NBA All Star Reggie Miller Voted on to USA Cycling Board
NBA All-Star Reggie Miller is one of four new members that has been voted onto the USA Cycling Board of Directors. Miller is joined by new board members Lucia Deng, a stalwart of the New York cycling scene, Ed Ewing, the co-founder of the Major Taylor Project, and Brendan Quirk, the CEO of Allied Cycle Works
One of the best all-around shooters in NBA history. A five-time NBA All-Star and 1994 FIBA champion, Miller scored over 25,000 points and is ranked second with 2,560 three-pointers in his career. Miller won an Olympic Gold medal while playing for the 1996 U.S. team and in 2012, Miller was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Since retiring from basketball, Miller has become a passionate cyclist. In an interview with mbaction.com, Miller describes how a ride with Rage Against the Machine bass player, Tim Commerford, first got him hooked in 2000 and he has been riding ever since. In recent years, Reggie has begun racing in California and has even become a mentor for Kate Courtney. Courtney said in an interview with NBC Sports, "I’ve had a lot to learn from Reggie, and he’s been a great positive voice in terms of convincing me I can make it to the top".
Reggie is also a champion of equality in cycling. Working with Castelli, he released the 'Say Their Names' jersey that featured a number of slogans used by the Black Lives Matter protestors this summer. Sales of the jersey were used to benefit the Equal Justice Initiative, a 501(c)(3) organization committed to ending mass incarceration and challenging racial and economic injustice in the United States. Miller has also partnered with Castelli to raise funds for the Dropping Dimes Foundation with his Team Boombaby apparel.
Miller said on social media: "HONORED... Biggest reason I joined the USA Cycling board was to hopefully diversify cycling and to get more kids on bikes. Looking forward to working with the other new board members Lucia Deng, Ed Ewing and Brendan Quirk."
Rob DeMartini, CEO of USA Cycling, said: "We are honored to have Lucia, Ed, Reggie and Brendan join the USA Cycling Board to guide us in championing the sport of cycling and building an organization for the future. Lucia, Ed, Reggie and Brendan all bring unique perspectives, experience and passion for cycling, and we welcome their input and guidance in championing American cycling at every level.”
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However, I can't help but think that the lack of diversity and youth engagement is mostly driven by the high costs of bike gear. A new playstation costs $500 up front, can be played from any location with internet and requires no maintenance for years of gameplay. A good MTB costs $1000+, requires costly maintenance, safety gear and needs a local trail network. Hard to justify the MTB over Playstation from a cost perspective. BMX is another story and perhaps the best way forward for the kids in urban areas to get in the mix..
My point is to keep in mind that this is a luxury sport and folks will likely priced out as a "great filter" into the sport so to speak. It's not basketball where you need shoes, 1 ball/10 people and a court. As far as increasing diversity, it's up to us all to be a welcoming community for any and all that find their way onto the trails.
Reggie: "From down town"
I'll show my self out.
And even if it’s not about race, what do you stand to gain from keeping mountain biking luxury? What do you stand to lose from people of lesser means entering the sport? Why would you not want that? Is it somehow damaging to the sport to get bicycles and gear into the hands of people who might not otherwise be able to afford it?
@isaacO: Those with the least resources are usually the most resourceful. Also the most motivated will find their way to their goal, I respect that. Hopefully people that become aware of MTB through Reggie can find the motivation and use their resourcefulness to find a welcoming bike community. The rest will be chasing dragons on the Playstation.
Be real, the only reason Reggie is in it is because of his socioeconomic class. Find me a mountain biker that doesn't want more people into the sport, regardless of race.
Also, a car is probably necessary. Or a train. Or a plane. Most people don’t live near mountains.
Or ride on a pumptrack/bmx track? there are lots of ways.
And I think the cycling board is not only about MTB, we have gravel bikes, road bikes, dirt bikes, bmx and so on. All. of them are fun.
In all seriousness, the more I learn about this guy, the more I think he’s actually a really decent human being. One of the good ones.
*huge eye roll*
Cities are where the diversity is anyways, so mountain biking is usually not the right bike. I'd love to see Reggie help get more kids on BMX bikes. Its the right bike for all those kids, and they are WAY cheaper and WAY better at developing foundational bike skills than any other discipline...and they are built for cities/skate parks/pumptracks/neighborhoods. Plus they are cool in urban culture and there are already diverse BMX heros on BMX bikes like Brad Simms etc. They just need to push that out...then we will have diversity on bikes. Its not going to be a mountain biking thing if its really going to scale.
www.instagram.com/rrdblocks
Sure, it's not the same type of biking that most of us are in to, but bikes is bikes!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhCJiQ3jTyQ
Why should people be starting on Full suspension bikes? Most of the world are not riding trails found in Squamish.
What has to happen is transportation and bikes. So we need to organize and funnel money (from sponsors and non-profits) to LBS in larger population areas. With this money we purchase shuttle vans with racks on the back and a fleet of bikes. The shuttle runs to the bike parks and locations a few times a week bringing different groups of kids
Shops get the kids working internships, etc..
This has been an idea of mine for years.
Why is this the best idea? I helps NO KID to hand him/her a bike. But take him riding and expose it and we have developed a MUCH MORE important characteristic. Motivation to succeed.
The most popular bicycle model—and most popular vehicle of any kind in the world—is the Chinese Flying Pigeon, with about 500 million produced.[1]
Classic bell of a bicycle
Bicycles were introduced in the 19th century in Europe, and by the early 21st century, more than 1 billion were in existence at a given time.[1][2][3] These numbers far exceed the number of cars, both in total and ranked by the number of individual models produced.[4][5][6] They are the principal means of transportation in many regions. They also provide a popular form of recreation, and have been adapted for use as children's toys, general fitness, military and police applications, courier services, bicycle racing, and bicycle stunts
Such a shame his athletic career got cut short. He was from another planet.
"Don't want no beef, all your stories is veggie
Heard 'bout my shooters, all the stories is Reggie
Miller"
just focus on getting HUMANS on bikes first. sheesh.