2008 Woodie Awards
Cycling club provides social recreation for students
By Mike Mallory
Rocket Editor-in-Chief
Issue date: 11/4/05 Section: Sports
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Founded in 1986, the Cycling Club prides itself on the social aspect of mountain biking, rather then competition.
Adviser Steve Roberts is one of the club's founding members. Roberts was a graduate student at SRU when he along with several others decided to start the club. Roberts said while most people start riding bikes as children, he didn't start until his graduate school days.
"It's an activity that you can enjoy for the rest of your life," Roberts said.
The club rides at several trails relatively close to the Slippery Rock area. Locally, the three main locations for cycling are at Moraine State Park, Kennerdale and Grove City Park. Moraine is the most complex trail of the three. Kennerdale runs between eight and 25 miles of trails. Grove City is an old mining area, containing a number of ridges with shorter rides.
Club President Kaila Woodside said the club, which currently contains between 25-30 members, rides several times a week. Members usually meet informally by word of mouth.
Woodside said the club is investing in other opportunities. Those opportunities include once a month bicycle checks by a mechanic, as well as bicycle maintenance classes at the ski lodge. Club members also teach cycle aerobics twice a day, everyday at the ARC.
Woodside said the club travels to Brevard, N.C. every spring break, riding at Pisgah National Forest as well.
Despite the social nature of the club, a competitive part is involved for interested members. October featured "The Month of Mud Series," a month long competition that has been in existence for over 10 years. Rider's points in competition are tallied for the entire month.
Freshman Dan Wilson competed in the Division II Collegiate National Championships last Saturday at Seven Springs. Wilson placed seventh in the competition. In his first collegiate race, Wilson competed against several pro and semi pro riders.
Most importantly, however, Wilson said he enjoys the free flowing nature of the club more then anything as well as riding with other interested students.
"The club is kind of a network of knowledge and riding opportunities," Wilson said.
From cross country riding, to downhill riding, to simply enjoying the environment, Roberts said the club provides a great opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and do something that you love to do.
"We have a great group of freshmen that are really into it, so we're going to have a very good few years coming up," Roberts said.
