Marshall "Major" Taylor, World's fastest bicycle racer

Marshall Walter Taylor was born on the outskirts of Indianapolis on November 26, 1878 to Gilbert Taylor and Saphronia Kelter. He was one of eight children, raised in rural poverty with white and Black friends.

When the youths went to join the local YMCA, the whites were accepted but the Blacks rejected. Even after his friends protested the disparity, the rules did not change but it was Marshall's introduction to racism. His first bicycle at 13 was a gift from these friends after the Y's rejection. This bike allowed him to earn money by delivering newspapers.

As he became more familiar with the equipment Taylor got a job in a bicycle shop doing repairs and teaching customers how to ride a bicycle. When the owners recognized how Marshall observed trick riders and taught himself similar moves, they sponsored him in exhibitions where he wore military styled uniform that earned him the nickname "Major". Taylor entered and won his first race in Lexington, Kentucky in 1891 at the age of 13.

He first appeared as an amateur in races around Indianapolis and Chicago and  later in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York and was billed as the "Colored Cyclone". He was banned from racing around Indianapolis when he began winning against white competitors. In 1896 he moved from Indianapolis to  Middletown, Connecticut home of bicycle industry. Soon recognized as the  "colored Sprint Champion of America", he turned professional surprising more  experienced riders with his skills.

He worked for the Worchester Cycle Manufacturing Company owned by Louis Munger. "Birdie" who became his lifelong friend as well as coach and mentor. During his first professional race at Madison Square Garden, Taylor lapped the entire field during the half mile race.  He won his first national championship two years later and became America's first Black world champion cyclist in 1899 in Montreal.

It wasn't long before Taylor was racing internationally, competing in races in Canada, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. His home was moved to Worcester Massachusetts and nickname changed to "the Worchester Whirlwind"

He broke a series of world records and in 1901 received acclaim during a  triumphant tour of Europe, the most international tour of European countries ever undertaken by a Black American athlete. Against the best bicycle racers of the world, he enjoyed a  position of unequaled supremacy. Taylor was the world fastest bicycle racer for  twelve years.

During his 16 year professional career he rode in 168 races which resulted in 117-1st  place finishes and 32-2nd place finishes. As a devout Christian, he refused to race on Sundays which raised his esteem in some fans' eyes even further.

He was the first Black athlete to have a commercial sponsor and the first to establish world records. His international successes continued for  several years, and he was particularly idolized by French racing enthusiasts.  Before the age of airplanes and automobiles, bicycles were the fastest things around and the riders treated as heroes.Taylor was also a representative of Black America abroad at a time when many people in  Europe had never seen a Black person. Europeans may have been curious about his skin color but were more impressed by his prowess. In the United States  though, Taylor had nails scattered to blow his tires, ice water thrown on him during races, was boxed in by other riders and on one occasional tackled and choked until he lost consciousness.

The offending rider was fined $50. In southern states he was not allowed to compete against white riders. There were times when he would stay toward the back of a race just so no one could injure or push him and then he would speed past them all near the finish line.  Racing on teams with white Americans who carried their racist beliefs and behaviors with them abroad were a constant trial. Tired of the constant affronts, Taylor retired from racing in 1910.

Taylor lived out his years in Worchester, Massachusetts, and in 1923 began to write his autobiography. He finished it in 1929, wanting both to tell his story and to be an inspiration to young boys. A series of bad investments, a failed marriage, illness and the depression caused him to travel to selected cities selling copies of the book. From 1930 until his death in 1932, Major Taylor lived in Chicago, forgotten and broke. When he died in 1932, he was buried in an unmarked pauper's grave in Mt. Glenwood Cemetery in the village of Thornton, Indiana.

As Andrew Ritchie points out, "he was almost certainly the first Black athlete to be a member of an integrated professional team, the first to have a commercial sponsor, the first to establish world records. He was the first Black athlete to compete regularly in open, integrated competition for an annual American championship."

In 1948, the Chicago group "Bicycle Racing Stars of the Nineteenth Century" decided to honor this remarkable athlete and arranged for his reburial at a place on honor in the cemetery. At a special memorial service in this quiet location, some of the old bicycle riders and contemporary athletes gathered. The main speaker was Ralph Metcalfe, who had himself broken world records in 1932. The memorial includes a sculpted image of Major Taylor and these words:

World's champion bicycle rider who came up the hard way without hatred in his heart, an honest, courageous, and god-fearing, clean-living, gentlemanly athlete. A credit to his race who always gave out his best. Gone but not forgotten.

Taylor was later inducted into the Bicycle Hall of Fame and one of the world's most renowned cycling venues located in Indianapolis, the Major Taylor Velodrome is named in his honor.

His story is told both in his autobiography; The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World: The Story of a Colored Boy's Indomitable Courage and Success Against Great Odds, published in 1929, and in Andrew Ritchie's Major Taylor: The Extraordinary Career of a Chanpion Bicycle Racer (1988).