The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World

Born in 1878, bicycle racer Marshall 'Major' Taylor became the first Black sports star to become a global celebrity when he won the world cycling championship in 1899. Throughout his bike racing career, he won awards and set records on and off the track. But in his native United States, he faced racist discrimination and violence at every turn, causing him to spend most of his time in Europe where fans saw his value. After he retired from racing, he wrote and published his autobiography and travelled the world promoting it. His life was too short, but his legacy lives on in the many organizations and clubs that bear his name, and generations of new cyclists who look up to him. His intelligence, good humour, and global perspective shine through on every page in this candid account of a remarkable life. This new edition features a foreword by bicycle advocate Adonia Lugo, author of Bicycle / Race (Microcosm, 2018).