Tacos Para Todo el Mundo

The History of the Taco

"What would your last meal be?" I usually answer, "Tacos!" That's because they have an endless possibility of flavors. They can be made with nearly any ingredients, so long as they're enveloped in tortillas. 

In trying to find an appropriate definition of the taco, I found an article on SmithsonianMag.com  about the history of the food. It says the word "taco" originated with Mexican silver miners. A taco "referred to the little charges they would use to excavate the ore. These were pieces of paper that they would wrap around gunpowder and insert into the holes they carved in the rock face. ... The first references [to the taco] in any sort of archive or dictionary come from the end of the 19th century. And one of the first types of tacos described is called "Tacos de Minero"—miner’s tacos."  So a taco is an explosive wrapped in a small package. Isn't that the exact definition of an elite cyclist? 

The Mission of District Taco Cycling

In late 2013, two friends decided to start their own cycling team. The DC/VA/MD racing scene is diverse and competitive, but there's always more room for growth. And sometimes races can unfold in predictable and boring ways, like how a third grade soccer game unfolds: teams crowd around the ball en mass with little thought to strategy.

We adults should be able to do better. Our goal to bring new excitement to races and deliver whatever team tactics we can muster. District Taco Cycling p/b BicycleSPACE hopes to embody the explosive nature of our namesake.

A Word About Our Sponsors

The District Taco restaurant chain was started by Osiris Hoil. He's many things: a cunning businessman, father, husband ... and dedicated cyclist. I remember riding with Osiris almost every Saturday morning two years ago. We struggled to keep up with the main group through the Arlington hills. Determination underscores his cycling and the rest of his life. That's why I am honored to ride with him on this team. Since its humble beginnings as a taco cart (Viva el Torito!), District Taco has quickly become a staple of the DC/VA community. Now with four locations, DT continues to serve up tasty, fresh Mexican food.

BicycleSPACE is a relative new comer to the DC Bike shop scene, opening in 2010. In that short time frame, BicycleSPACE has built a tremendous following among all types of cyclists. We hope we can help that community grow even larger and introduce more riders to racing. With a friendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff, it's no wonder BicycleSPACE was voted Best Bike Shop in The City Paper's 2012 Best of DC Campaign, and named a Top 100 Retailer nation-wide.

-Written by Andrew Friend