MACC 101

By Larry J.

The Final Frontier is not a recent Star Trek movie, Miller Bottom is not a southern town and Horse Shoe Farms is not a place to take the kids for a pony ride. However, if you are familiar wtih the Metro Atlanta Cycling Club (MACC), you will recognize these names as just a few of the rides we organize. Our group consists of the occasional tourist, hardcore racers and everything in between. And we take pride in the mix of cyclists who join our club rides.

The men and women who comprise MACC take our club seriously. The club was formed in 1987 with two specific goals in mind. The first was to promote cycling within the African-American community; the second to provide an organization for men and women with similar interests. The members who make up the club are bound by our love of the sport. Our occupations include a wide range of positions from all segments of the work world.

--When a few MACC members got off to a late start during a recent fundraising event (much to the irritation of our El Presidente), we made up for lost time by quickly organizing ourselves into a brisk paceline with each member riding two abreast and about a foot apart. With backs bent, heads tucked and legs pumping we cruised along at 20 MPH.

All current and prospective MACC members must know certain basics of cycling, such as changing a flat tire and using proper hand signals. Members must also demonstrate proper cycling etiquette and courtesy towards both cyclists and non-cyclists alike. During each ride we constantly communicate with each other, pointing out road obstacles and traffic hazards. In addition, if there is trouble -- say a flat tire or someone starts to feel exhausted -- at least one MACC member will stay behind to help. Sticking together and taking care of each other is a matter of principle with MACC; we are guided by a philosophy of safe cycling.

--We would take turns pulling for about 60 seconds. The men did the hardest work, breaking the wind to create a draft that seemed to suck the others along behind them. We would peel off to the left and right,dropping to the rear of the line so that the next two could take up the lead positions. So efficient was the paceline that by the half way point we caught up with or passed many of the event's cyclists.

There are two leading spirits for MACC. First there is Major Taylor, the 1899 international cycling champion and world wide superstar of his day. Secondly, there is the late Dikobe McFarlane, one of the Founding Fathers of MACC. It was Dikobe's inspiration that led to the creation of MACC's guiding principles and the now-infamous road trips: Hotter-n-Hell in Texas, the Seagull Century in Maryland and Mt. Dora in Florida. (May his spirit be with us always.)

--Others would join in on the line and with words of encouragement from the Trail Boss, we would head 'em up and move 'em out .

Finally, with the pack.

Some work harder than others.

What, me worry?

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