July 27th, 2024 | by Marty Merritt
Talking about race can be challenging. When we launched Bivo, it was during the height of COVID and we were all grappling with the tragic death of George Floyd. This period ignited a vital movement toward greater representation in the outdoor and cycling spaces, and I was committed to learning how Bivo could contribute meaningfully. During this time, I connected with Marty Merritt. Marty generously shared his insights on how a small brand like ours could still make an influence.
Today, we are honored to welcome Marty as a Quench’d guest. His story moved me deeply, and I am grateful for his openness and impact. Thank you, Marty, for your invaluable contributions. - Carina
“The lotus blooms from the mud'' perfectly describes how tough times can yield beautiful things and help us advance individually and collectively. Each of us has our own set of experiences that confirm this over and over, until we eventually learn. The most common case is that of being hard-headed when life puts challenges on our paths; they’re what most folks consider “bad,” but forget that they strengthen us and prepare us for the future. Below, I’ll begin with a short personal experience and then follow up with a macro example.
I previously had a bad relationship with alcohol and other destructive behavior that got me into trouble with the law, cost thousands of dollars, and wasted precious hours of my life (mud). But that was my price; at rock bottom, a friend pulled me away from the bottle and pushed me into a healthy lifestyle which led me to becoming a Boston Marathon qualifier and an active participant of local rides, races, and group runs (lotus).
Talking about race can be challenging. When we launched Bivo, it was during the height of COVID and we were all grappling with the tragic death of George Floyd. This period ignited a vital movement toward greater representation in the outdoor and cycling spaces, and I was committed to learning how Bivo could contribute meaningfully. During this time, I connected with Marty Merritt. Marty generously shared his insights on how a small brand like ours could still make an influence.
Today, we are honored to welcome Marty as a Quench’d guest. His story moved me deeply, and I am grateful for his openness and impact. Thank you, Marty, for your invaluable contributions. - Carina
“The lotus blooms from the mud'' perfectly describes how tough times can yield beautiful things and help us advance individually and collectively. Each of us has our own set of experiences that confirm this over and over, until we eventually learn. The most common case is that of being hard-headed when life puts challenges on our paths; they’re what most folks consider “bad,” but forget that they strengthen us and prepare us for the future. Below, I’ll begin with a short personal experience and then follow up with a macro example.
I previously had a bad relationship with alcohol and other destructive behavior that got me into trouble with the law, cost thousands of dollars, and wasted precious hours of my life (mud). But that was my price; at rock bottom, a friend pulled me away from the bottle and pushed me into a healthy lifestyle which led me to becoming a Boston Marathon qualifier and an active participant of local rides, races, and group runs (lotus).
Photo 1 credit: Eric Arce@pedalhomie; Photo 2 credit: Bethany Puterhaugh @bputerbaughphoto
Photo 1 credit: Eric Arce@pedalhomie; Photo 2 credit: Bethany Puterhaugh @bputerbaughphoto
The lil’ lotus adage also reveals itself on larger scales as well.
Marshall “Major” Taylor dealt with brutal racism both from fans and fellow athletes (mud) in order to beat all the odds and become a world champion (lotus). He did this even being barred entry to many races. Nowadays it’s less vitriolic, but we still find ourselves in situations with few, if any, melanated people at shop rides, races, within companies, etc.
However, since George Floyd’s lynching and new COVID reality, we’ve winessed accelerated growth in organized efforts advocating for and increasing representation. A few examples worth noting are The Abundance Project, LA Bike Academy, Outdoor Afro, Melanin Base Camp, Cycling Culture Club, Native Women Ride, Black Girls Do Bike, Kings & Queens Rule Together, among others.
The lil’ lotus adage also reveals itself on larger scales as well.
Marshall “Major” Taylor dealt with brutal racism both from fans and fellow athletes (mud) in order to beat all the odds and become a world champion (lotus). He did this even being barred entry to many races. Nowadays it’s less vitriolic, but we still find ourselves in situations with few, if any, melanated people at shop rides, races, within companies, etc.
However, since George Floyd’s lynching and new COVID reality, we’ve winessed accelerated growth in organized efforts advocating for and increasing representation. A few examples worth noting are The Abundance Project, LA Bike Academy, Outdoor Afro, Melanin Base Camp, Cycling Culture Club, Native Women Ride, Black Girls Do Bike, Kings & Queens Rule Together, among others.
Photo 1: Marty and the Black Foxes at the Den Retreat; Photo 2: Arthur Ashe, American professional tennis player and the first Black man to win Wimbledon, the US Open and Australian Open
Photo 1: Marty and the Black Foxes at the Den Retreat; Photo 2: Arthur Ashe, American professional tennis player and the first Black man to win Wimbledon, the US Open and Australian Open
Collectives like these are trailblazing paths to increase safe spaces for and amplify stories of underrepresented cyclists and educate decision makers on how to do that in an empowering instead of tokenizing way. The Black Foxes have even created an annual outdoor getaway called the Den Retreat. It is a shining beacon of hope I can best describe as a “black-centric summer camp, where all shades and sizes are welcome to share in our joy and strengthen community.”
Despite this, DEI in cycling is still in its infancy, not unlike baseball when Jackie Robinson got signed, or to tennis when Arthur Ashe was winning Grand Slams. Today, Biniam Girmay became the first black man to win a stage (well, three stages!) of the Tour de France. Last year he was the first to win one at the Giro, beating of all people, MVDP in the final sprint. Yes, the tides are turning, but there is still much fertile mud the industry can bloom from, but it comes with questions:
To highlight, I’ve been approached many times for shoots because they need a black or brown cyclist, which in itself isn’t an issue. Sadly, a few of these jobs “pay” the models in clothing or gear instead of cash. It is not uncommon to have to negotiate to even get paid in currency. I can't help but laugh at the irony that Western societies amassed their wealth through unpaid, exploited labor, all while remaining oblivious to how they continue to perpetuate these practices.
At the end of the day, though, the very act of navigating and having successes in a realm we’ve been historically excluded from (like so many in America) is yet another living example of the mud and the lotus.
With the great mountain biker Reggie Miller in mind, I say: “BLOOM, BABY!”
Collectives like these are trailblazing paths to increase safe spaces for and amplify stories of underrepresented cyclists and educate decision makers on how to do that in an empowering instead of tokenizing way. The Black Foxes have even created an annual outdoor getaway called the Den Retreat. It is a shining beacon of hope I can best describe as a “black-centric summer camp, where all shades and sizes are welcome to share in our joy and strengthen community.”
Despite this, DEI in cycling is still in its infancy, not unlike baseball when Jackie Robinson got signed, or to tennis when Arthur Ashe was winning Grand Slams. Today, Biniam Girmay became the first black man to win a stage (well, three stages!) of the Tour de France. Last year he was the first to win one at the Giro, beating of all people, MVDP in the final sprint. Yes, the tides are turning, but there is still much fertile mud the industry can bloom from, but it comes with questions:
To highlight, I’ve been approached many times for shoots because they need a black or brown cyclist, which in itself isn’t an issue. Sadly, a few of these jobs “pay” the models in clothing or gear instead of cash. It is not uncommon to have to negotiate to even get paid in currency. I can't help but laugh at the irony that Western societies amassed their wealth through unpaid, exploited labor, all while remaining oblivious to how they continue to perpetuate these practices.
At the end of the day, though, the very act of navigating and having successes in a realm we’ve been historically excluded from (like so many in America) is yet another living example of the mud and the lotus.
With the great mountain biker Reggie Miller in mind, I say: “BLOOM, BABY!”
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