The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World
The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World
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Overview
The true story of Marshall “Major” Taylor, who overcame racial prejudice to become one of the most dominant cyclists in history. Part of Belt’s Revival series and with an introduction by Zito Madu.
The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World, which Taylor self-published in 1928, gives a riveting first-person account of his rise to the highest echelons of professional cycling. Born in Indianapolis, he eventually became the first African American cycling world champion, going on to set seven world records in the sport.
Readers will learn about Taylor’s exploits as an athlete, including his early taste of success in a grueling six-day race, his unparalleled dominance as a sprinter, and some of his most bitter defeats. But the man who achieved international fame as the “Black Cyclone” also details the extreme prejudice he faced both on and off the track. It’s a story about one of the greatest athletes in American history but also a moving testament to Taylor’s resilience and determination in the face of overt racism and seemingly impossible odds.
As he tells us himself, “I am writing my memoirs . . . in the spirit calculated to solicit simple justice, equal rights, and a square deal for the posterity of my down-trodden but brave people, not only in athletic games and sports, but in every honorable game of human endeavor.”
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781953368478 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Belt Publishing |
| Publication date: | 03/07/2023 |
| Series: | Belt Revivals |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| File size: | 2 MB |
About the Author
Marshall W. “Major” Taylor was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1878. At eighteen, he became a professional cyclist, and in 1899, he won the one-mile sprint event at the world track championships, becoming the first Black athlete to be named a cycling world champion. Despite rampant racism from both fellow athletes and fans, Taylor became one of the most dominant cyclists of his era. After his retirement at the age of thirty-two, he moved to Chicago and unsuccessfully tried to make money in a variety of ways, including by self-publishing his autobiography, The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World. He died in poverty in Chicago in 1932.
Zito Madu was born in Nigeria and moved to the United States in 1998. He grew up in Detroit and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. His writing has been published in many publications, including Plough Quarterly, Victory Journal, GQ Magazine, the New Republic, and the Nation.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Zito Madu
The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER I How I Started Riding
CHAPTER II When Fear Paced Me to Victory
CHAPTER III How I Became Louis D. Munger’s Protegé
CHAPTER IV A Cordial Welcome
CHAPTER V My Last Amateur Races
CHAPTER VI I Become a Professional
CHAPTER VII The National Championship
CHAPTER VIII Revolt Against the League of American Wheelmen
CHAPTER IX Mr. Munger’s Prophecy Fulfilled
CHAPTER X Race Against Jimmy Michaels, My Greatest
CHAPTER XI Zimmerman’s Tip Brought Me Victory
CHAPTER XII My Unequalled Feat
CHAPTER XIII A Tribute From An Opponent
CHAPTER XIV How My Strategy Foiled “Pockets”
CHAPTER XV Breaking a World’s Record
CHAPTER XVI My Banner Season, 1899
CHAPTER XVII My Triumph Over Tom Butler
CHAPTER XVIII How I Won An Unexpected Championship
CHAPTER XIX Lowering the World’s One-Mile Record
CHAPTER XX Realizing a Lifetime Ambition
CHAPTER XXI I Refuse to Ride the World’s Amateur Champion
CHAPTER XXII My Successes in Montreal Nettle Rivals
CHAPTER XXIII My First Close Decision—Brockton
CHAPTER XXIV Making My Home-Town Début as World’s Champion
CHAPTER XXV Winning Three Firsts in One Meet at Peoria, Illinois
CHAPTER XXVI An Unparalleled Feat—The One-Mile World’s Paced Record
CHAPTER XXVII A Reporter’s Praise
CHAPTER XXVIII Championship Honors for 1900
CHAPTER XXIX My Return to My Native City, Indianapolis
CHAPTER XXX Sweet Revenge at Buffalo
CHAPTER XXXI Two First Places in Two Starts at Hartford
CHAPTER XXXII Two-Ply Victory and a Record at New Bedford
CHAPTER XXXIII My Easiest Championship Victory—Vailsburg
CHAPTER XXXIV Prejudice Robbed Me of a Championship Victory—Indianapolis
CHAPTER XXXV Two Thrilling Championship Victories—Indianapolis
CHAPTER XXXVI Winning the Name Major
CHAPTER XXXVII My Defeat by Owen Kimball in Championship—Montreal
CHAPTER XXXVIII Amateur Champion vs. Professional Champion (?)—Hartford
CHAPTER XXXIX American Championship Title Decided on Points
CHAPTER XL A Unique Advertisement—Two Champions on Same Make Bicycle
CHAPTER XLI Cooper Match Race Talk, Début in Vaudeville, MacFarland’s Proposal
CHAPTER XLII How I Defeated My Old Rival Tom Cooper—Madison Square Garden
CHAPTER XLIII My Great Victory Over Harry Elkes—Boston
CHAPTER XLIV My First Triumphant Invasion of Europe
CHAPTER XLV Turning the Tables on Jacquelin, The French Idol—Paris
CHAPTER XLVI The Hardest Fought Match Race of My Career—Agen, France
CHAPTER XLVII American Riders Plan My Dethronement
CHAPTER XLVIII Robbed of a Victory Over Frank Kramer—Providence
CHAPTER XLIX The Most Dramatic Episode of My Career—Worcester
CHAPTER L My Sensational Victory Over Frank Kramer—Madison Square Garden
CHAPTER LI My Second Successful European Trip
CHAPTER LII How I Lost the 1902 Championship Title Through Vicious Unfairness
CHAPTER LIII A Championship Victory on a Borrowed Bicycle—Ottawa
CHAPTER LIV Taylor-Fenn vs. Kramer-Kimble at Manhattan Beach
CHAPTER LV Kramer Defeats Me in Bitterly-Fought Race—Manhattan Beach
CHAPTER LVI How I Defeated MacFarland’s Powerful Combinations
CHAPTER LVII My Royal Welcome to Sydney, Australia
CHAPTER LVIII My Début in Australia—A Sensational Championship Victory
CHAPTER LIX Don Walker, Australian Champion, a Worthy Rival
CHAPTER LX A Thrilling Victory with a World’s Record
CHAPTER LXI Another Victory and Another Pocket
CHAPTER LXII A Double Victory Despite a Pocket
CHAPTER LXIII Fairly Beaten but not Discouraged
CHAPTER LXIV Out of a Pocket in Record Time
CHAPTER LXV Winning Two More Spectacular Victories
CHAPTER LXVI My Welcome, Illness, and Recovery in Melbourne
CHAPTER LXVII Match Race Victories Over Morgan and Walker
CHAPTER LXVIII The Great Sydney Thousand One-Mile Handicap. How I Was Defeated
CHAPTER LXIX How I Defeated Walker and Morgan in a Sensational Scratch Race
CHAPTER LXX A Royal Welcome, Delightful Climate, and Great Success, Adelaide
CHAPTER LXXI Three Australian Championships, Off to Europe
CHAPTER LXXII My Third Successful Invasion of Europe
CHAPTER LXXIII My Defeat in New Zealand
CHAPTER LXXIV Winning International Test Series, Defeating Lawson
CHAPTER LXXV More Pockets and Rough Tactics
CHAPTER LXXVI Australians Combine with Americans to Dethrone Me
CHAPTER LXXVII Defeating Lawson and MacFarland in Melbourne
CHAPTER LXXVIII Championship Match against Lawson a Tough Race
CHAPTER LXXIX Championship Match against MacFarland Left in Dispute
CHAPTER LXXX Severely Injured in “Revenge” Match by Lawson
CHAPTER LXXXI The Most Thrilling Episode of My Career
CHAPTER LXXXII The Great Sydney “Thousand” Scandal
CHAPTER LXXXIII Fairly Defeated by MacFarland, He Refuses Match Race
CHAPTER LXXXIV Two Victories on Same Program
CHAPTER LXXXV Australian Riders, Peeved over American Suspensions, Seek Revenge
CHAPTER LXXXVI Unfair Tactics, Disqualifications, and Public Criticism
CHAPTER LXXXVII Australian Press Severely Censors Riders and League Officials
CHAPTER LXXXVIII My Final Race in Australia a Championship Victory
CHAPTER LXXXIX The Greatest Prize of All
CHAPTER XC Hail the Conquering Hero—A Strange Contrast
CHAPTER XCI My Great Comeback
CHAPTER XCII It Was an Awful Raw Deal
CHAPTER XCIII I Retire after Sixteen Year’s Racing
CHAPTER XCIV The Value of Good Habits and Clean Living