Some UW-Whitewater students are gearing up for a great ride with the UW-W cycling club.
“Cycling club is a group of people who like to ride bikes, any type of bike,” senior and cycling club vice president Alex Ferguson said.
The cycling club is an active and competitive year-round club; they ride and race outside during the warmer months and indoors on trainers when the weather isn’t as warm.
“Seasons vary depending on discipline. The road usually goes from March to August, and cyclocross runs from September to December. Recreational riding happens as long as the weather is nice enough,” cycling club president Jack Heier said.
The club has recreational and competitive members. On the competitive side, all competitive members race through USA Cycling under UW-W, which makes the club eligible for collegiate and domestic events. To have this opportunity, members must hold a race license that allows them to race and note their level of competition, which is denoted by categories 1-5.
“What’s so unique about it is it is open to everyone and we have many options for all members, there is a spot for whoever,” Ferguson said.
Members feel lucky to have this club because not many schools have cycling programs. It’s a relatively new form of endurance for athletes to push themselves.
“A lot of our athletes come from a background in running, swimming or rowing. An athlete that might not have made the cut for one of the school’s varsity programs might exceed with the cycling club,” Heier said.
Some goals for the club are to revive its status post-COVID and continue to grow competitively.
“It’s open to everyone, even if they don’t have a bike,” Ferguson said.
The start of their spring competition season is upon them and begins March 22-23 in St. Louis, Missouri. Following that are a few others at Purdue in Indiana, March 29-30, Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana April 19, and UChicago April 26. Following all these races is the big Collegiate Nationals in Waterloo, Wisconsin.
If interested in joining, Heier advises students to find them on the rec sports website as well as through the school’s Connect2 portal. Students can also keep an eye on their social media where they post updates for rides and meetings.
“The cycling club is a very diverse group of people who have come together to cycle,” club member Jordan Miller said. “There are members in computer science, marketing, and even a member interested from another college out-of-state.”
