Black Friday: The Real Story Behind the Day the World Learned to Rush
Black Friday is known today for queues, countdowns, and the frantic hunt for the “biggest deal of the year.”
It’s a global event recognised far beyond retail — but its origins are nowhere near as glossy as the modern hype suggests.
In sport, we’re taught to understand history, pace ourselves, and choose the right line.
So here’s the real line on Black Friday: where it came from, how it changed, and why the cycling world is quietly redefining it again.
A name born from collapse, not celebration
The first recorded “Black Friday” wasn’t about shopping at all.
It was 1869, and two ambitious financiers attempted to corner the US gold market. Their plan failed, the economy crashed, and the fallout crippled trade across the country.
A devastating day — one that had nothing to do with bargains.
1950s Philadelphia — a different kind of chaos
Nearly a century later, the term resurfaced in a totally different setting.
In the 1950s, Philadelphia police used “Black Friday” to describe the chaos that hit the city the day after Thanksgiving:
gridlocked traffic
overcrowded streets
overwhelmed shops
soaring shoplifting
officers working overtime, no breaks
It was a day of pressure, noise, and fatigue — words every rider knows well.
Retailers hated the negative connotation, even attempting to rename it “Big Friday.”
But the name stuck.
The 1980s rewrite — a new narrative takes hold
By the 1980s, retailers spun the term into something positive.
A story emerged: Black Friday was when businesses finally “went into the black” — turning profit for the year.
Was it historically accurate? Not really.
Was it effective? Absolutely.
The concept caught fire.
Black Friday became the unofficial launch of the holiday shopping season, steadily shifting from chaos to consumer tradition.
2000s: Hype, headlines, and globalisation
With the rise of online shopping, superstores, and global marketing, Black Friday transformed again — this time at full speed:
midnight openings
viral stampedes
doorbuster deals
Cyber Monday extending the frenzy
entire “Black Week” events
It became culture. And controversy. And competition.
Not unlike the pressure cooker of elite sport — except without the glory.
2020s: An unexpected shift in perspective
Today, the landscape is changing again.
As the world questions overconsumption and sprints towards sustainability, Black Friday has begun to lose some of its shine.
People are favouring:
fewer, higher-quality purchases
meaningful experiences
long-term wellbeing
time outdoors
movement
and a calmer pace
The cycling world, perhaps unsurprisingly, is leading that shift.
Riders know that progress isn’t made through chaos.
It’s made through rhythm, discipline, intention, and connection with the environment around you.
What Black Friday means for cycling
For professional teams, Black Friday has never been the point.
Training continues. Races are planned. Riders focus on recovery, performance, and the season ahead.
What matters is long-term development — not short-term noise.
And that idea mirrors the way many people now approach the day itself:
Distraction vs. direction.
Consumption vs. purpose.
Hype vs. health.
It’s not that Black Friday is “wrong.”
It simply doesn’t define us.
Where Saint Piran Pro stands
We believe in:
movement over material
nature over noise
substance over spectacle
momentum over impulse
Cycling teaches us patience.
It teaches us perspective.
It teaches us that the best things we gain aren’t bought — they’re earned over miles, discipline, and heart.
Black Friday’s story has always been shaped by how people choose to act.
Today, people are choosing differently.
They’re choosing clarity, sustainability, and purpose.
And in our world, that choice aligns perfectly with the spirit of the ride.
A final word
Black Friday began in crisis.
It became chaos.
It became culture.
And now, it’s becoming something else entirely.
Whatever direction the world chooses next, one thing remains steady:
On the bike, there’s always room for better rhythm, deeper focus, cleaner air, and clearer thinking.
And that’s a future we’re proud to keep pedalling toward.