meloroast profile

Haha classic. I passed a mom and her little shredder girl going up Mtn Hwy last year and she said "Oh we just saw your doc this weekend! You're so great!" 

She mistook me for Brooklyn Bell. I mean, look, i'm honoured...but they didn't mistake me for her because of my riding skills! 

It's fine, it happens, this isn't my first rodeo. But ya, feelings.

Good to hear Pete! I know for me it's important to feel like I have something to contribute beyond my skin colour and gonads (things I had no control over). Doesn't diminish the need to talk about those experiences, but it's just a part of it.

Yes! I talked to Endless Biking about this cause my god daughter loves the InterRiver park but I think would feel more comfortable with other girls taking lessons. If you ask them about it maybe they'll start to get that the demand is there!

Another great profile thanks Alex!
This particular sentence is good food for thought: "Since there are so few PoC out on the trails I need their interactions with me to be positive."

I'm not sure people understand what this means for the person taking on this responsibility...it means you have to be "on" and smiling and welcoming! A defacto ambassador for your race instead of just enjoying your ride. I think this is especially true for black men who are notoriously profiled and stereotyped.
I'm sure some will say Alex doesn't HAVE to take on that responsibility but it's pretty loaded and complex position to find one self in when you are a minority and that minority group tends to have some negative stereotypes associated with it. When there is little representation, there is an inherent responsibility, whether you like it or not, to counter those stereotypes. I'm not saying this is bad... being a nice, positive person is great. But having to think about how people view you as you live your life is tiring and a bit of a mind f*ck tbh. 

Thanks NSMB for just putting different perspectives out there. But I'd also love to see this direction merge into articles where the focus isn't explicitly about race/sex etc. e.g., given Alex's experience and gear-nerd status, i'd love to see him contribute to those types of articles in the Andrew Major style (assuming he'd be interested). 

Thanks again! I'm now going to force myself not to read the comments...

Thanks Sanesh! Great article and a lot resonated with me.

I started MTB as a 40yo woman of colour with no trail experience whatsoever. Just wanted to take up a new sport and mtb looked like fun. Did I see myself anywhere? No. Did I feel welcomed? Yes! Did I attempt to ride BP from Lilloet to Hyannis? Of course! :|

But feeling welcomed doesn't preclude the barriers for entry for many others (cultural and/or socio-economic etc) and it also doesn't distract from inherent feelings of discomfort or "not belonging" when you don't see yourself in a community. It's hard to explain and I have no wise solutions, just many feelings.

So while I have never felt discriminated against, I haven't always felt comfortable and a few times I felt kinda "other"ed. Every interaction has had good intentions, that much I know, but the outcome has, at times, not made me feel good. I don't blame people for affecting me and others in a way they may not be aware of. Which is why dialogue is so important. It's ok to "get things wrong". Ask questions, be humble, be open. And please, just listen sometimes. Allow the words to sink in and attempt to empathize. Feelings are just feelings. They aren't right or wrong they simply exist for that person, whether you like it or not. To dispute or minimize is kind of dehumanizing.

Also it's important to understand that it is EXHAUSTING to have to explain your life experience all the time. Most of us just wanna go riding. So if someone doesn't want to engage, that's also ok.

Whoa this is the best!!! Hoping to be part of a similar crew soon!

Holy jeezus

OMG yes. I made myself watch it again even though i didn't want to. Very primal. Reminds you we are just animals

Any chance you have the link or name???

Rode Fromme a few days ago. Leppard was almost all snow/slush but lower half had a clear path in the middle of the trail. All clear starting at Kirkford.

Thx just took a look but they aren't carrying them anymore...will shop around!

Suggestions though??

Understood...suggestions?

Winter is coming...

I'm hoping to get in post-work rides on occasion so looking for light suggestions. I read Andrew's Aug article but none of those can be sourced in Canada and i've already got a bunch of stuff stuck in the USA because of the USPS debaucle (i'm told potentially 3 months!). 

So looking for suggestions of good light combos (bars and helmet), that would last at least me a good 2h, planning on rides of trails i'm familiar with, and hoping to not spend more than $300-$350. 

I've heard of magicshine and niterider...

TIA!