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Major Taylor, Andrew Ritchie (1988)
John Hopkins University Press 1988
0-8018-5303-6 303 pp $15.95
An important readable biography of one of the most historically
important stars of late nineteenth century US cycling
 
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Major Taylor was one of the first black athletes to become world champion
in any sport. Between 1898 and the early 1900s he was one of the biggest
names in track cycling – at that time a massive spectator sport.
Few names from that age are recognisable today, but Taylor’s, if
any, deserves to be celebrated. He overcame massive obstacles – not
least the huge institutional and unofficial bars to non-whites competing
at the top level.
As a result, he became an international superstar. Ritchie has done
a fabulous job in both teasing his story from the fragments of evidence
that remain, and bringing to life the golden age of track cycling as a
spectator sport. Economic and racial history are intertwined with with
sporting triumph and fascinating crumbs from cycling's past. It is peripheral
to the tale, but the story of 'Mile-a-minute Murphy' has long stuck in
my mind. He constructed a timber track between railway lines, so that
he could draught behind a railway train and pedal his bike at the remarkable
speed of 60mph.
PS May 08
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