About MTICA

The Idea Begins

Bill "Brobill" Gaston, Ride Captain of the Major Taylor Cycling Club of Chicago (MTC3), noticed that many MTC3 members wanted to connect with other Major Taylor clubs across the country.

Facebook Major Taylor Leaders Page

Drawing on his tech background, Bill created the Facebook Major Taylor Leaders page — a platform for club leaders to share information, collaborate, and support the creation of new clubs. Key early contributors: Dereka Hendon-Barnes (Iron Riders), Gina Harvey-Bullock (NJ), and Darren Dandridge (Memphis).

International Ride Challenge

COVID-19 changed the cycling landscape. The International Ride Challenge was born — drawing 400+ cyclists at its inaugural event in April, growing to over 1,000 by the third event. Major Taylor New Jersey won three consecutive years. Major Taylor Taiwan emerged as a leading club heading into 2025.

Formal Organization Founded

Darren Dandridge proposed a large-scale gathering for Major Taylor cyclists. This led to Major Taylor 1899 being formed in July 2021 — later renamed MTICA — providing a legal structure for the growing movement.

First MTICA Convention — Indianapolis

The Major Taylor Invitational National Ride in Indianapolis attracted 500+ riders for the first official MTICA Convention — a collaboration with Bike Indianapolis and the Major Taylor Cycling Club of Central Indiana. The weekend included a private reception at the Indiana State Museum featuring the Major Taylor exhibit. Presenting sponsors included SRAM, Clif Bar, New Belgium Brewing, the League of American Bicyclists, and Downtown Indy. The convention was covered by CBS Evening News, introducing MTICA to a national audience. That same year, the IRONMAN Foundation partnered with MTICA to bring Major Taylor cyclists into Half IRONMAN events across the country — the first year of a landmark two-year partnership.

Education, Wellness & Youth — Second Indianapolis Convention

Returning to Indianapolis, the second MTICA Convention expanded its programming with a dedicated focus on cycling education, health, and wellness. SRAM served as presenting sponsor. The convention debuted the first-ever Major Taylor Kidz youth track — a dedicated convention program for young cyclists. The IRONMAN Foundation partnership concluded its second and final year, with Major Taylor cyclists competing at IRONMAN 70.3 Benton Harbor, Michigan, Half IRONMAN Chattanooga, Tennessee, Half IRONMAN Augusta, Georgia, and IRONMAN Oceanside, California. The International Ride Challenge saw Major Taylor New Jersey win their third consecutive championship.

Chicago Convention, League of American Bicyclists Club of the Year

The Chicago convention brought the MTICA family home — featuring rides along the Major Taylor Trail and Bronzeville Trail, a spectacular mural unveiling, and corporate partners Trek, SRAM, and Zipp on site. MTICA was named Club of the Year by the League of American Bicyclists. Major Taylor Kidz grew to 14 emerging youth chapters across the country.

West Coast Expansion — Los Angeles Convention

MTICA brought the convention to the West Coast for the first time, descending on Los Angeles for rides throughout the city, wellness programming, and a celebration of cycling culture. The Bahati Foundation presented "Let's Talk Major" — a special conversation honoring Major Taylor's enduring legacy. Major Taylor Taiwan emerged as a dominant force in the International Ride Challenge, representing the growing global reach of the MTICA family.

Trailblazer Award & National Advocacy Campaign

MTICA launched the MTICA Trailblazer Award to honor individuals making an extraordinary impact on cycling advocacy and the Major Taylor legacy. The inaugural recipient: Marco Speeks, whose work brought Major Taylor Day to Michigan and laid the groundwork for a 50-state campaign. The MTICA Cycling Advocacy Committee is now actively working to bring official Major Taylor Day recognition to every state in the country. Watch Marco's award acceptance video →

The 2026 convention in Durham, North Carolina made history as the most attended convention in MTICA's history, with over 800 cyclists taking to the beautiful roads of Durham together. The energy, the community, and the joy were unlike anything the MTICA family had experienced before. The Major Taylor Cycling Club of North Carolina served as the host club and delivered an exceptional experience from start to finish — their dedication, organization, and pride in their city made Durham 2026 one for the books.