacks/Asians in competitive cycling, have you not heard of Major Taylor?

African and many Asian "roads" are hardly made for racing bikes and by and large, these people can't afford them (running, in contrast, costs practically nothing). There is also an image problem with cycling being the domain of the poor that cannot afford to drive, that carries weight in Africa and Asia and often amongst non-white British (how many black non-utility cyclists do you see outside of the big cities?).

There is no culture of cycling for leisure or competition amongst these groups as there is amongst Europeans. For them, a bike is a tool for when you don't have a car.

[tatanab]

Even in affluent 1st world countries like the USA there are few non white riders. In clubs I rode with over there I'd say only about 1 or 2% are not white. In this country it is even fewer. So I think it is a cultural thing, just not something many get into possibly due to lack of exposure through their peers.

[Mark1978]

It's not all to do with access to good roads and funds to purchase bicycles either, otherwise we wouldn't see such a split between the amount of men and women cycling.

[niggle]

Still? You say that as if there is some discrimination against blacks/Asians in competitive cycling, have you not heard of Major Taylor?

Yes I have but the (still) was as a contrast to changes in the diversity of both other sports and the general population.

EDIT: no I don't suspect any discrimination, I am quite sure that in the pursuit of victory any competitor with ability will be welcomed with open arms, I suspect it is more likely, as others suggest, that people from ethnic minorities are simply not interested, or at least have not been up to now. Question is whether something should be done about it as Team GB may be missing out on potential medal winners....

[hondated]

I don't know how long before it happens but keep an eye out for this lad in the future.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/others ... QandA.html

His dad Maurice is a three times british champion as well

[Mick F]

Swimming?
Generally speaking, black people have a higher specific gravity that white people, and thus do not make world class swimmers.

I wonder if cycling is affected by this as well?

[Vantage]

From where I'm sitting, it's not limited to the sport of cycling, professional, amateur or otherwise, but cycling in general.
I never really gave it much thought until one day out with the cycling club the discussion turned to cycling goods at Lidl. Someone mentioned getting there before everything had sold out and another member came out with the very good point that we should go to the store in a particular area of the town as it was mainly Asian and "Why would they buy any cycling stuff? They don't ride bikes."
It wasn't a racist remark but a factual one. I've seen a few riding bikes, but not in the same numbers as white folk. Not even remotely close.
I wouldn't say it was down to road quality either, not when you consider how ethnically diverse the UK is.
Surely it's just a culture difference?

[mrjemm]

Swimming?
Generally speaking, black people have a higher specific gravity that white people, and thus do not make world class swimmers.

I wonder if cycling is affected by this as well?

Oh my, I had to splutter when I read this. Sounded like odd pseudoscience from the Victorian vaults, but had a quick google, which showed it is believed out there, and I'll go look deeper, but in the meantime, here's an interesting article on the broader subject matter-

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre ... ympics2008

I guess an area of discussion is the idea of wealth and access, and social aspects around wealth and the pursuit of it. However, tennis is typically viewed as a sport of the wealthy, yet it is dominated on the women's side by the Williams sisters. Likewise golf, and Tiger Woods, motor-racing and Lewis Hamilton. Etc.

We can all make judgements, guesses and assumptions till the cows come home, but really folk, it would be daft to try, and possibly quite offensive.

[Ayesha]

Apparently, it’s the R1b haplotype bloke. He has a great affinity with all things mechanical.
He can invent mechanisms to do all kinds of things. Eg. The clock. The steam engine. The horseless carriage. The bicycle. The Difference Engine. The aeroplane. The atomic bomb.

PS ‘Racism’ is dead. ‘Haplotypism’ is the future.

[mrjemm]

Makes me think of the British affinity and success in all things 'sitting down'...

[[XAP]Bob]

Swimming?
Generally speaking, black people have a higher specific gravity that white people, and thus do not make world class swimmers.

I wonder if cycling is affected by this as well?

Oh my, I had to splutter when I read this. Sounded like odd pseudoscience from the Victorian vaults.

On the other hand it would be ridiculous to say that there aren't physiological differences between the different races within the human species. That's not racist - it's descriptive.
In the same way there are differences between men and women - that's not sexist, it's descriptive.

Equality is not the same thing as equivalence - and it is entirely possible that specify gravity does vary according to race, and that would indeed have a significant affect on cycling and swimming performances.

[reohn2]

Swimming?
Generally speaking, black people have a higher specific gravity that white people, and thus do not make world class swimmers.

I wonder if cycling is affected by this as well?

Oh my, I had to splutter when I read this. Sounded like odd pseudoscience from the Victorian vaults.

On the other hand it would be ridiculous to say that there aren't physiological differences between the different races within the human species. That's not racist - it's descriptive.
In the same way there are differences between men and women - that's not sexist, it's descriptive.

Equality is not the same thing as equivalence - and it is entirely possible that specify gravity does vary according to race, and that would indeed have a significant affect on cycling and swimming performances.

IIRC aren't humans(like the planet) around 65%+ water if that's the case the remaining -35% must make up for a lot of SG.

[Mark1978]

we should go to the store in a particular area of the town as it was mainly Asian and "Why would they buy any cycling stuff? They don't ride bikes."
?

But if Aldi are half decent at their stocking strategies they will know that the cycling offers don't sell very well in that particular shop so will send them less stock!