General Cycling Discussion - Starting a club

Ok folks, so it's back to school again, and this year I was thinking to myself... why not join the cycling team... but I was shocked to find out there isn't one! :eek: how could this be?

so I though ok, I'll join the cycling club... there has to be one of those right? :eek: again I was shocked.

so my university (UNLV) does not have a team nor a club. I did a little research and found out that in order for cycling to become a sport it must be presented to the Athletic Advisor Board, (this is so we can get school sanctioned funding) but it is strongly recomended that before I throw myself into the "fire" that I start a club, (which the school will fund if I can get at least 10 members)

Well I went about and made a flyer that I plan to plaster all around the campus. but there are some things I have been wondering about.

1.) most people I see on campus (with the exception of me commuting) ride bikes to get from building to building, and they are dominated by "Next" and "Roadmaster"s, I always figured these are x-mart bikes, and that these people are not serious cyclists. What should I do if these type of members join? I would not shun anyone (no matter what bike they have) but in order for this to go as a sport there will need to be some serious cyclist involved.

2) there are very few road bikes around campus, I was hoping to ride road primarily and mtbs secondary (sorry I'm a rodie... I confess ;))

and lastly has anyone ever done anything like this? can you give me a heads up on what to expect and what I am getting into?

well thanks for the advice :)

I am trying to do the same thing, for my school (Concordia) you need to have a constitution for the bike club (examples can be found easily by searching Google) and then you have to file to become a club. I think the hardest hurdle is actually going to be coming up with the initial members. It is hard to say how many serious bikers there are around becasue I am sure they do not leave their nice bikes lying around downtown montreal next to Campus!

Keep us informed on your progress!

Ask the local bike shops to spread the word to students that come in. They are more likely to see the serious cyclists then you are at school. My local university has a club, i think 120+ members, but i never see then riding around. Good luck!

Originally posted by VegasCyclist

most people I see on campus (with the exception of me commuting) ride bikes to get from building to building, and they are dominated by "Next" and "Roadmaster"s, I always figured these are x-mart bikes, and that these people are not serious cyclists. What should I do if these type of members join? .....there are very few road bikes around campus, I was hoping to ride road primarily and mtbs secondary (sorry I'm a rodie... I confess ;))


Well, in the first place, college campuses are hotbeds of bicycle theft, so some of those people you see on the Roadmasters may actually have good bikes which they prefer to leave at home. Others probably don't know the difference: if they are interested enough in biking to join your club, they will get better informed about bikes as they learn from other members. Most 'serious' riders rode xmart bikes at some point in their lives, unless they were born rich. :p Which come to the point that, if you endorse bike-brand-snobbery and snub the xmart riders, you are effectively barring anyone from your club who can't afford a better bike. Not good--being a cash-poor college student doesn't make you a non-serious biker. I would hope those people would choose to pay a semester's tuition over buying an expensive bike.

As for the second matter, chances are you will have to be flexible. No point making road racing the focus of your club if all your members are into MTB-ing. Still, there's no reason your club can't cover all the bases, and have MTB rides and road rides on different dates...that will give people the chance to try a little of everything. And if you have 9 MTB-only nuts, and only one roadie (you) you still have enough of a bike club to start out and get it financed. :) More roadies will probably appear over time.

People who are serious about fitness will be amazed at what a good training machine is the bike.

The rest will, too.