The Inspiring Message of the Underground Railroad Ride Cycling Tour and Film
Some concepts have legs. Lower than 5 months after John “Bobby” Shackelford, a 25-year-old New York Metropolis bicycle messenger, hatched a plan for a 1,100-mile experience paralleling the historic Underground Railroad, he arrived in Cell, AL, prepared to begin pedaling. Together with 4 pals, his goal was bigger than a self-indulgent sufferfest. As an alternative, the cohort deliberate to make use of their journey as a instrument for consciousness and activism.
“We felt the momentum,” says Shackelford. “We’re all having conversations about race proper now and we didn’t wish to miss out. We knew we needed to do it this 12 months.” Early in the 2020 pandemic, whereas doing the analysis for his pals’ subsequent massive experience, Shackelford realized that no journey biking movies he’d seen had illustration for folks of shade. “There was nothing we may relate to,” he stated. “So we determined to do it ourselves, to indicate that these varieties of journeys are for everybody, regardless of your background or pores and skin shade. We wish to present that bikes can present freedom for anybody, even children from the hood.”
Shackelford and 4 companions departed Cell on September 26 and arrived in Washington, D.C., almost three weeks later. Retracing the path of the underground railroad, they linked traditionally important places together with Selma, Montgomery, Winston-Salem, Richmond and Jamestown, to study and share pivotal moments in Black historical past, slavery, freedom marches, and ongoing persecution.
“And not using a bike, I could not have gotten out of my neighborhood in southeast D.C.,” stated Shackelford. “I wished to attract this connection— that bikes are a contemporary type of freedom. I wished to doc our journey and present the struggles like unhealthy climate, lengthy days, and modern-day racism.”
Utilizing bicycling as a instrument to interact and give again (the UGRR crew donated bikes to dozens of children alongside the method), Shackelford spearheaded the journey and introduced collectively a small movie crew that acted as a assist group throughout the experience. The venture grew in scope as manufacturers and donors got here on board, which requested the query: What’s the path from slavery to freedom and are Black folks free as we speak?
To be taught extra about the venture, MJ sat down with Shackelford and Edwardo Garabito, one other rider in the crew, to ask them a couple of questions on their three weeks in the saddle.
Underground Railroad Ride 2020 from Jon Lynn on Vimeo.
MEN’S JOURNAL: The place did the thought come from?
BOBBY SHACKELFORD: We plan not less than one or two excursions annually. We’d by no means finished something this massive, nevertheless it’s not our first bikepacking journey. We began digging round for concepts, one thing to get stoked on and nothing got here to the forefront. Nothing we may relate to. Nothing spoke to us. I believed of driving the underground railroad and it snowballed from there. We made a teaser, acquired so much of encouragement, and watched it develop. It shortly went from a small factor to an enormous factor.
EDWARDO GARABITO: I’m good pals with Bobby and we’ve recognized one another for a very long time. We now have a historical past of doing massive excursions collectively, however nothing of this measurement. Initially I wasn’t going to be on the experience, however one other rider dropped so I used to be introduced in late. I’m actually grateful I acquired the alternative to be half of it. A month and half after I acquired the supply, I used to be in Alabama able to experience. It was so quick. I didn’t do a ton of coaching, I wasn’t driving so much at the time.
What different bike journeys have you ever guys finished collectively?
BS: I’ve finished a euro tour from Helsinki to Latvia, a two-week journey that was supported. We additionally did a self-supported experience from D.C. to Niagara Falls a couple of months in the past. That was totally different and tougher, struggling with all that weight on the bike.The longest anybody had finished was about 600 miles earlier than this.
Inform me about the crew: How properly did you guys know one another?
BS: I knew everybody properly apart from Carson. He was our thriller rider. Our dynamic was actually strong. After all, everybody had unhealthy days and good days however nobody complained or give up or stated they had been too drained. Everybody toughed it out.
EG: Rashad Mahoney is a racer and bike messenger from Baltimore. He’s a really mellow man. Richard Carson races cyclocross and is also a messenger from Indianapolis. He’s quick, lovable, and cool as hell. Alex Olbrich works in a D.C. bike store and was one of our greatest navigators. If it wasn’t for him we in all probability would have wasted so much of time. I’m additionally a motorcycle mechanic in D.C. for an unique store. I’ve been a mechanic my total life and was capable of assist out with the bikes on the journey, which was good. Bobby is assured and cussed. He was the chief of the group and may experience a motorcycle for years with out stopping.
Why did you guys resolve to do that now?
EG: As a result of of the local weather and all the pieces occurring in the world proper now. There’s a ton of media protection for folks of shade and about police reform. We thought it was the excellent time to convey this message out. We wished to indicate that anybody can do these lengthy treks. We wished to indicate one thing that nobody else has. We wished to encourage folks. To point out there are folks of shade doing massive rides.
BS: This wanted to occur. It felt like my accountability. The trade says it’s missing variety so I wished to create it. I can say all of it I need but when I don’t put it into motion what’s the level. I wanted to get the ball rolling and that is the begin. I wanted to indicate folks easy methods to take motion. We simply wished to indicate actual illustration to a bigger crowd. I suppose you might say it’s my calling when you imagine in that kind of factor.
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Inform me about the experience: How lengthy was it and what had been the key stops alongside the method?
We began in Cell, Alabama, the place the final slave ship landed in the U.S. Then we head to Selma, the location of Bloody Sunday, and then to Montgomery, Alabama, the place the civil rights marches came about. We visited the lynching museum in Montgomery (Nationwide Memorial for Peace and Justice), then on to Winston-Salem, stopping at some of the oldest African American church buildings in the nation and the first Black communities in North Carolina. Then by way of Jamestown, house of many plantations, and on to D.C.
EG: We acquired to see Africatown, one of the final locations slaves had been freed. In Jamestown we noticed the place the first slaves lived. In Selma we noticed the place MLK led the civil rights march. And so much of museums, too. We had been doing 70-110 miles per day and rode for 15 days complete, with a couple of relaxation days in between. Took us about three weeks to finish. Actually, it was fairly exhausting. The terrain was brutal and scorching, usually in the higher 80s and humidity. We at all times needed to be ready with meals and water, not realizing the place we’d discover the subsequent city. There have been some loopy hills in Virginia with lengthy miles that we simply had a muscle by way of.
What was it like having a movie crew with you?
BS: It was our first time doing this and was difficult at instances, principally lining up on the schedule usually dictated by filming in good mild, particularly in the mornings and evenings. We did so much of interviews, acquired to satisfy a bunch of historians, activists, and folks like Ahmaud Arbery’s household. We acquired to be taught from all of them. We labored with the movie crew to weave in biking, principally by utilizing bikes to attach all these places. We wished to indicate how bikes can convey anybody freedom. The bike crew and manufacturing crew had been each tremendous various. I didn’t need it to be an unique Black factor. I wished a combined group. Native Individuals, Latinos, white and Black. All of us want to resolve this collectively.
EG: The manufacturing crew was a bunch of people who got here collectively at the final minute. Excessive-level skills nevertheless it’s vital to say that no one made cash off this venture. I feel the crew was 12 folks in complete that adopted us in three automobiles, establishing photographs, interviewing folks in cities we biked by way of. This modified the dynamic from different rides we’ve finished, however all of us knew the movie was an enormous half of the venture.
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What had been the greatest challenges?
EG: Effectively I’m an enormous man. I used to be the heaviest and tallest man. I’m 6’3” and was like 250 kilos once we began. It was exhausting for me to maintain up at instances, particularly on the massive climbs. These guys are quick and match so maintaining was difficult. Doubted myself so much that I may end it. I don’t assume I might have on my own, however that’s why it’s nice to experience with a bunch. I wished to encourage different massive guys on the market that they’ll do stuff like this, too. People who take a look at a motorcycle and assume they’ll’t experience as a result of they’re massive. Bikes have helped me get wholesome. They modified my life.
BS: The greatest problem for me was scheduling all the pieces with the movie crew. Simply making an attempt to maintain everybody completely happy. This was fairly fixed. I discovered so much and would do so much in another way subsequent time.
Have you ever seen something like this?
EG: No, probably not. It’s at all times white guys doing massive rides in journey movies. Rapha rode Route 66, which is the same distance however they’re all white. Nothing that’s massive miles on bikes with all folks of shade.
BS: Nothing as actual and uncooked as this crew. The distinction with this movie is that we’re all actual cyclists. All of us work in outlets, race native occasions, or work as messengers. We discuss like that. It’s not a professional Rapha race video. That is gonna be actual. Optimistic of course, however edgy. It received’t be what the biking trade is used to.
What’s the plan with the movie?
BS: The plan is for it to come back out in eight or 9 months, roughly round June or July, 2021. We’ll attempt to premier at a couple of totally different locations and we’re working with manufacturers to assist distribute it. For now we’re simply making an attempt to maintain giving again by going to inner-city areas and educating children easy methods to experience and making a gift of bikes. We’ve been fortunate to get so much of assist doing this. It’s been enjoyable educating children easy methods to bike tour, or mountain bike, or simply fundamental bike upkeep. Educating them it’s not about being the quickest—it’s about having enjoyable. This movie is supposed for that child that comes from the hood searching for an outlet. A child searching for freedom. It’s not a movie for a child with a full-ride to school. We wish to present biking is an escape.
What manufacturers supported you?
BS: We acquired assist from so much of people: Cannondale, REI, New Stability, Eagle Creek, Pearl Izumi, Lazer Helmets, Easton Cycles, Ringtail, Backroads, Clif Bar, Jaybird, and SRAM, to call a couple of. I do know I’m lacking others, too.
What was your objective?
BS: Actually, simply to show. Actually that’s it. If I see younger children like myself I wish to give them the inspiration to begin driving. When you’re a younger child who’s by no means owned a motorcycle I wish to assist get them began. To encourage and present them that regardless of the place you come from you possibly can experience and be at liberty.
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Authentic supply: https://www.mensjournal.com/adventure/the-underground-railroad-rides-inspiring-message-mens-journal/
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