Cyclists now have the opportunity to unite in a biking community by both enjoying a leisurely ride around town and competing in Pennsylvania races.
IUP's Cycling Club has recently been officially recognized by the university, which means greater resources for the club and its members. The team is also now officially registered in the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference, allowing its members the opportunity to compete in collegiate cycling races.
"The club does races in the ECCC. Races are road (spring), cyclocross (winter) and mountain (fall)," said Club President Duane Corbett (senior, exercise science). "We will have several cyclists competing in an ECCC race coming up at Penn State University."
"We ride anywhere around Indiana. For mountain biking, we ride at White's Woods, Apollo, Yellow Creek and more."
The club hosts sponsored clinics that teach biking skills, sponsored workshops that teach maintenance and repair, and movie nights that range from pro-cycling documentaries to basic cycling skills to free riding documentaries.
"We will also be having a free bike maintenance workshop that will be sponsored by Indiana Cycling and Fitness," Corbett said. "Topics will include tube replacement, chain maintenance, cable maintenance and more."
Students who are not involved in the club are welcome to attend these activities, he added.
At noon, March 22, the club will also be hosting a mountain biking clinic sponsored by American Adventure Sports.
The clinic will take place at the College Lodge parking lot and will involve the discussion of topics including wilderness bike repair, body position, riding over obstacles, ascending/descending, risk management and more. There is no fee for the clinic and it is open to all students.
Upcoming ECCC races include the University of Pittsburgh March 22 and 23 as well as Penn State University March 29 and 30. Several of IUP's riders will be competing for the club for the first time.
"I would encourage anyone to join and take advantage of the club," said cycling club member John Blank (sophomore, nursing). "[The club should] look for the chance to involve the town."
"We do charity events," Corbett added. "We're currently working on a basket for a raffle benefiting victims of sexual assault. Last semester we volunteered to help build a suspension bridge in Apollo as part of a community trail project."
The club is for casual, mountain, road and even BMX cyclists. Participants range from beginner to experienced, casual to competitive and road to mountain. One does not need to be an experienced cyclist to join, anyone who knows how to ride a bike is welcome.
"Currently students will need their own bike, but in the future we hope to have a few club-owned bikes that they can use," Corbett said.
He also mentioned an added benefit Cycling Club members enjoy: They receive 10 percent discounts on parts, bikes and repairs at Indiana Cycling and Fitness Center on South Fifth Street.
The club will have set days and times for rides. Join the Facebook Group IUP Cycling Club in order to get more information.
"Just post [on Facebook] any time you want to ride," Corbett said. "We will soon have posted rides on our Web site after daylight-saving [time] begins [March 9]."
The next club meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. March 21 in the HUB Susquehanna Room. All are welcome to attend.
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