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Lionel, we've had an email. I'm not very interested in email from Reid Hart, a listener

to the podcast. Here's what it says. I'm a podcast listener and friend of the podcast

for the last couple of years. I'm also an African-American cyclist and a member of the Minnesota

Major Taylor Cycling Club. I was pleased to hear your address, a topic of racism and

pro cycling, and appreciated your interview with Matt Rabin. Although I've never

erased at any level, I have two thoughts about the problem that I think are important factors

that discourage and limit black riders wanting to get into the sport.

First, while I've never ridden a bike in the UK, here in the US, I know of no black cyclists

who haven't experienced shouted slurs, too close car passes, or other harassment from

motorists and pedestrians or shops by the police. For recreational cyclists like those

in our club, this is minimized by the limited number of hours we spend on the bike and

our mature ages. I would imagine for young racers in training, it's amplified and discouraging

to say the least. Second, as I listen to Mitch Docker's life in the Peloton Podcast,

I'm struck that every rider as talented as they are has inflection points in their career

where they knew someone or received help or advice from someone that helped propel their

career forward. This isn't surprising, the same dynamic is true in all professions. Black

riders who don't have these relationships and are looped through stereotypes at best,

don't have the connections and relationships that would help to move them through the ranks

and maximize their potential. Regardless, read heart.

Some really interesting points raised there, not least the fact that read rides for a cycling

...