The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World

by Marshall W. "Major" Taylor

American bicycle racer Marshall Walter "Major" Taylor (1878-1932) was the first black sports world cycling champion in 1899, American sprint champion in 1900, and numerous track cycling records. Nicknamed “Major” in his youth in Indianapolis and later known as “the Worcester Whirlwind” after his adopted hometown in Massachusetts, he was the second African-American world champion in any sport (after Canadian-born bantamweight boxer George Dixon of Boston won his title in 1891). In the Jim Crow era of strict racial segregation, Taylor had to fight prejudice just to get on the starting line. He faced closed doors and open hostility with remarkable dignity. In his retirement, he wrote his autobiography, The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World.

Genres: Sports, Biography

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1928

Reviews

[Daniel Cradler · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the start of the 20th century in the US, track bicycle racing in velodromes was rivaled only by baseball for popularity and by boxing for lucrativeness. All of the professional sports drew a strict color line, with White and Black athletes in their own leagues, if Blacks could play at all. The traditional narrative is that this line was first crossed in boxing, by Jack Johnson. However, more than a decade before the Johnson-Jeffries fight in Reno, Major Taylor actually became the first Black professional athlete to win both American and world championship titles.

This autobiography covers Taylor's entire career, including the many struggles he faced due to prejudice from White racers and officials as well as difficulty in finding lodging and dining open to Blacks as he travelled to events, even in California and the northeast. Taylor contrasts this with the much more favorable treatment he found in Europe and Australia. Throughout his professional racing career, he enjoyed great support from fans and the press worldwide and he won vast sums of money.

While the subject is fascinating, there is perhaps more detail than needed in the form of lengthy quotes from newspaper articles giving accounts of specific races. I imagine when track cycling was still a popular sport, it would have been interesting to fans to have these descriptions. Sadly, track cycling is little know in the US today though it still exists as an Olympic sport and it enjoys some popularity in Europe. Up until the 1930s, great crowds attended pro cycling races at venues such as Madison Square Garden.

Major Taylor doesn't talk much about events after retiring from cycling and he devotes relatively little space overall to his personal life. One anecdote he does give of his retirement years is meeting former president Teddy Roosevelt, who had followed his cycling career with great admiration. This gives an idea of what a different time it was in terms of the sport's popularity. It's hard to imagine any recent US president being able to name a professional cyclist other than perhaps Lance Armstrong.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read this for the book club, but didn’t finish in time and I regret not going to the book club. I really enjoyed this autobiography! I expected it to be stuffy and with stilted old-fashioned language and to find the reiteration of races boring, but Taylor really brought it to life and I was really into the races and following every stroke. I wish there was more about his life outside of bicycling: his wife and daughter, and his life after bicycling, but I still really liked reading this and would recommend.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a work of literature, it's not the absolute most gripping read. The thorough description of rather repetitive race recaps could easily overwhelm a less interested reader. That said, there are some rather excellent individual lines that can stir the spirit.

"I was a pioneer, so I had to blaze my own trail."

I only wish Major had written more about his family; we hear little of his parents who were evidently quite influential on him, nor do we hear of his siblings. He neglects to give the details of meeting and marrying his wife that would be expected of a modern memoir.

From a historical perspective, this book is amazing. Major Taylor was not just the first black world champion in any sport, he was the first super-star of American and International sport. He was, in a sense, the first modern professional athlete. And he did it while facing all the adversity you can imagine from an era where vicious racism was the everyday norm.

[stanley l. woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historic stories from an unknown champion

I chose this book to get more knowledge of Major Taylor after seeing the Hennessy commercials. I was certainly impressed in the way he described how he dealt with racial prejudice and used it as inspiration to not only be a better cyclist but a better man. We can all learn from his humility and love of people. As a cyclist and a history buff, this book was right up my alley. The detailing of the races , although interesting became a bit redundant. The stories of how he dealt with prejudice and mistreatment were always enlightening. Book is long but I’m glad to have read it and recommend it, particularly to history buffs.

[Ian Mclean · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is hard to believe in this day and age that a Black Sportsman could be treated so badly.
He was always true to his beliefs of fair play, and took the good with the bad without complaining.
A real role model for the younger generation.
Also, it was a very inspiring book because of what he achieved through track racing in many Countries.
A true Champion beyond doubt.