Cycling club gears up for first season ever
With warm weather fast approaching and Spring Break starting this weekend, the USU cycling club is getting geared up for spring races.
This weekend, some club members will race at the Rocky Mountain Raceway in Salt Lake City. The riders will race on an approximately mile-long track for an hour before a five-lap countdown to the finish, said club member Steve Hadley.
Following the race, some members will go to Southern Utah to ride and practice together over Spring Break. Both Hadley and club president Tommy Murphy said most people don’t realize cycling is very much a team sport.
Murphy said riders can save as much as 30 percent of their energy drafting each other. Team members have to know how to ride together and who should lead in certain situations. Some riders may be better on hills or flats, and the team has to practice to know how to ride in a given situation, Murphy said.
“We are new to each other and we have to race with each other to get experience,” Murphy said.
The cycling club is fairly new at Utah State, only officially existing since Dec. 14. Murphy said despite being new, they have about 45 club members, 19 of whom race. The club also has picked up several good sponsors in the past three months, Murphy said. This week the club also bought complete jerseys, which they will wear to race.
In addition to racing, Murphy said the club has had a nutritionist come to speak to them, as well as an Olympic coach. The club also goes on group rides, popular with members. Murphy said the club doesn’t focus on racing because many members are not interested in racing and the club is open to every level of rider, from casual to pro-level racers.
“We’ve got a good group,” said Murphy.
As the weather warms, Murphy said team members will participate in more races. The race season for road lasts January until May, but it’s difficult to travel long distances from Logan to warmer places where races are held. Racers from warmer places are in better shape early in the season because they can ride outside, Murphy said.
Instead of racing during the cold months, the team trains on stationary bikes, taking Spin classes at the Sports Academy in Logan.
In April, USU will begin racing in college races. Murphy said the team will race every weekend for about seven weeks.
USU races in the Rocky Mountain district – one of the best, Murphy said – and competes against schools from New Mexico, Wyoming and Colorado.
Unlike in other sports, pros can race in college Murphy said. He said this can be a disadvantage, but it is nice to race with some of the best riders.
To get to nationals in May, the team will have to accrue enough racing points to beat out other teams in the district, Murphy said.
“I think we’ll do well,” he said. “I think I can guarantee we’ll go to nationals.”
“I’m just exited to go race and to get experience,” Hadley said.
This year, USU does not get to host a race because the club is on a one-year introductory probation period, Murphy said. He said next spring the club should get to host a race in Logan. Logan hosts several races already, including a 202-mile race that is one of the biggest in the country.
Murphy said one problem the club has had to face has been funding. Being a club and only in its first year, the University only provides limited funds, Murphy said. He said the $30 membership fee should go down in the future. Murphy also said the club has several good sponsors, which has helped.