Last week I was contacted by Marc O’Shea (Turin), an English teacher at Naperville Central High School. One of his classes has been immersing itself in legendary American cyclist Major Taylor. In addition to reading everything they get their hands on about him, they’ve learned about cycling and have even monitored their own cycling performance to get a feel for the racing experience. “The students are reading everything on Taylor and analyzing his motivation, perseverance and so on,” O’Shea says. “They’re studying his bike racing tactics and movement in and out of Chicago during his life.”

It gets cooler: The unit inspired the students to design and produce wristbands that they will sell to raise funds for World Bicycle Relief.  “They’re pumped,” O’Shea says. “They have become so appreciative of bike racing. The power of the bike in life on man and the lives of many in need has marveled them as they’ve read.”

Here’s where it gets really cool: When O’Shea learned that Taylor was a major influence on Rahsaan Bahati (Rock Racing), he invited Bahati to come speak to the class -- and he accepted. Next week the sprinter and former national champion will spend two days with O’Shea’s students, meeting with them in small groups to discuss Taylor, bike racing and minorities in sports.

Bahati, fresh off a win at the prestigious Athens Twilight Criterium, is bringing their studies to life, O’Shea says. “He is the bridge between the past and the present.”

Paying the bills to get Bahati here? None other than Rock Racing owner Michael Ball.

Say what you will about Ball and Rock Racing, I think we all can agree this is a pretty awesome gesture. I’m so impressed by the project that I’ve offered to publish an edited interview conducted by the students. They’re preparing their questions at this moment. Look for the results in the next week or two.