Black cyclists

[david k]

stig, thats one sprint cyclist, doesnt alter any of my perceptions or refute any observations made above

 

[XmisterIS]

Iz it coz I iz black?

 

[SavageHoutkop]

many good distance runners in europe are from african decent

Are they born in Europe or were they born in Africa? To be fair I don't follow running so I'm not sure, but I thought the really good runners were mostly born in Africa and moved to Europe for better training.
A quick look at Wikipedia has the fastest 10 marathon times for men all being either Ethiopian or Kenyan.

 

[zizou]

It is a bit like some other sports like swimming - there are barriers into the sport due the lack of facilities or equipment needed at a young age whereas other sports like running or football are fairly simple and inexpensive to participate in. I think there will likely be some Chinese cyclists make it on the pro tour before we see much in the way of African participation. Actually im a bit surprised it hasn't happened yet with China, they put alot of investment into all sorts of sports programmes before the Beijing olympics and it was pretty successful strategy.

 

[Hicky]

why do people from under privileged backgrounds not go to uni?

If that is aimed at me then maybe I should have put the word "cyclists" within the sentance also, I assumed it would be taken for granted that is what I implied.

Not any below the belt dig at the worth of someone attending uni.

 

[david k]

If that is aimed at me then maybe I should have put the word "cyclists" within the sentance also, I assumed it would be taken for granted that is what I implied.

Not any below the belt dig at the worth of someone attending uni.

wasnt aimed at anyone, not sure why you thought it was aimed at you?

i was making the point that there is no reason why children from poorer backgrounds should be any less naturally inteligent than those from more affluent areas, but less go to uni or get better jobs etc. obviously alot to do with opportunities but i think alot is to do with expectations. they dont expect they can ahcieve it so they dont try, is it the same for black cyclists? i think most of this is sub conscious

 

[Hip Priest]

i was making the point that there is no reason why children from poorer backgrounds should be any less naturally inteligent than those from more affluent areas

There is.

Kids from affluent backgrounds are more likely to have intelligent parents, which means they're more likely to be intelligent themselves. Please note I'm saying 'more likely'. Obviously, not all kids from affluent backgrouds are cleverer than all kids from poor backgrounds.

 

[SavageHoutkop]

Actually im a bit surprised it hasn't happened yet with China, they put alot of investment into all sorts of sports programmes before the Beijing olympics and it was pretty successful strategy.

I'm sure I read somewhere speculation that China picked sports they thought they could win at fairly easily so as to top out the 'gold' table; perhaps they decided cycling wasn't an easy target?

 

[david k]

There is.

Kids from affluent backgrounds are more likely to have intelligent parents, which means they're more likely to be intelligent themselves. Please note I'm saying 'more likely'. Obviously, not all kids from affluent backgrouds are cleverer than all kids from poor backgrounds.

that would imply that intelligence is nature only. a lot is to do with nurture so this blanket wisdom cannot apply

 

[Hip Priest]

that would imply that intelligence is nature only. a lot is to do with nurture so this blanket wisdom cannot apply

It isn't blanket wisdom. And I was very careful not to make it so. Intelligence is nature and nurture. You spoke of natural intelligence, which I understood to mean pre-nurture. And the fact is, if your parents are intelligent, you're more likely to be intelligent than if your parents are unintelligent. And if you come from an affluent area, your parents are likely to be more intelligent than if you come from a deprived area.

 

[david k]

It isn't blanket wisdom. And I was very careful not to make it so. Intelligence is nature and nurture. You spoke of natural intelligence, which I understood to mean pre-nurture. And the fact is, if your parents are intelligent, you're more likely to be intelligent than if your parents are unintelligent. And if you come from an affluent area, your parents are likely to be more intelligent than if you come from a deprived area.

thats actually not entirely true. the only reason hi iq parents have high iq children is because they pick up from an early age there intelligence. they demand more, children are exposed to more demanding thoughts. Its the same way we learn to speak language. its all to do with nurture.

hi iq parents can have hi iq children, low iq parents can also have hi iq children, its not entirely genetic, simply a game of chance.

back to topic, does this insight above contribute to the lack of professional black cyclists?

 

[Camgreen]

Still seems odd that no French or Belgian born cyclist of North African descent hasn't filtered through onto the pro-circuit, particularly as (I perceive at any rate) the sport is that much more higher profile across the channel. Not all the Afro-French population are economically disadvantaged and I'm pretty sure physiologically there are plenty who would be more than equipped to cope with the rigours of the sport.

Maybe the problem lies to some extent with the way the sport is promoted by the media and respective cycling bodies?; though that doesn't make logical sense either. A real mystery.

 

[david k]

Still seems odd that no French or Belgian born cyclist of North African descent hasn't filtered through onto the pro-circuit, particularly as (I perceive at any rate) the sport is that much more higher profile across the channel. Not all the Afro-French population are economically disadvantaged and I'm pretty sure physiologically there are plenty who would be more than equipped to cope with the rigours of the sport.

Maybe the problem lies to some extent with the way the sport is promoted by the media and respective cycling bodies?; though that doesn't make logical sense either. A real mystery.

i think your spot on. the media dont help the issue, they probably dont realise they dont help, if all you see is white cyclists you are not promoting it to the black community, but if there are no black cyclists how can they promote it? chicken and egg