Get your biker butts into gear this semester and check out the Cycling Club! If you’re looking for a fun way to meet some great people and get fit along the way, look no further! This is the perfect opportunity that is open to anyone no matter what your cycling background is.

We got in touch with Cole Wesselman, the Cycling Club Race Coordinator, to get more information on what it’s really like to be in the Cycling Club. When we asked what kind of community the Cycling Club strives to be, Cole said, “Iowa State Cycling Club is a university-based cycling club that seeks to be a positive advocate for collegiate cycling through group rides, racing, and rider and community development with emphasis on promoting cycling culture.” Basically, they’re a community for students to ride and compete safely in a healthy and fun environment. Sounds like a good gig to me!

“We are open to anyone who wants to get out and ride.”

Cycling Club is as much a sports club as it is a social club. They are incredibly inclusive to people of all cycling backgrounds including beginners.They are also inclusive of all types of riding, such as road, cyclocross, and mountain biking. On Monday nights, they have social rides before sunset. However, because it’s getting colder, within the next few weeks practices will be moving indoors. Fitness and training rides are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30pm along with the Ames Velo, a local cycling club.

We asked Cole what a usual practice would look like for the Cycling Club, and he laid it all out for us: “We introduce ourselves, talk about the route we will be going, the pace we’ll go, and how long it should take. During the rides, we always stop once for a picture. All of the Cycling Club-organized rides on Monday nights are no-drop, which means nobody will be left behind at any point. We stop at all intersections and do a headcount to make sure we stay safe and together.” Cycling Club prioritized both the inclusion of everyone interested and the safety of everyone involved, so don’t be afraid to give it a try!

The Cycling Club competes in the spring semester from February to May. “There are at least 4 races put on by other universities around the midwest that we travel to in the spring,” Cole explained. So if you want to compete and travel a little, this could be the club for you!

Interested in signing up? You can sign up any time on the StuOrg website by subscribing to their Cycling Club email list to stay updated on their activities. They’re always looking for new members! And you don’t have to worry about tryouts; Cole and the rest of the club are eager for new members, regardless of their backgrounds, “We are open to anyone who wants to get out and ride.”