Dignity & Truth: The Buffalo Soldiers Project

This summer Erick Cedeño, aka Bicycle Nomad , will embark on a journey to uplift the truth behind the monumental ride of the 25th Infantry Buffalo Soldier Bicycle Corps. Starting on June 14th, 2022, Erick will retrace the journey of the 20 Black soldiers that formed one of the four regiments known as Buffalo Soldiers in the U.S. Army. In 1897, the 25th Infantry was tasked with testing the feasibility of bicycles for military operations. 2022 marks the 125th anniversary of the Buffalo Soldiers’ 41-day, 1,900-mile bicycle expedition from Missoula, Montana, to St. Louis, Missouri. Erick is using his ride as an opportunity to acknowledge the role Black soldiers played in our nation’s history by retracing their journey. Erick will again use his bicycle as a conduit to another era, drawing upon curiosity and a desire to surface stories that have yet to be told.

 

Riding the wave of popularity and utility sparked by the creation of the “safety bicycle,” The Bicycle Corps aka the Iron Riders were commissioned in 1892 by the U.S. Army with the purpose of traveling throughout the country, collecting geographic and topographic data, documenting road conditions, sources of supplies, and other information that could be useful to the military.

 

From Erick:

 

I’ve been fascinated by the history of the 25th Infantry’s expedition since I first learned about them over 12 years ago. I want to shine a light on their journey and help share their story with more people. 

 

This upcoming journey embodies the spirit of Bicycle Nomad. “Curiosity drives me. It fuels my insatiable desire to know what’s beyond the next bend of the road, to discover what’s there beyond the edges of the map. If it’s my muscles that propel me to move forward physically, it’s my curiosity and the hope to reclaim dignity and truth that propels me mentally.”

 

How You Can Help:

 

By supporting Erick as he embarks on this journey to retrace the Bicycle Corps’ 1897 route and conduct additional research along the way, funds raised will enable Erick to travel safely and efficiently throughout his nearly 2,000 mile trip. The insights he gathers will lead to the development of a much larger story to help us reckon with our nation’s past and honor those who have been forgotten.

 

Your donations will go towards Erick's travel expenses, daily meals, nighttime campsite costs, and six nights of lodging spaced out on the 41-day tour, where he can recover in a motel/hotel room.

 

You might consider this a contribution toward a change in narrative fellowship. The time, labor, and energy put toward this project will prevent Erick from maintaining other consistent sources of income and the opportunity to lessen the potential stress and hardship on his family while he’s away on his journey is one that cannot be overstressed.

 

Finally:

 

Curiosity leads to unearthing truth and opportunities to inform our current reality. When we understand the experience of those that came before us and tell their stories, we can heal wounds of the past and dignify the individuals who otherwise remain forgotten.

 

Today we find ourselves in a moment to reclaim historical narratives that have either been sanitized or continue on with missing storylines. Too often, these are the narratives of sacrifice, pain, injustice, and the harmful effects of racism.

 

Thank you in advance for any support.

 

Bikepacking dot com Article 

 

Five Questions with Bicycle Nomad Video