Critical Mass for ''Whiteys" ??

[Bianchi]

" No matter what African country you come from, your parents or grandparents would have somehow been impacted by the white people. The whole continent is still recovering from mass kidnapping, forced labour and the collective degradation of human dignity."

 

 

Bit of an idiot if you ask me!

 

If you go take a look at West Africa.... the kingdoms there used to sell their enemies to the Portuguese during the slave trade times. So it's not even only white people that have oppressed black people.

 

But yes, definitely an idiot. Cycling in SA is still predominantly white. It's changing, but it takes time.

Edited December 16, 2012 by Bianchi

[LOSMEICHERIE]

I have never been to CM only because Im busy in those days or have other things to do. ill catch the one Pretoria one day and honestly I've never experienced racism in cycling . all people I meet cycling welcomed me with open arms I did the same.

[Stretch]

hidden agenda...author probably wears one of those "i benefited from apartheid" t- shirts. STOP bringing colour into everything! and the concept of colour will go away........cue interesting story:

 

a teacher at school did an experiment with my daughters grade 3 class..she seperated them into race - black, white and indian (2 tables of each race). she then proceeded to ask them what the difference between the groups were and they came up with weight, hair type, sporty vs non sporty, academic levels etc etc. not one mentioned race......point is..our children hardly ever see colour distinction yet we go on and on and on about it...our kids can teach us a thing or two!

[LeTurbo]

I found the "invasion" angle a little strange. If anything, I've always seen CM riding into Jhb as more a reaching out. CM is about the joy and freedom and, if you like, the democracy of riding a bike. Here in CT, there've been rides organised into Gugs for example, to spread the message about bicycles, not for some political agenda. I think most of the people who do CM are young enough and informed enough to have left seeing colour way behind. And let's face it, there's nothing quite as humbling as the worker on his dikwiel who comes cruising past you on your weight-weenie carbon bike.

 

Otherwise, the article didn't bother me unduly. Maybe this dude/dudette should go organise CMs in Alex and Soweto. How awesome would that be?

[LUVBIKE1]

My Opinion, IGNORE IT. As they say in Texas, there are always more horses arses that horses!! Critical Mass is the most awesome event, it attracts the most awesome people, and then now and again some 'nice guy' thinks he can use it for a political platform. Yes we all have cool and expensive bikes, yes we all have white skins, yes we ride our bikes, if you don't like that THEN DON'T COME AGAIN! On the expensive bike front, this guy must really have his head right up his..... Everyone I ride with has a very very very expensive bike, and that's probably why we all drive very very very cheap and crap cars!! BECAUSE WE LIKE RIDING, and what the hell has riding a bike got to do with slavery, politics, family history. If you want something, work for it, don't blame me or anyone else you refer to as a 'whitey' and please never call me a 'whitey' to my face, cause black, white, green or purple... you will get a snotklap, it's offensive!! Call me bru, china

, chommie, even poephol.. but not Whitey, Please move on!! I'd better stop now before I blow a vein....

[Bonus]

"Whiteys ride expensive bikes thru jo'burg once a month" shocker

 

and in other news, black people ride in expensive cars thru Sandton every day of the week.

 

:-)

[Chro Mo]

That is some nasty, cliched, zero-talent writing.

 

Grasping at straws, and failing even at that.

 

What did CSN say? "We never failed to fail - it was the easiest thing to do"

 

leave him be - let him stew in his own ignorance!

[jmaccelari]

No publicity can be bad publicity! Cr@p article, but at least CM got a mention.

 

An interesting attitude that I have noticed is that I commute to work on my bicycle and the black guys at work are openly antagonistic towards me because they say only poor people ride bicycles and as a "professional" I should be driving a car.

 

So maybe 1200 white boys (and girls) riding through Joeys will show these people with their stereotypical (and thus ultimately racist) opinions that it is OK for anyone to ride a bike.

 

Saddle up white honkies!

[Bonus]

 

An interesting attitude that I have noticed is that I commute to work on my bicycle and the black guys at work are openly antagonistic towards me because they say only poor people ride bicycles and as a "professional" I should be driving a car.

 

 

That is so messed up :-(

[Agteros]

No publicity can be bad publicity! Cr@p article, but at least CM got a mention.

 

An interesting attitude that I have noticed is that I commute to work on my bicycle and the black guys at work are openly antagonistic towards me because they say only poor people ride bicycles and as a "professional" I should be driving a car.

 

So maybe 1200 white boys (and girls) riding through Joeys will show these people with their stereotypical (and thus ultimately racist) opinions that it is OK for anyone to ride a bike.

 

Saddle up white honkies!

That is so messed up :-(

Where I grew up (rural Zululand), grown men do not wear shorts! Nor do they go barefoot. Only trousers and decent(expensive) shoes...

 

Status symbols, all of them.... But then once in a while we all fall in the status symbol trap, even with 'our expensive bicycles'

 

EDIT: So, do not let our(all of us [& 'them']) status symbols rule our judgement, nor our view of those who do not chase (the same) status symbols.

Edited December 16, 2012 by robox

[kennyg]

Where I grew up (rural Zululand), grown men do not wear shorts! Nor do they go barefoot. Only trousers and decent(expensive) shoes...

 

Status symbols, all of them.... But then once in a while we all fall in the status symbol trap, even with 'our expensive bicycles'

 

EDIT: So, do not let our(all of us [& 'them']) status symbols rule our judgement, nor our view of those who do not chase (the same) status symbols.

I have to giggle, i have 2 degrees and a couple diplomas. i refuse to grow up. i wear shorts to work, my staff dress better than i do and are far more brand concious than myself.I got my stats for the first time in2012, and was told my race ratio was wrong. i said to the auditor we are all african, accept it and #%&* off. our rating is no different , i actually have more points than in the past, so wtf.

i am a 9nth generation south african through one side of the family.

[Cruz Addict]

What a complete dick, it never ceases to amaze me hat people like this feel hey have a right to comment on something they know very little about.

The whole tone of the article is aggressive towards white people, it's not even about the mass but slating whites at every chance.

It does surprise me though the the author appears to be white himself.

I have been riding critical for over a year now and have never had any feeling of superiority or aggression.

I sincerely he this guy becomes a statistic sooner rather than later!

[J0KER]

I am SO sick of people making everything about race! Why???

[Bonus]

The whole "status symbol" thing has a lot to answer for, all over the world.

 

Luckily I have no status . . . . . :-)

[Agteros]

The whole "status symbol" thing has a lot to answer for, all over the world.

 

Luckily I have no status . . . . . :-)

I have two Raleighs. That and status dare not be mentioned in the same sentence!

[Wayne Potgieter]

I didnt know critical mass is a race....

 

Is there a prize for first?