The Wake

Several members of the U’s Cycling Club stepped into the St. Paul Gym for practice with sun-scorched arms and legs, a look even Hank Hill would be jealous of. Their newly acquired farmer’s tans were the result of a spring break expedition to Tucson, Ariz. which included 60-70 miles of cycling per day, and a 25-mile climb up rock-infested Mt. Lemmon.

Despite the rigorous routine in Arizona, the cycling club is very accepting of riders with little cycling experience. On the trip some riders had never been on a group ride before, and about half the people who join the club have never raced competitively. “It is a club that develops riders,” says Bill O’Reilly, fifth year coach. But it is also a club that is serious about cycling, particularly road racing. The U’s Cycling Club has won the North Central Collegiate Cycling Conference (NCCCC) three years in a row, which includes teams from Midwestern states such as: Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota and North Dakota. Although the U is dominant in the NCCCC, the conference is weak compared to the rest of the nation. “We would get annihilated by them,” says O’Reilly, in reference to California and Colorado.

Western states are successful for numerous reasons, one being the cycling sub-culture that has evolved, which creates unity. “Cycling is a culture and it takes a while to form,” says O’Reilly. “And we (U of M) are getting there.” The culture that has formed at the U includes a lot of joking and the creating of nicknames. “It is a fun crowd to be with,” says Andy Rosch, a sophomore cyclist.

Types of Cycling found at the U

Road Racing

The objective is basic: first to the finish line wins. But the strategies involved, make road racing rather complex. One of the most popular techniques is drafting (closely following another rider to decrease one’s workload). It can be used in a team effort where teammates rotate drafting behind one other, or by following a competitor closely and then sprinting past them at a strategic time.

Road racing intuitively sounds less dangerous than mountain biking or track racing. Don’t be fooled. Because riders often get cluttered together, one rider crashing can lead to a tangled mess of handlebars, spokes and bodies. Instead of discouraging riders, though, the danger and tactics involved in road racing seem to attract riders. “[Road racing’s] fast and tactical—and way cool,” said a cycling club member.

Track Racing

There is only one speed in track racing: extremely fast. Races are generally held at velodromes constructed of Baltic pine, a hard surface ideal for speed. Track bikes are made of steel and have no brakes or gears. Similar to road racing, drafting is an important aspect of track racing, along with a multitude of other tactics. Crashes are a fairly common occurrence in track racing. Elena Dorr, a freshman at the U who loves the speed and thrill of track racing has fallen twice and says, “it definitely hurt.” She didn’t suffer any severe injuries from her crashes, but did get splinters in her hands from the track. The closest velodrome is at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

Mountain Bike Racing

Minnesota is definitely not the epicenter of mountain biking, but there are still plenty of trails to use. Last year many U Cycling members competed at the Lebanon Hills Time Trial in Eagan.

Mountain biking didn’t officially become a recognized sport until 1990. No one really knows how mountain biking originated, but the primary belief is that it started in northern California by people looking for an alternative way to ride bikes.

How to Join

There are no tryouts. The club accepts everyone as long as they pay $80 in dues and fill out a participation waiver. It is a co-ed club and usually about a third of the team is women. More information can be found at .