Triangle Bikeworks mission is to enrich the mind, body and spirit of youth through trans-formative community, cultural and cycling experiences. Transforming lives. One revolution at a time.
New Website!
Check out Triangle Bikeworks new ride
Upcoming Events
Spring Excursions program. The three-day Triangle-wide tour centered on history and the environment. Youth now in training
Bikes & BarnyardsThe ultimate summer camp for youth who are 10-14. We’re now taking registrations. Early Bird discounts until March 1
Youth Bike SummitThe annual 3-day national conference bringing together youth, educators, advocates, researchers, policy makers and community leaders to share ideas, have their voice heard, and encourage civic engagement and advocacy. Location: Atlanta GA
Ice Cream Social Save the date:
May 17, 2020.
Triangle Bikeworks’ annual Ice Cream Social and family bike ride. If all goes right, this year the route is in shape of an ice cream cone!
Contact Us
117 W Main Street
Carrboro, NC
27510
(919) 408 7513
Happy Black History Month!
Well, we hope you had a good month and was able to attend several celebrations.Of course, at Triangle Bikeworks, every day is a celebration of Black History.
Making Connections
One of the better joys felt is making connections. There’s a moment when you make correlations to things you had no idea were connected that’s special. For some of our youth who’ve traveled the Underground Railroad, both in 2011 and 2016, the name John Mercer Langston would be familiar to them. My dear friend, the late Dr. Olivia Cousins, traveled from her home in New York to host the youth in both years over the course of several days in the Langston home in Oberlin, OH.
In addition to them knowing that John Mercer Langston was the first black man to become a lawyer when he passed the bar in Ohio in 1854, they would also learn he was elected to the post of Town Clerk for Brownhelm, Ohio. In 1855, Langston became one of the first African Americans ever elected to public office in America. All of it was new information for the young intrepid cyclists.
The connective moment was when they learned that John Mercer Langston was the great-uncle of Langston Hughes, a famed poet of the Harlem Renaissance.
I’m sure you know exactly when the moment of drawing a connection was for you. Whether you consider that moment explosive or a small pop, it was the moment that changed the trajectory of your life. And you were never the same afterward.
As a staunch supporter of Triangle Bikeworks, you provide opportunities for self-discovery that every youth needs in one of the most challenging and vulnerable times in their lives.
A time where they’re quietly asking Who Am I? and Who Do I Want To Be?
For this, we say Thank You!
Youth Perspectives
When Solomon participated in last summer’s Bike, Blues & The Big Muddy tour, he was calling back to the roots of popular American music. As usual, his pre-tour lessons centered on environmental concerns and ways to be more involved in the environmental movement. Personally, to be more conscientious about his consumption and disposal of trash and being a forward-thinking steward of the environment. He also had lessons in our “classroom” about the origins of Blues, Jazz, Gospel, Country, and current Popular music. As is the norm during our tours, we came across a museum dedicated to the particular city where we had stopped for lunch, Natchez, MS, and its importance to the region. Affording everyone additional opportunities to discover Hidden History.
Recently, we asked the youth to look back on the past year and reflect on their experiences. Solomon recounts his here.
“In the past year too much has happened for me to explain it all. It was very exciting to be a part of SnR last year. The trip to Louisiana and back was the longest and farthest I had gone on a bike. I found the heat a great challenge that I was able to overcome. The museums we went to were awesome too, though I think my favorite was the Stax Museum. It really brought out the musician in me and encouraged me to pursue music even though I am at a disadvantage being African American. I also, just in general, had fun making new friends and sharing the experience with them.”
Given the fact that the thought came to Solomon while we were in a museum dedicated to African American inspired and created music, I was curious. I asked him about why he feels he’s “at a disadvantage being African American” when it comes to being a musician. He said that in his thinking he was referring to what’s considered classical music. I would agree, there is an under-representation of people of color in the classical music category. Less than 2% of musicians in American orchestras are African American, according to a 2014 study by the League of American Orchestras. Only 4.3% of conductors are black, and composers remain predominantly white as well.*
I’m glad he’s allowed the opportunity to continue having experiences that allow him to explore the world within and around him. Discovering who he is and who he really wants to be.
It’s no secret that the strength and power behind Triangle Bikeworks are donors, like you. Our small staff is able to take youth on tours of self-discovery, hidden history, and environmental awareness because of your financial and in-kind contributions. As such, I would like to propose to you that, for a small amount each month, you can help ensure we have sustainable funds to provide our transformational programs to young people. Your dollars will immediately go to work in our afterschool or summer programming and our goal of reaching more youth to have the experience that transforms their life.
Why Give Monthly?
Becoming a Triangle Bikeworks monthly DriveChain donor means providing strong, steady funding that allows us to focus on what we do best, helping youth discover, engage and feel a sense of achievement.
What Will My Donation Do? A Great Deal!
$5 a month provides important safety equipment for our youth including helmets, lights, gloves, etc.
$10 a month prepares a bicycle in our fleet to be safe and road-ready for one of our youth.
$20 a month allows a middle school youth to find adventure with a Spoke’n Revolutions spring or fall after-school Excursions program.
$100 a month fully funds one youth to join the Spoke’n Revolutions summer experience.
Langston home in Oberlin, OH.
“In the past year too much has happened for me to explain it all. It was very exciting to be a part of SnR last year. The trip to Louisiana and back was the longest and farthest I had gone on a bike. I found the heat a great challenge that I was able to overcome. The museums we went to were awesome too, though I think my favorite was the Stax Museum. It really brought out the musician in me and encouraged me to pursue music even though I am at a disadvantage being African American. I also, just in general, had fun making new friends and sharing the experience with them.”
