Triangle Bikeworks Expands Programming To Offer Mountain Biking For Youth of Color

Every year since 1903, the Tour de France challenges more than 170 male cyclists to an endurance race that spans multiple countries over 23 days. In 2020, there was only one Black cyclist. 

Historically, cycling is known as a sport dominated by white individuals but there is some good news. According to a 2013 article by Bloomberg, “between 2001 and 2009, the fastest growth rate in bicycling was among the Hispanic, African American, and Asian American populations.” Combined, the three demographics made up 23% of bike trips in the United States.  

While encouraging, data still shows a barrier to enjoyment for people of color. Triangle Bikeworks is working hard to break that barrier and change the face of cycling by creating opportunities for youth of color in the Triangle to experience the mental, physical, and social benefits of endurance cycling.  

The organization was founded in 2010 by Kevin Hicks and his then wife with the intention of helping students of color obtain personal achievements and learn environmental stewardship through bicycle education tours and volunteer service trips.  

Kevin, who has been a full-time Network Traffic Analyst at IBM since the organization launched, also volunteers his time as the organization’s Executive Director. He says they chose cycling as the medium to approaching the kids because he believes “bikes are your first introduction to freedom.”  

Their programming started with long-distance cycling trips that have spanned as many as 1,800 miles and are designed to immerse students in educational experiences about subjects that matter to their own history. Since 2010, 180 young people have traveled approximately 8,745 total miles on these trips. 

“Triangle Bikeworks has always been about reintroducing youth of color to the joys of cycling that sometimes become lost in the adolescent years,” Kevin shares. “Cycling boosts self-efficacy and being outdoors… enhances cognitive function, particularly in the areas of focus, cognitive inhibition, and working memory. Lastly, it can beef up your brain’s BDNF levels (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor protein), which ensures healthy brain function. And the best part, the kids don’t even know this is happening!” 

The demographics noted for long-distance cycling at the beginning of this story aren’t an outlier for the other areas of the sport. According to Kevin, the predominant demographic of mountain biking is also white males of any age – so of course he wanted to take that on too.  

Kevin’s team launched its TYMBR (Triangle Youth Mountain Bike Racing) Wolves program in 2021 to help breakdown stereotypes by showing that youth of color, when addressing the inequitable aspects of cost and accessibility, can also greatly benefit and enjoy the sport. 

When asked whether this program can also help dispel misconceptions about youth of color, Kevin said: “The misconceptions about youth of color wasn’t created by them so it’s not their responsibility to dispel them. They’re comfortable being who they are. When people push against that is where they find trouble in society. I just want them to continue being the beautifully wonderful young people they are.” 

Using the abundance of trails within the Triangle region, like the ones in Brumley Nature Preserve or Carolina North Forest, the program promises to build camaraderie, sense of community, and familiarity. 10 young people have signed up this year, with 9 of them being brand new to the sport.  

“Practices were almost like being in the classroom for the first two months of the year, but the youth stuck with it. There were numerous weekends where we only taught them theory, technique, and control. When we finally got on the trails in early March, theory became reality. It’s similar to your first time being behind the wheel of a car. Everything is coming at you so fast, it’s overwhelming and sometimes frightening. Some considered not doing the trail again, it was that scary,” Kevin shares. “That changed with each subsequent round. By their second practice on the same trails, they were full of excitement and more confident. The fear of the trail had given way to the joy of being young, ‘invincible,’ and free.” 

Cycling is an expensive sport but Triangle Bikeworks is committed to ensuring that cost of equipment is not a barrier for the students they serve. The local biking community regularly donates lightly worn clothing and passes down prized bikes rather than trading them in when they upgrade their own equipment. The organization’s partnership with the Durham Bike Coop also helps by providing a repair location for gifted bikes. Kevin and his team most recently used the funds raised from United Way’s 2021 partnership with Band Together to purchase a much-needed trailer for their mountain biking team. 

Triangle Bikeworks is always accepting donations and volunteer applications.  If you’re interested in learning more about and supporting their work, visit their website: https://www.trianglebikeworks.org/