Bikes Can Wait. Here's What We're Doing Now

We are a bike racing team focused on all facets of cycling: the adventure, the competition, and perhaps most importantly the community building. We are privileged to partake in these admittedly recreational pursuits and to share our stories with the cycling community.

The past few days put that sense of privilege in a new light as the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others have combined with a multi-day wave of police-inflicted violence to truly devastating effect. This is especially true in our home town where we have watched a nightly cycle of violence play out on the same streets that we have ridden countless times.

As much as we love New York, we must acknowledge that this turmoil is a reflection of a city that is still rife with inequality, racism, and aggressive policing. As we come to terms with that reality, the future of New York City has seldom felt so uncertain. But there is one thing that we are sure of: bikes and bike racing mean little when we see so many of our fellow New Yorkers suffering.

New York City must do better, and it deserves better. There are many important organizations out there already working to address these challenges to make New York City, and our country, better. We strive to amplify, financially support, and learn from their work not just today, but every day. These organizations include:

• Communities United for Police Reform

• Mutual Aid NYC

• COVID Bail Out NYC

• Local public defender organizations such as Bronx Defenders - Impact Litigation Unit & The Legal Aid Society

• Reclaim the Block

• Black Visions Collective

• Black Lives Matter

• LDF (NAACP Legal Defense Fund)

• Updated list of additional organizations & resources compiled by @botanicaldyke

Additionally, these are a few of the many resources our team members have looked to for guidance on doing anti-racism work:

• Anti-Racism Resource Guide compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker & Alyssa Klein

• Resources for Racial Justice Learning and Work compiled by @cashnwho

• The Conscious Kid

• The Great Unlearn curated by @rachel.cargle

• Cyclista Zine

In pursuit of a better New York City, we are donating $1,000 to Communities United for Police Reform to support the Safer NY Act — a collection of bills designed to increase police transparency and accountability and reduce unnecessary arrests, which disproportionately impact the Black community. This donation, and these bills, won’t bring full and fair justice to the world, but these resources are part of our attempt to help make New York a better city for everyone that calls it home.

We will also match additional donations to Communities United for Police Reform, up to $500. Simply reach out via Instagram or Twitter with confirmation of your donation and we’ll add it to our donation.