Biking Borders for Diversity in Cycling
Donation protected
Thank you for all of the generous donations. I've transferred the money to the DEI Task Force at USA Cycling.
Cycling is just a sport, but for many of us it’s actually a practice that can works miracles. It’s as fertile a ground as any for creating joy, empowering the self, and connecting with others. This is a small but sincere effort to open that ground up to a wider group of individuals – individuals who have an enormous amount of value to offer to the cycling culture.
On October 18th, I’m going to set a record for riding from the South to North borders of New York State – 330 miles. With the help of Savile Road, the Capital Region bike shop that sponsored me to race in 2019, I plan to set a blazing-fast 18 hour record – an average speed of about 18mph.
I’m doing this in solidarity of and to support USA Cycling’s Task Force for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – a group whose mission I believe is of utmost importance. This group has already announced partnerships with two groups that I’m thrilled to learn about – Black Girls Do Bike , and Saint Augustine’s University cycling team .
Anyone who feels the call to spare some cash for this cause would mean a lot to me and many others. 100% of what I raise will be donated directly to the Task Force..
The Ride Details
I enjoy trying to push myself to do bigger and bigger adventures on the bike.
The World Ultracycling Association documents records for riding bikes across states, countries, and other monumental distances. New York State has records set for all directions, but South to North. I want to set a record in the name of my commitment to growing diversity in cycling. Additionally, in the future, I’d love to support anyone doing this ride for similar causes. Please break my record, and we can raise more money!
Here’s my route (for now). The start and end points are based on an existing North to South record. I will be following regulations set by WUCA.
Cycling is a Gift – My reason for doing this.
In 2020, I’ve depended on long bike rides out onto back roads, and my gratitude for the ability to do this has grown accordingly. A space where I am unencumbered to allow thoughts and feelings to organize themselves. During times of reflection on my own life circumstances, I’ve often marveled on the gifts that cycling culture has handed me. Racing a bike gave me self-confidence, which doesn’t come cheap in this world. Encouragement & education from seasoned cyclists in my area showed me I could break through limits I’d previously believed unbreakable. And I have a common ground now with a community of good people from walks of life I had never previously been hip to. I can bring all those gifts into the other areas of my life.
And, well, I'd just like it if more people had the opportunity to get those gifts too.
If you're interested in supporting in other ways, Adam Myerson from Cycle Smart created a great spreadsheet of cycling orgs that are worthy of support.
Get Free Stuff for Donating!
Everyone that donates will receive a gift code of equivalent value (with a limit of $50) to use at Rift , a cycling-related apparel collection that I was having fun with the past few years. I am no longer making items but I have re-opened the web store once more for this project (turns out I like making stuff, but not advertising it!), so please do me a favor and get yourself a gift and help me give this stuff a home (and help me clear out space in my house!).
About Me
I'm Scott, a 35-year-old cyclist from Albany, NY. I started riding about five years ago, and started racing road and cyclocross in the Northeast shortly after.
In our local upstate community, I've served on the board of Capital Bicycle Racing Club, and spent a few years co-directing the Uncle Sam Gran Prix cyclocross race.
If we aren't already friends, feel free to say hello on my Instagram.
Cycling is just a sport, but for many of us it’s actually a practice that can works miracles. It’s as fertile a ground as any for creating joy, empowering the self, and connecting with others. This is a small but sincere effort to open that ground up to a wider group of individuals – individuals who have an enormous amount of value to offer to the cycling culture.
On October 18th, I’m going to set a record for riding from the South to North borders of New York State – 330 miles. With the help of Savile Road, the Capital Region bike shop that sponsored me to race in 2019, I plan to set a blazing-fast 18 hour record – an average speed of about 18mph.
I’m doing this in solidarity of and to support USA Cycling’s Task Force for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – a group whose mission I believe is of utmost importance. This group has already announced partnerships with two groups that I’m thrilled to learn about – Black Girls Do Bike , and Saint Augustine’s University cycling team .
Anyone who feels the call to spare some cash for this cause would mean a lot to me and many others. 100% of what I raise will be donated directly to the Task Force..
The Ride Details
I enjoy trying to push myself to do bigger and bigger adventures on the bike.
The World Ultracycling Association documents records for riding bikes across states, countries, and other monumental distances. New York State has records set for all directions, but South to North. I want to set a record in the name of my commitment to growing diversity in cycling. Additionally, in the future, I’d love to support anyone doing this ride for similar causes. Please break my record, and we can raise more money!
Here’s my route (for now). The start and end points are based on an existing North to South record. I will be following regulations set by WUCA.
Cycling is a Gift – My reason for doing this.
In 2020, I’ve depended on long bike rides out onto back roads, and my gratitude for the ability to do this has grown accordingly. A space where I am unencumbered to allow thoughts and feelings to organize themselves. During times of reflection on my own life circumstances, I’ve often marveled on the gifts that cycling culture has handed me. Racing a bike gave me self-confidence, which doesn’t come cheap in this world. Encouragement & education from seasoned cyclists in my area showed me I could break through limits I’d previously believed unbreakable. And I have a common ground now with a community of good people from walks of life I had never previously been hip to. I can bring all those gifts into the other areas of my life.
And, well, I'd just like it if more people had the opportunity to get those gifts too.
If you're interested in supporting in other ways, Adam Myerson from Cycle Smart created a great spreadsheet of cycling orgs that are worthy of support.
Get Free Stuff for Donating!
Everyone that donates will receive a gift code of equivalent value (with a limit of $50) to use at Rift , a cycling-related apparel collection that I was having fun with the past few years. I am no longer making items but I have re-opened the web store once more for this project (turns out I like making stuff, but not advertising it!), so please do me a favor and get yourself a gift and help me give this stuff a home (and help me clear out space in my house!).
About Me
I'm Scott, a 35-year-old cyclist from Albany, NY. I started riding about five years ago, and started racing road and cyclocross in the Northeast shortly after.
In our local upstate community, I've served on the board of Capital Bicycle Racing Club, and spent a few years co-directing the Uncle Sam Gran Prix cyclocross race.
If we aren't already friends, feel free to say hello on my Instagram.
Organizer
Scotia Birdsey
Organizer
Albany, NY
