Harlem Crit and USAC: Performance or Effective Change?
TJ Sengel from 2011
Harlem Skyscraper Crit’s 49th edition is coming up this Sunday, June 20, 2021. The race is put on by Unity Sports Productions. The crit circles Marcus Garvey Park, which means stoops for spectators to sit on to watch the races, snacks nearby on the avenues and, in years past, vendors on hand and separate events taking place within the park.
As one of few one-off crits in NYC—Red Hook, which may never return, and Grant’s Tomb are the others I can think of, besides the new Randall’s Island crit series, Harlem Crit has lured in racers from across the country. There is plenty to do in NYC before and after race day, and some stiff competition while riders are in town. This year may be a more somber affair as the loss of Bill Montgomery, race organizer, and former racer, is sorely felt, but it’s still a fun day that brings a lot of bike folks together.
Despite all these selling points, USA Cycling (USAC) decided to withdraw its support for community programming and promotion. They let the organizers know at the beginning of June.
Needless to say, with just three weeks before the event, this is an unfortunate turn of events. Yet, can we say we’re surprised? This seems to be a pattern with our national governing body: they giveth with one hand, and taketh with the other. I think some folks are tired of bowing down to this capricious god. Perhaps that’s why gravel is attracting huge numbers and more involved industry folks than I have pointed out traditional road racing is comparatively floundering.
I’ll be crystal clear: the organizing team for this event is Black; the race takes place in a majority Black American historic neighborhood. Hearing the news of the sport’s governing body’s reticence to participate, it would be easy to use this as another example of the discrimination within the sport. But I believe that USAC pulling out here is part of a pattern that goes beyond race, having as much to do with the balances of power in local racing scenes nationwide.
I am willing to bet that individual race promoters in Austin, LA, Miami, etc., have similar stories. I can think of another USAC decision to change its race calendar in such a way that smaller promoters were crushed, as reported to me directly by a race promoter who was putting on a successful event in Philadelphia. To those like myself who just like bikes, and want to see increased opportunities for friends to race and to gain from racing, crushing smaller but successful local races seems counterintuitive.
For 2021, I understand schedules are bound to be in flux – people are trying to cram a year’s worth of racing into a shortened season. However, the lack of or ponderously slow communication from the head honcho organization doesn’t help, nor does failing to correct the course the industry has accepted needs correcting.
In case you’re wondering, the white cis male demographic of cyclists has held steady. It’s not like more young white boys or older white boys are picking it up. The growth is all in other demographics – Black people, people of color, non-binary people, LGBTQ riders, and women are hopping on bikes and lining up at races like never before. Argue with the mirror, the stats are here.
USAC needs to face the reality that many different kinds of people like to ride bikes. Holding a major cycling event in Arkansas this year didn’t get USAC a lot of good press and put people off from attending the event. A quick reminder: Arkansas enacted archaic anti-transgender legislation this March, banning trans girls and women from competing in the gender category they identify with, and USAC chose to go forward with races planned in the state. Ostroy/NYC Velo and the Century Road Club Association spoke out about the bill.
I’m not trans or gay, but I stand in solidarity and frankly, visiting any place that conservative would feel like a game of hopscotch where I have to jump over sundown towns. Even without the legislation, I’m not sure how many Black and Brown people were thrilled with the idea of traveling to Arkansas for an event, but I understand the Walton’s made it a cycling hub, so I digress. After receiving pushback from the cycling community about one national event, I wonder at what point USAC is going to start paying attention.
It seems USAC has done the opposite here, by promising help and then changing their minds at a date so late that it would place undue strain on the organizers to pick up the slack. Especially considering permits for expanded closed spaces to be used by USAC are already approved.
There were once independent pro fields at Central Park and Harlem Crit (not Pro 1/2/3) – which is a sign of the strength and popularity of the sport side of bikes at the time (I think the last independent pro field was in the aughts, but I could be wrong since I was basically a cycling fetus). The question now is how to regain that level of popularity, and even push beyond it. How can we make cycling as a sport fun? Do we need to ask Spike Lee and Ice T – or Jordan Peele and Tobe Nwgiwe – to wear cycling caps and jerseys in ads? One would think that supporting grassroots racing where less experienced riders can cut their chops would be obvious, so what else can we as small folk do to impress upon our mighty rulers what we want to see as constituents?
This is not to say USAC isn’t making some effort – they’ve committed to supporting getting diverse populations racing by extending grants to HBCUs and Tribal universities, and that’s a big step in the right direction. However, it may be some time before those initiatives train racers who can dominate. But where will they dominate if they are pigeonholed into races that are a struggle to attend, or are discouraged from one day running their own event? I wouldn’t say USAC is entirely performative, but decisions like this make me wonder.
For my small part, I’m going to share that Harlem Crit exists, and maybe get a few people to come out to the races, just to watch. Since it’s one of very few races in NYC that take place during the day, as opposed to the crack of dawn, and at a location easily accessible by bike path or public transport it is the perfect opportunity to expose people to a bike race – the same people who like bikes but ask if they can race the Tour. June 20, Marcus Garvey Park. Hope to see you there. And I sincerely hope that USAC demonstrates its commitment to diversifying racing by participating in the 50th edition of the race which, if all goes as planned, will take place Juneteenth 2022.
-Aliya Barnwell