Thank you for these articles. I am a serial lurker on these sites and normally stay quiet, but I do want to say that these conversations can encourage us to create a space in our minds to think about some of the inherent biases we might have, and help create a shift in the community to become more inclusive.
Alex’s experience of “non overt” racism is what tipped me to write, because as an Chinese-Canadian that lives on the north shore and frequents the local trails, I have unfortunately had similar experiences on the trail - one as recently as this past weekend. The most recent interaction began with a scan of my bike, the outfit (typical mtb attire), and then my face. At this point I smiled and said hello, but my greeting was met with a skeptical raised eyebrow a look away, as if to avoid the situation. This person wasn’t the socially awkward type as he seemed perfectly capable of carrying a conversation with his buddy. But it made me think, “huh” for a moment. I was truly baffled about this interaction. I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first, and for all I know It could be that I’m a bit more sensitive about the topic given the [coverage it has been getting](https://www.straight.com/covid-19-pandemic/anti-asian-hate-crimes-in-vancouver-skyrocketed-by-over-700-percent-in-2020) lately. Regardless, I have noticed a shift - however empirical my data might be.
To me, Alex’s interview highlights one very important thing: that he’s just a normal (albeit a giant) human being with ambitions and experiences just like the rest of us. Growing up surrounded by these racial biases (or in his case, having slurs hurled at you in your youth) can be an isolating experience and can put up invisible barriers to all sorts of things including mountain biking. I do have to admit that some of these barriers are cultural - mountain biking wasn’t even on the radar to my family until I got an interest in it from a friend. However, entering a sport that is culturally less diverse than something like soccer can be a challenge _especially_ if your life experiences have already shaped you to expect a less than desirable outcome.
The forces at play that may prevent a newcomer of a visible minority into the sport are invisible. For those who didn’t grow up in those shoes, it’s easy to forget that this thing that we do and love isn’t actually all that accessible to begin with. Whether it’s racial, financial, cultural, or however you want to spin it - mountain biking is a very privileged activity. I often take mountain biking for granted, and 99.99999% of my interactions with trail homies have been absolutely amazing and positive, but given this focus on diversity, and my more recent experience here on the North Shore - it’s a great opportunity to create some mental space to be more empathetic towards the more diverse riders in our little community.
March 1, 2021, 10:59 p.m. - eh-cee
Thank you for these articles. I am a serial lurker on these sites and normally stay quiet, but I do want to say that these conversations can encourage us to create a space in our minds to think about some of the inherent biases we might have, and help create a shift in the community to become more inclusive. Alex’s experience of “non overt” racism is what tipped me to write, because as an Chinese-Canadian that lives on the north shore and frequents the local trails, I have unfortunately had similar experiences on the trail - one as recently as this past weekend. The most recent interaction began with a scan of my bike, the outfit (typical mtb attire), and then my face. At this point I smiled and said hello, but my greeting was met with a skeptical raised eyebrow a look away, as if to avoid the situation. This person wasn’t the socially awkward type as he seemed perfectly capable of carrying a conversation with his buddy. But it made me think, “huh” for a moment. I was truly baffled about this interaction. I wasn’t sure what to make of it at first, and for all I know It could be that I’m a bit more sensitive about the topic given the [coverage it has been getting](https://www.straight.com/covid-19-pandemic/anti-asian-hate-crimes-in-vancouver-skyrocketed-by-over-700-percent-in-2020) lately. Regardless, I have noticed a shift - however empirical my data might be. To me, Alex’s interview highlights one very important thing: that he’s just a normal (albeit a giant) human being with ambitions and experiences just like the rest of us. Growing up surrounded by these racial biases (or in his case, having slurs hurled at you in your youth) can be an isolating experience and can put up invisible barriers to all sorts of things including mountain biking. I do have to admit that some of these barriers are cultural - mountain biking wasn’t even on the radar to my family until I got an interest in it from a friend. However, entering a sport that is culturally less diverse than something like soccer can be a challenge _especially_ if your life experiences have already shaped you to expect a less than desirable outcome. The forces at play that may prevent a newcomer of a visible minority into the sport are invisible. For those who didn’t grow up in those shoes, it’s easy to forget that this thing that we do and love isn’t actually all that accessible to begin with. Whether it’s racial, financial, cultural, or however you want to spin it - mountain biking is a very privileged activity. I often take mountain biking for granted, and 99.99999% of my interactions with trail homies have been absolutely amazing and positive, but given this focus on diversity, and my more recent experience here on the North Shore - it’s a great opportunity to create some mental space to be more empathetic towards the more diverse riders in our little community.