bahati

ABOUT RAHSAAN BAHATI


Rahsaan’s inspirational story connects with people from all walks of life as an example of how commitment, community and dedication can change lives. Growing up in Compton, California Rahsaan was exposed to the gangs, drugs and crime that proliferated his South Central Los Angeles neighborhood and he had to make hard choices at a young age. He could have easily fallen into the circumstances of his surroundings without the support of two loving parents along with the fateful combination of a teacher, an eraser, and a classmate that would change his life forever.

Sitting at the back of his 7th grade classroom with too much unfocused energy Rahsaan decided to toss an eraser to the front of the classroom. Almost on cue, his teacher turned around as the eraser approached resulting in a direct hit to the face. The class fell silent and, despite the repeated requests from the teacher, did not implicate Rahsaan. However, the next day Rahsaan came to class and was confronted by the teacher and his parents due to a still unknown informant. Along with the usual punishments, the teacher recommended that Rahsaan start an after school program to focus some of his extensive energy. He was given the choice between golf and bikes, and with the idea that “bikes” meant motorbikes Rahsaan choose the later.

The next day Rahsaan’s father took him to the local velodrome (an oval track used for cycling events) which was the site of the 1984 Olympics. Rahsaan was shocked to see people riding around on bicycles in tight lycra and not motorcycles. Reluctantly, he got on a bicycle and began pedaling around the track but immediately found a natural connection between himself and the bike. Within weeks he was matched up against an 18-year-old cyclist who was a national champion. Instinct kicked in when, on the last lap, Rahsaan’s competitor looked back and Rahsaan used the hesitation to surge forward and out sprint the competition. After onley six months of riding a bike competitively Rahsaan was picked to go to Kenosha, Wisconsin for the US junior track Nationals. He brought home four medals that year and launched a junior career that brought him over 80 victories and 5 straight selections to the US National Team.

While many of his classmates and friends were getting into a gang lifestyle and feeling relegated to their surroundings Rahsaan was developing into an accomplished cyclist and riding with The Major Motion Cycling Team. Through the efforts of members of the team he was able to train and race in local criterium (a spectator friendly short course race) and road races. Successes came quickly and continued through his attendance at Indiana University. After completing his degree Rahsaan launched fulltime into a professional cycling career with some of the top level US cycling teams. In 2008, he completed a life long dream and became a US National Pro Champion in Criterium.

Through all of his accomplishments Rahsaan never lost sight of how fortunate he was to have people support and foster his abilities. The Bahati Foundation has been a dream of his for many years and now he has the opportunity to help shape kids lives the way his was shaped. It is an opportunity to show kids in underserved communities that they don’t have to be relegated to a life of crime, gangs and drugs; they have the ability to accomplish their dreams.

We appreciate your interest and invite you to check out more of our website to find out how you can be part the Bahati story.


Our Mission

The Bahati Foundation supports the health and education of inner-city youth though our Cycling Outreach and GIVEBACK programs.

Our Cycling Outreach programs are designed to inspire and empower through the sport of cycling.

Our GIVEBACK programs are coordinated with Bahati Foundation Corporate Partners to supply inner-city youth with health and fitness gear, educational supplies and musical instruments.



Our Office:

Bahati Foundation
1101 Dove Street, Suite 100
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Cannondale Bicycles is proud to announce our official bike sponsorship of the 2010 Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team. The newly formed team, led by 2008 National Pro Criterium Champion and eight-time national champion Rahsaan Bahati, will be outfitted with the 2010 Cannondale SuperSix, the newest model in the Cannondale road race line possessing unmatched power transfer and ride quality.

"We're proud to support the Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team and support the ideals and mission of its partner organization the Bahati Foundation," said Jeff McGuane, president of Cycling Sports Group North America. "Cycling Sports Group is committed to providing the most innovative cycling products in the world, and we are proud to sponsor a team that is dedicated to changing the world, both on and off the bike."

The 2010 Cannondale SuperSix is the ideal selection for the team and boasts the ultimate pedaling efficiency, superior comfort and refined handling. Cannondale's new SuperSix is the lightest, stiffest carbon road frame in the line of bicycles. New carbon-fabrification methods shave the complete frame weight to only 900 grams in 56 cm, 150 grams lighter than earlier SuperSix models.

"From the beginning we recognized Cannondale as one of our key partners due to their dedication to excellence and performance," said Rashaan Bahati. "With the SuperSix, Cannondale has developed a bike that is incredibly responsive, light, stylish and comfortable on all day rides. Sprinting on the SuperSix I can feel all my power delivered with no wasted energy, allowing me to consistently perform at the highest levels. It is truly the best bike I have ever competed on and I look forward to a dominant season riding a SuperSix."

The Bahati Foundation Pro Cycling Team will also be riding the Cannondale Si SL Hollowgram crank. At 570grams, the Hollowgram SiSL remains the lightest production crankset in the industry and boasts the best stiffness-to-weight numbers of any crank available today. Learn more about the Bahati Foundation and consider offering your support to this wonderful organization
http://www.bahatifoundation.org/cannondale-sponsorship/








http://www.bahatifoundation.org/