Strengthening Youth Through Cycling with Triangle Bikeworks
Coach Chris from The Endurance Edge talks with the folks at Triangle Bikeworks, a local youth bike touring program whose mission is to strengthen the power of youth who are Black, Latine, Indigenous, Asian, and People Of Color to overcome challenges, achieve audacious goals, and discover their true selves.
Triangle Bikeworks is a non-profit that is completely free for youth. In fact, just about everything is completely youth-led.
Kevin is the executive director and one of the founders. He loves cycling and “believes bikes are your first introduction to freedom.” He did a pilot program with seven youths, where they rode 60 miles on donated mountain bikes and they loved it! Itza, who is now the Program Director, was one of those people who completed the pilot program.
Next, they did a 30 day, 1800 mile long trip from Mobile, AL to Niagara Falls to talk about the environment, travel, learn about history and camp along the way (only stopping at hotels if there’s inclement weather).
They have also done trips to the Underground Railroad, the path of Lois and Clark, and more. Now they focus on 2 week tours, including Cherokee Trail of Tears, and the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor (from Durham to Wilmington to St Augustine, FL) to learn about the environment and untold history.
Itza tells several stories about how this experience has impacted her and how she’s learned so much more through this program than from learning it in school. She notes that youth come to the program for different reasons including getting outside, learning more, traveling, meeting people and more. While they enter wanting to learn one thing, she notes that they learn something entirely different, including leadership skills, teamwork and more.
They invite the entire community to do virtual tours and lunch and learns. You can join them July 27-30 on their virtual bike tour of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor here.
Are you a middle or high schooler wanting to get involved? It’s super easy! Ages are middle and high school youth. Head to their website and register for the program and Itza will reach out to you. Their main office is in Carrboro, NC. You don’t need anything to participate, since they provide, jersey, shorts, bikes, helmets, etc!
Follow Triangle Bikeworks on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube
PLEASE DONATE: for the entire month of May 2021, we are doing a drive for Triangle Bikeworks!
They need bike shorts, jerseys, gloves, Garmin bike computers, bike lights, road bikes, and mountain bikes (all sizes!). Please drop off your donation to The Clean Machine at 104 W Main St, Carrboro, NC 27510 or Triangle Aquatics Center at 275 Convention Dr Cary, NC 27511. Or please mail them to 117 W Main Street Carrboro, NC 27510. Prefer to give a monetary donation? Head to their website here.
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