“We’re a collection of resources, that resource is people. Collectively we bring ideas, lived experiences, trauma, love, pent up rage, brilliance, creativity, depression, hope, and so on. The mission of this group is to take up space and do so intentionally. The intentionality comes from actively working & challenging systems of oppression, especially within our own BIPOC communities.”
We sat down with BikePOC PNW founders Silas Sanderson (L), Sukho Viboolsittiseri (C) and Will Cortez (R) to talk culture, impact, bikes and community. Formulated in early 2021, the PDX-based BikePOC PNW has quickly gained momentum, hosting weekly group rides across multiple disciplines from party pace rides to mountain biking to gravel adventures creating intentional space and community for riders of color.
BikePOC PNW has the feel of a ride group, an event series, a social gathering and community hub for riders of color. Is the idea to focus more on any of these specific directions or is it intended as a broader combination of things? In short, how would you describe the mission of the organization?
SV: It's all of those things, but honestly we're still trying to figure all that out. From the start everything happened organically and was all heart-based, and that was all Will Cortez, because dude has a big heart. And maybe Will and Silas and others are more apt to answer the mission question, but some background for folks here: BikePOCpnw started from a (JAN 15th) thread on the OMTM Google group about the Parsons road connector and issues with landowners over there. Some folks were offering their take on it, but then Kevin (KRhea) chimed in with his experience as a Black man cycling in these rural areas and it being a different thing from what a white cyclist might experience. I remember the thread just went quiet after his post; you can tell people were uncomfortable. Obviously it took lots of courage for Kevin to put that out there like that, but what he described, that feeling of being an "other" on a bike is probably something most BIPOC cyclists can relate to (even if they might not fully realize it). Anyhow, I remember feeling something was happening in that moment and I chimed in with "This is a great conversation, and good things will come of it".
I'm sure for Will, the wheels were already turning at that point, and he reached out to me shortly after (we had never met before). I didn't really answer your question, but I thought it might be more interesting to folks than "we're creating a space that we felt was sorely needed, and it's been beautiful so far". But that's true too, haha!
SS: For me, the original intent was to simply create a space where BIPOC folks can gather to ride together. Whether that is a party pace ride around town, a race, or a gravel adventure. But what has developed is a community space where we can celebrate each other and yeah..ride some bikes. Everyone that has joined the group has brought their own ideas and energy so it has really grown organically in alignment with the community's interests rather than a specific direction. In short, I'd say our mission is to build community and represent.
WC: We’re a collection of resources, that resource is people. Collectively we bring ideas, lived experiences, trauma, love, pent up rage, brilliance, creativity, depression, hope, and so on. The mission of this group is to take up space and do so intentionally. The intentionality comes from actively working & challenging systems of oppression, especially within our own BIPOC communities.
What are your personal backstories and cycling discipline of choice?
WC: Like any kid, I learned to ride a bike. It only stuck in high school because I needed a way to get to a weekly appt. I had at the local county juvenile facility. See, I was an angry piece of shit growing up and started a fire that got out of control. As a part of the terms, I was required to talk to a state appointed counselor once a week. My parents didn’t want to drive me the 6-7 miles each way so they bought me a dept. store mountain bike...and that’s where it all began.
SV: I come from a skateboarding/snowboarding background growing up in Colorado. My first taste of "gravel" was mountain biking in the foothills west of Denver in the early 90's. I remember crashing a lot then. I still crash a lot. It's funny, because the stuff we rode back then on those 90's mountain bikes are what we all call "gravel" riding now. Dirt roads and then some steep single track. It's fitting that my main gravel bike, Bluey, is basically a 90's rigid mountain bike. About 5 or 6 years ago my buddy Fred took me on some rides out in the coast range, which was a lot of Timber Log Jam stuff. A couple of years ago Ryan Francesconi took me under his formidable wings for a bit, showing me the ropes and making fun of me at the same time. Not sure if he knows how grateful I am for how he supported and uplifted me, but maybe he will now. And oviously meeting and knowing you and everyone in this amazing community has been a life changer. My approach with BikePOCpnw is heavily influenced by what you and Ryan have built with the OMTM community, especially the openness, generosity and positive vibes.
SS: I grew up in a small town in Massachusetts. I'd spend my summers exploring the hidden and unmarked trails of my town and beyond and racing in circles with friends in my neighborhood. In college, I participated in a few mountain bike races but I spent most of my time since then riding recreationally. Since moving to Portland, I was introduced to the wonderful world of gravel riding and cyclocross by Josh Liberles. I love me some urban gravel, cutty routes!! Frogger for Life!
It is exciting to see how much momentum there is right now for folks actively creating culture on their own terms, how do you see this flourishing of DIY energy impacting the broader cycling culture as a whole?
SS: In a word, change. We've all heard that Portland is the whitest major city in America. And cycling culture is somehow even whiter. But that thought process obscures the many BIPOC folks out there riding every day. So I hope that we are able to change who we think of as a cyclist and what cycling culture is all about
WC: Honestly, I hope it puts the broader cycling culture on notice. The people flocking to BikePOCPNW are looking for community. They are looking for space to bring their whole selves. I mean, I’m guessing at that because I think that’s what I’m doing here.
I’ve always thought of hope as a wish with a plan. So when I say I hope, that means I’m gonna do something about it. So I hope the broader cycling culture realizes it isn’t the only cycling culture. I hope it recognizes that cycling culture as we know it, is steeped in cis-hetero, male, capitalist, white supremacy structures. And our BikePOCPNW members are going to challenge those previously acceptable norms.
SV: For me, with the hurt that came out of last year's racial reckoning, the pandemic, and just all the craziness we lived through in 2020, I feel that out of the ashes is a collective uplifting for both people of color AND white folks. You can feel it. Things are moving and shaking, and I hope the courage and momentum continues to bring positive outcomes for folks. You can see the positive impact in cycling as well, especially on the culture and community building aspect of it. Large companies hardly ever lead culture change, because it's not always profitable to do so (OR they wait to see if a movement WILL be profitable, then jump in). However, they do have large platforms, and for me, overall it's nice to see more representation and inclusion, no matter the motivations.
BikePOCpnw is just one piece of the cultural evolution; ultimately it belongs to the community and whatever they make of it, whatever they need it to be, it's theirs for the making.
Though you are fairly new as an organization, the groundswell of energy behind what you are doing seems to indicate that people were really ready for this to happen. How would you characterize the overall response from your perspective as organizers?
SV: People of color were definitely ready for this to happen; I know I was. PDX is a bikey town but it always seemed like I was the only brown person on the group ride, or at some event. And I'm betting I wasn't the only person of color thinking that. I remember you and I texting in June of last year (2020) during the "heat" of the racial reckoning and protests and we were trying to figure out if there were BIPOC cyclists in the area to reach out to and support in bikey-ways, but we couldn't come up with an answer. With BikePOCpnw, we now have the answer, or at least the beginnings of the answer.
It's also great to have support from our bikey friends in the Portland community and hopefully good things will continue to happen. I feel blessed to be a part of it all and contributing in my own way. As an "organization", which for me is still a bit of a loose term, we completely welcome all ideas and collaboration. Let's party!
SS: Well, you said it, folks were ready. Our last ride was 40 miles and we had 25 riders show. We've always been here, now we are just making it known.
WC: Remember that scene from ‘Forrest Gump’ where he starts running and doesn’t stop and soon picks up followers? It’s sort of what’s happening here... Many of the BIPOC folks who have come to us wanted this community but didn’t know what to do with that want. Forrest hadn’t started running yet. So here we are running, not with followers but with partners. Seriously, pick a cheesy quote below and it works for whatever this is:
“In life, it’s not where you go, it’s who you travel with.”
“Life was meant for good friends and great adventures.”
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
“A journey is best measured in friends rather than miles.”
Looking ahead, what do the next two years look like for BikePOC PNW? Are there specific milestones you are targeting?
WC: Personally, I’m taking it a day at a time. I’m a planner/project manager by trade but I’m finding myself living in the moment more with this group.
If I had to say, I have one and only one goal for BikePOCPNW is that it grows into a community that holds its members accountable for perpetuating oppression. So what does that look like? It looks like community values/agreements and accountability loops.
SV: Honestly I don't know where this journey is going to take us. Will, Silas and I have our different perspectives, energy levels, and motivations. For me, it's about nurturing the scene in a way that folks feel included and part of a collective. We want to elevate voices and expose folks to things they might not have had access to without this platform, out there as individuals. My personal goal is to help get this community out into the OMTM zones that have given me so much joy. That's kind of fitting because this community was created, in a way, from that Parson's thread. And related to that, I'm excited to be working with you on the milestone that's coming in September for this community.
SS: For now, we just let things take their natural course. We'll regroup this winter and see where we want to take it.
