Black Leaders Bless Black Bicyclists

In Oakland on Sunday, dress code at church services is strictly enforced: lycra tops, helmets, and other bicycle gear.

Some 25 African-American bicyclists received blessings from religious leders at the Cathedral of Christ the Light church on Lake Merritt on Sunday morning, for both positive intervention from the Almighty and to mark the capstone of a four-day adventure intended to get more black people riding bicycles, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Many diseases like diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure -- which affect many African-Americans -- are defeatable with exercise.

Ergo, the National Brotherhood of Cyclists is trying to get more black folks on bicycles. More than 100 people from 18 states rode from Napa to Tiburon to Oakland, wrapping up with the religious service and a vegan soul food brunch in The Town, the newspaper reported.

The riders wore jerseys which celebrated one of the best cyclists in American history: Marshall "Major Taylor," who held seven world records in biking while competing in the US and Europe.

Oh, and he was a black guy from rural Indiana. That's inspiration for anybody of any color.

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