Cascade Bicycle Club Celebrates Black History Month with Nelson Vails!

Sponsored by The Rainier Riders
February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate the new found diversity in bicycling, Major Taylor, and a modern day legend, Nelson Vails. The Cascade Bicycle Education Foundation, Major Taylor Project, and the Rainier Riders are pleased to host a special evening with U.S. Cycling great Nelson Vails on Friday February 22. Proceeds from the evening will help support the Major Taylor Project.
His story is a triumph over almost insurmountable odds. Nelson Vails was… Show more the youngest of 10 children growing up in the Harlem projects who became the first African American to win an Olympic medal in bicycling in the 1984 Track Sprint. Nelson started winning races in Central Park at a young age and worked as a New York City bicycle messenger to support his family. Nicknamed "The Cheetah", Nelson Vails rode furiously while working, trained in Central Park after work, and raced locally on weekends.
In 1981 he earned a spot on the U.S. team and raced to a gold medal in 1983 in the Pan American games in Venezuela. He represented the USA at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles where he won the silver medal in the individual 1000-meter Match Sprints, behind countryman Mark Gorski. Vails was the 1984 National Sprint Champion and National Tandem Sprint Champion in 1984, 1985 and 1986. In 1985 he earned a silver medal in the Tandem Sprint at the World Championships. In the 1980s and early 1990s he competed professionally in 6-Day circuits in Europe and in Japanese Keirin events from 1990 to 1995.
Diversity in bicycling and reaching underrepresented communities in Seattle is a goal of Cascade Bicycle Club. The Major Taylor Project is that goal in action.
The Rainier Riders are a Seattle based cycling group promoting the appreciation and love of cycling, fostering camaraderie among all cyclists regardless of age, race, creed, or gender. The Rainier Riders show the beneficial impact of cycling on health and fitness issues that disproportionately affect underrepresented communities.
Please join us for an evening of inspiration with Olympic silver medalist and modern day hero, Nelson Vails!

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