“Rising Community Support and in Response to COVID-19; One of Harlem’s greatest Father’s Day traditions is still celebrating its 48th
year—Virtually”
Harlem, USA, Thursday, May 7, 2020.
“ With continuous community support and a multi-level prize list; The “Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic (HSCC) tradition will continue by adjusting to New York City’s protocols due to COVID-19 ” shouts Richard Cox; UNITY Sports Productions’ director. Cox, a Harlem native, former HSCC competitor and now its promoter is excited about the events new format using “ZWIFT”— an indoor training phenomenon taking the world by storm.
This platform is helping everyone meet their fitness goals while having tons of fun along the way. Engaging gameplay meets fitness meets a global community of cyclists. The result? Serious training made fun.
The Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic was created in 1973 by David Walker (d. 2008)—a former New York Police Community Affairs Officer (Det.) in Harlem’s 25th Precinct. The Harlem Skyscraper Cycling Classic was designed as a community event focused on bicycle racing and safety programs for youth.
Within three years, the race became one of the premiere attractions of the United States Cycling Federation. Each year the race draws 400+ United States Cycling Federation (USCF)—(now known as USA Cycling) licensed cyclist from the greater NYC area, nationally and internationally; 100s of community participants and 1000s of spectators to Marcus Garvey Park—the site of the race since its inception. In 2020; these same participants will be competing through the ZWIFT platform.
We are also appreciate the support from the cycling community; most notably Nelson Beasley Vails, a road and track cyclist from Harlem. He rode as a professional from 1988 to 1995, representing the USA in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, where he won the silver medal in the 1000-meter Match Sprint. Vails was the first African-American cyclist to win an Olympic medal and he was inducted to the US Bicycle Hall of Fame in 2009. Nelson will participate as an official spokesperson for this exciting event—with his edition of a “Fix Gear Classic.”