What began as a way for Brooklyn-native Andrew Bennett to connect with friends in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic blossomed into a movement that is creating safe spaces for Black Brooklynites to exercise in good company.
The first outing of Good Co. Bike Club (GCBC), founded by Bennett, was a casual ride with a handful of cyclists in May of 2020. The club officially became a company one month later.
As Black Lives Matter protests peaked, GCBC organized the cycling trip that would change everything—the inaugural Juneteenth: A Freedom Ride.
The ride, which was organized in under two weeks, was a resounding success. 15,000 participants biked from the Brooklyn Museum to Coney Island, wrapping up at Fort Greene Park.
“At that time there was a lot of social unrest and protests, and everywhere you looked was a constant reminder of what the world was going through. We needed a time for people to unplug,” said Bennett in an interview with Everyday Health. “It was very intentionally not a protest — we encouraged people to bring snacks, speakers, and have a fun ride. It was a ride to embody Black joy.”
Further extending its reach in the local community, GCBC partnered with restaurants run by Black and minority owners. The club ushered in packs of hungry cyclists to businesses that were struggling in the economic climate of the pandemic. Now, the club’s bikers can be spotted at a variety of Brooklyn’s food and drink hotspots, including Drip BK, 333 Lounge, IV Purpose and High Vibrations Juice Bar.
The club snagged a partnership with bicycle juggernaut Schwinn last year and saw a large turnout for the second annual Juneteenth ride. Current Mayor of New York City Eric Adams attended the 1,000 biker-strong event last summer.
The club is open to cyclists of all skill levels and all backgrounds.
“We’re being inclusive and changing the narrative of cycling. Traditionally when you think of biking, it’s white men. Our cycle club is everything that’s not that,” Bennett told Everyday Health. “We want women, people of color; we want you to get on your bike in shorts and a T-shirt. To commute to work. It doesn’t have to be a 100-mile ride.”
