Major

"At the turn of the 20th century, hundreds of handsome, lightning-fast racers won the hearts and minds of bicycling-crazed fans. Scientists studied them, newspapers glorified them, and millions of dollars in prize money were awarded to them. Major Taylor was fastest of them all. His mounting victories, high virtue, and bullet-like riding style made him a natural enemy to his white rivals, Floyd McFarland most of all. First America, then the world, was riveted by the duel. Finally, in 1904, both men headed to boomtown Australia for a much-anticipated title match to decide who was the fastest man on earth. Major is the story of a superstar nobody saw coming, a classic underdog aided by an unlikely crew: a disgraced fight promoter, a broken ex-racer, and a poor upstate girl who wanted to be a queen. Major Taylor's victories on a bicycle earned him a chance for more fame and fortune--if he could beat a giant named McFarland, he would become a hero to every person in the Gilded Age not getting a fair shake."--Publisher's description (cover p. [4]).