Club unites bicycle riders

Biking in Bloomington isn't restricted to only Little 500 riders. You don't need a team, an interesting name or experience to join the IU Cycling Club.\n"We offer an alternative to riders other than Little 5," said club president senior Jason Mount. "The club gives riders race experience and a way to improve yourself and your fitness levels. It also gives you the chance to meet other people that ride and that's always a plus."\nGetting to know other riders is easy to do with the numerous events the club offers. Mount said club members participate in group rides every week and travel each weekend to compete in races around the country.\nTraveling each weekend is one of the most exciting aspects of the club, said junior Bri Kovac. Kovac, who rides for Teter in the Little 500, said the friendships formed during road trips and races are different than Little 500 relationships. She said the club races as a team and is more of a community than the separate four person Little 500 teams. \n"You get to know a lot of people on the track," Kovac said. "The people we ride with on the weekend are some of my closer friends on the track. It's a lot of fun and a great experience."\nFor Little 500 riders, the club can be a way to train until the extensive Little 500 preparation begins. Kovac said the club can especially be helpful to riders who have less experience. \n"It helps give you a sense of race mentality," Kovac said. "You get to know a lot of other riders and how they ride, and then it helps when it comes to Little 500. It's really good for rookie riders because it gives them a good sense of the race if they haven't been in one before."\nBut it's not all fun and games. IUCC riders compete to win. The team took second place at track nationals this year and sixth at road nationals.\nMount said IUCC is one of the stronger programs in the country. The club races against other top programs and other Midwest schools such as Purdue, Wisconsin, Western Michigan and Ohio State. \nFor junior Michael Kehrberg, the club is a chance to ride and prepare for races other than Little 500. Kehrberg races on the collegiate level as a Men's A but has raced as a USA Cycling category I rider, which makes him ineligible to race in the Little 500. \nKehrberg said the club gives him a chance to get racing experience for track nationals and other races he competes in.\n"The club is good training and a good way to get used to the competition," Kehrberg said. "It's also nice to get out and have that experience."\nRegardless of the reason for joining the club, each member agrees it's a great way to get out of Bloomington and meet new people.\n"It's a lot of fun traveling on the weekends, especially going to nationals," Kehrberg said. "We have some good times, some long road trips and fun races"