Hear from Keshia Roberson at the WMNBikePGH Summit

As more and more people embrace cycling in Pittsburgh and beyond, we need to consciously examine the inclusivity of our cycling community as a whole. When it comes to welcoming all people into cycling spaces, one piece of the puzzle is being thoughtful and intentional about uplifting diverse stories.

Within this growing community of cyclists and advocates, Keshia Roberson, the founder of Major Knox Adventures, is sharing a valuable story which does exactly that. Her work honors the legacy of Black women pioneers of cycling and offers inclusivity in a space where Black cyclists, especially Black women cyclists, are historically underrepresented. We are especially thrilled that Keshia will be delivering the keynote presentation at our upcoming Women and Non-Binary Bike Summit, an annual event that curates programming with the goal of breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes in cycling.

Keep reading to learn more about Keshia and her work uplifting the legacy of Black women in cycling, as well as how she is continuing to build that legacy today. 

(Re)claim the Legacy

Keshia Roberson is the founder of Major Knox Adventures, a minority women-owned wellness company that provides affordable trip experiences to promote radical joy in the outdoors.

While Major Knox Adventures (MKA) exudes this spirit of radical joy, its origins stem from a place of frustration and a compelling need for change. The lack of representation for Black women in the world of bikepacking and endurance cycling was a major component fueling Keshia’s mission.

In her quest to create affordable and inclusive outdoor experiences, Keshia found herself learning more about the incredible history of Black women in cycling, specifically the story of five Black women –Marylou Jackson, Velma Jackson, Ethyl Miller, Leolya Nelson, and Constance White– who embarked on a 250-mile bike ride purely for pleasure in 1928 from Harlem, New York, to Washington, DC, in three days. Their resilience and the absence of recognition for such pioneers in biking history prompted Keshia to start the 1928 Legacy Tour and, subsequently, Major Knox Adventures. MKA’s 1928 Legacy Tour challenges participants to embrace riding the great outdoors with 50-,100- or 130-mile bike rides spanning Baltimore to New York.

Keshia’s keynote presentation at the Women & Non-Binary Bike Summit on October 7th will illuminate the enduring impact of Black women in the world of cycling. This presentation will challenge the misconception that Black women have only “just recently” become a presence in the cycling community. Keshia’s work helps us gain insight into pioneering figures in the sport such as Kittie Knox, who blazed a trail for Black women cyclists, and Ayesha McGowan, who achieved the historic milestone of becoming the first Black female professional bike racer, as well as contemporary trailblazers who are actively working to create more inclusive spaces to enjoy the pleasures of biking. 

Community reminder: BikePGH’s Women & Non-Binary program was created to break down barriers to bicycling and increase the representation of people who have historically marginalized gender identities. The program is inclusive of trans and cis women, intersex people, non-binary, genderqueer, agender, and gender variant folks, as well as those whose gender identity falls outside of the dominant conceptions of gender. If you are unable to attend the Summit, or if you don’t identify as a women or non-binary person, then you can see a version of Keshia’s presentation here.

Join Us

We are honored to have this year’s Summit serve as a platform for Keshia to share these important stories that recognize and celebrate the extensive, rich history of Black women in American cycling. While WMNBikePGH Summit is all about inspiring women and non-binary people to embark on their cycling journeys and overcome obstacles, the event is also an incredibly valuable opportunity to hear from a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the cycling world.

Thanks to leaders like Keshia whose work highlights the importance of building an inclusive and supportive biking community, we can expect to see more women breaking down barriers and making their mark in this space.