The Cycling Club at ETSU was founded in 1998 by a group of cycling enthusiasts to encourage more riders to cycle on campus and to compete against other colleges.
“It’s a race club but also a group where we hang out,” said Taylor Gebert, the president of the cycling club. “We race collegiately with varsity teams and other clubs at other colleges. We do group rides every now and again and get together on the weekends.”
The club has 10 members on the roster, eight of which are very active. Men and women can sign up to be a part of the club anytime, and students of all abilities and disciplines are welcome.
“You just have to get in touch [with] whoever the president is or whoever a contact point is,” said Gebert. “All you have to do is fill out a waiver and you can ride with us.”
A trail system has been established on campus, which includes 5 miles of cross-country trails, a downhill course, two dual slalom courses and a short track course.
Gebert says there is no certain practice time, the club will usually ride from somewhere downtown or on campus when they meet. This is when the members will give each other pointers.
“It’s better to have your own bike to come ride,” said Gebert. “We do have deals set up at local shops that allow discounts.”
The club often competes against other colleges.
“So, there is different categories for each race,” said Gebert. “Last semester I was the only A-class, most of us were B-class, which turned out good because we all competed well. There is also C-class.”
Gebert says that the different classes are levels of how good a rider is or the level of passion a rider has for the race. However, racing is not a requirement to be a member. The club often takes leisurely rides.
“Some people do not think they are good enough to race, but we all started in C-class, so it’s not like you have to be a pro right off the bat or ever,” said Gebert.
For more information, contact gebertt@etsu.edu.
