The World's Fastest Man
 

https://www.amazon.com/Worlds-Fastes...-1-spons&psc=1

Anyone else read this book? Great read about the first African American Champion of American sport. Also a fascinating bit of history about cycling in the 1890's when it was the most popular sport in America. Tens of thousands showed up for races. The time between the horse and the car when bicycles offered freedom for the masses, and were decried by church goers as offering too much freedom and licentious behavior. Said to be the greatest liberator of women to date, by Susan B. Anthony, the bicycle was sport, freedom and lifestyle.

Apologies if this is the wrong place for this post, and in no way do I have any affiliation with the author. Its just a fun read for those into cycling.

Decried by some church goers, not all.

In fact, it was a very vocal and misguided minority who called the bicycle evil. The media was quick to sensationalize it.

Most mainstream organized religions realized that it could be used for good or for evil, like everything else in the world.


-Tim-

I read it also, good book.

I read The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World, Taylor's autobiography, over 40 years ago.

Jackie Robinson is famous for breaking the color barrier in major league baseball, but Major Taylor did it in cycle racing a half century before. Eric Liddell (the Chariots of Fire guy) is famous for not racing on Sunday, but Major Taylor did it a quarter century before.

'Cads on casters', those young men who cut church to spend their Sunday mornings on their wheels. :)

Available as a free (public domain) e-book on Google Books, if anyone is interested.

Wow, thanks for the video link. Didn't know there was footage available and , not knowing the story, did not know about Major Taylor's biography. Its now on my reading list.

Thanks

I read Todd Balf's book "Major" when it came out in about 2009. Great historical account. I liked Balf's book "The Last River" better.

I'm no Major Taylor but I do ride bare-ankled. Heck with the Rules. I like shorty socks.

Good history of cycling item, just .. fastest is now 183ish mph and record holder is named Denise..

Yup -- local (for me, in north coastal San Diego County) lady with a local and legendary trainer.

that record was aided buy a drafting a car and she was towed for the first part of the run. Like others who go after that record. Still lots of guts to ride a bike that fast.

All true. I would be terrified to try that myself.

Does anyone know what the top cycling speed on flat ground is unaided?

that would be the IHPVA Black mountain flying 200M record for fully streamlined bikes 85.71mph

or the UCI hour record , covering 55.089km in that time on a velodrome..
at an altitude of 1,800 meters, in Mexico..

https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod...g?resize=480:*