Little 500

Most people would assume the Tour De France is the biggest bike race in the world. Those people didn’t go to IU.

Now going into its 60th year, the Little 500 race is the biggest college bike race in the world. Thousands of visitors pour into Bloomington to be a part of the weekend.

Originally inspired in 1950 when Howdy Wilcox watched four students race bikes around a dormitory, the Little 500 race has now become the largest intramural event at IU.

The men’s race has 33 teams of four which are determined from the qualifying time trials. The first team to complete 200 laps around the quarter-mile cinder track wins.  The teams typically represent fraternities, sororities, residence halls or independent groups.

The women’s race takes place the Friday of Little 500 weekend and has  up to 33 teams of four who race for 100 laps around the cinder track.

Last year’s women’s race was followed by a concert of hit rapper Soulja Boy in the tailgating fields.

The race is put on by the IU Student Foundation and the proceeds are used to grant scholarships to working students.

The race achieved such popularity over the years that celebrities such as John Mellencamp, David Letterman and Lance Armstrong have been known to attend the event.

The race also inspired the Oscar-winning movie “Breaking Away.” The film prompted the team, the Cutters, who won the race for a third straight year in 2009, tying the record set by Pi Kappa Psi (1958 to 1960) and Delta Chi (1979 to 1981).

The race is not the only fun event by any means. Festivities kick off early in the week as fraternities host concerts that have featured artists such as Ludicris and Young Jeezy. The IU Auditorium usually plays host to a concert, too. Flight of the Concords played to close out 2009's Little 500 weekend.

A plethora of outside events also take place like the Terra Trace pudding wrestling competition or Annual Big Wheel Race at the Colonial Crest Apartments. Students be warned though, classes do take place as usual during the week.

The bike race is not the only race during the week either. The Little 50 is the runner’s equivalent to the Little 500 race. The Little 50 consists of 25 teams of four running in a 50-lap relay race and typically takes place Thursday of Little 500 week.

One thing is for sure, Little 500 is an experience IU students never forget. So mark your calendars because this is one weekend you will not want to miss.