Black Watts: A Community of Fathers Bringing Cycling to Everybody

What started as a fun way to get out of the house during lockdown soon evolved into a community of over sixty people looking to make a difference. In 2020, Chad Bennett, Aquil Jannah, and Chris Harvell put together a Fathers Day ride consisting of just fourteen people riding eighteen miles. What they found was something far greater. With the spark of an idea and a passion for the camaraderie that cycling creates, they founded Black Watts—a group of cyclists that would work to help make cycling accessible to as many people as possible.

From the start, Black Watts would be more than just a cycling club. It would be a group of dedicated husbands and fathers that would work to subvert stereotypes and improve mental health and wellbeing for black fathers and families through cycling.

In this episode, Chad, Aquil, and Chris join us to discuss the mission of Black Watts and the difference they’re making in their community. Though it started as a club for husbands and fathers, they’re determined to make Black Watts an “everybody” group. They discuss the challenges people of color face when they get into cycling, how we can work to make cycling a more inclusive experience, and what their hopes are for the future of cycling.

Check out Black Watts’ podcast, More Watts, here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Kh2zr1dXjCHn6UK6yxYc5?si=6b3b12f0f6fd4426