Cycling club a great choice for all riders

With Little 500 drawing closer, the sights and sounds of competitive cycling are creeping back into Hoosiers’ heads.

But for the IU Cycling Club, the spirit of competitive cycling lasts throughout the entire school year. This student-run association is one of several club sports organizations at IU.

Sophomore Bill Kenny, a prospective cycling club member, said he wants to be part of the tradition of Little 500, and   joining the IU Cycling Club was an ideal opportunity to get to know other cyclists.

The club provides members with an opportunity to race competitively against several other universities’ club teams within the MidWest Collegiate Cycling Conference.
The IU Cycling Club’s first meet of spring 2009 is Feb. 28 at Murray State.

Although the club competes every year, it is by no means exclusive to experienced riders. Kenny and junior David Deka have never ridden competitively.

They’re trying to get a Little 500 team together, they said, and hope by joining the IU Cycling Club, they can train and become competitive.

Membership is open to any interested rider and the club does not cut anyone. There are different skill levels within the club for men and women ranging from entry-level to skilled riders.

It is no coincidence IU has one of the top 15 collegiate cycling programs.

Senior Isaac Neff, the club’s president, said he believes there is definitely a bike culture at IU.

“Bloomington is a great place to ride, and I think that Little 500 is such a huge part of it,” Neff said.

The club offers rides that are open to the public.

Neff said a lot of the time he sees people riding around town who aren’t expert cyclists, but they love to ride anyway.

“Bloomington is a cycling mecca,” Decker said.