Major Taylor Association

George Street Bike Challenge

July 28, 2019 2019 George Street Raffle

We gave away a Diamondback Century Sport road bike from Barney's Bicycle in a prize drawing at the conclusion of the 2019 George Street Bike Challenge for Major Taylor. Raffle proceeds benefit the Major Taylor Association.

1 TICKET ($5) 3 TICKETS ($12) 6 TICKETS ($20)

GRAND PRIZE -- Diamondback Century Sport: Enhanced Performance Geometry makes this a comfortable road bike no matter the distance. It features an aluminum alloy frame, double wall alloy rims, a 2x8 drivetrain, and Shimano and FSA components. Click here for specs, or visit Barney's Bicycle, 582 Park Ave., Worcester. Winner: John Noga

MORE PRIZES:

Major Taylor cycling jersey from the Major Taylor Association. The custom, limited-edition design features a 1900 photograph of Major Taylor taken by E. Chickering in Boston; the Worcester, Mass., street sign for Major Taylor Boulevard with the city's "Heart of the Commonwealth" symbol; and the 1899 world champion's nickname, "The Worcester Whirlwind." Made by Louis Garneau in Micro-Airdry fabric with a 14-inch hidden zipper and three rear pockets. To buy this jersey ($69), click here. Winner: Winston Wiley

JERSEY SPONSORS: AdventureCORPS
Jason & Fischer (BikeAttorney.com)

The picture book "Fast Enough: Bessie Stringfield's First Ride" by Joel Christian Gill (Lion Forge, 2019). Have you ever been told that you're not enough? Not strong enough, tall enough, fast enough? In this fictional imagining of the childhood of a real-life pioneering black female motorcyclist, Bessie Stringfield dreams of riding her bike with the boys after school, and triumphs over those who say she is not good enough. Winners: Paul Giannetti, John Curry, Fran Ouellette

A signed copy of the book "Boston's Twentieth-Century Bicycling Renaissance: Cultural Change on Two Wheels" by Lorenz J. Finson (UMass Press, 2019). "Finison examines issues of race and ethnicity that have been ignored by many previous bicycle historians." - Margaret Guroff, author of "The Mechanical Horse: How the Bicycle Reshaped American Life." Winners: Rafael Sardi, John Curry

The book "Women on the Move: The Forgotten Era of Women's Bicycle Racing" by Roger Gilles (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). "Gilles shines a much-deserved light on 1890s women cyclists, bringing back to life Tillie Anderson, Dottie Farnsworth, and their sisters on wheels. ... a rollicking read." - Petter Joffre Nye, author of "Hearts of Lions" and "The Fast Times of Albert Champion." Winners: Winston Wiley, Paul Giannetti

"The Fast Times of Albert Champion" by Peter Joffre Nye, the biography of another record-setting bicyclist who went head-to-head with Major Taylor. The French immigrant also was a motorcyclist, daredevil racecar driver, early automobile innovator (ACDelco and Champion Spark Plug), ladies' man, and celebrity of the Jazz Age. This book unspools a raucous story of speed, success and betrayal. Winners: Sue Brazeau, Rafael Sardi

A basket of Paul Mitchell hair products from the HairLines store in Shrewsbury, because we all want to look good when the bike helmet comes off. Winner: Diane Krasnick

The book "Worcester Stacks Up" by CJ Posk. Packed with extraordinary facts about an unassuming city, this brightly illustrated tribute to Worcester naturally includes multiple world record holder Major Taylor. Winners: Steve Jasinski, Sue Brazeau, Diane Krasnick