THE UNIVERSITY OF DENVER mountain bike club took its first group ride of the year Friday at Apex Mountain in preparation for the end of the season races
The club is new to DU, and is in its fledgling state. It was started last year by sophomore Chris Erickson. He gathered together a small group of guys interested in mountain bike riding and racing.
He organized the club and received funding for it, making the club official. This is the first year that the club has been active, by going to races and group rides. The group rides consisted of a morning and afternoon ride to give members an option. About five riders participated in each session. The ride at Apex, which is located west of Denver in the foothills, offered a scenic 12-mile loop.
It was fairly technical, with steep climbs and fast rocky descents. It was a perfect day for the ride, not too hot, and sunny.
The club has attended three races thus far, with one as far as Wyoming. The races are for college students only, so the club races against other schools.
Since this is the first year they really aren’t expecting much, just to be able to ride. “The atmosphere is not that competitive. We have about 15 people just interested in riding, and about seven of those actually race,” Erickson said.
He would like to have 10 men and 10 women by next year. To compete one must have a NORBA racing license, which can be purchased at the race for $45. The entry fee is usually anywhere from $10-$20. One of the perks of the club is that they will cover all these expenses, so the rider will be reimbursed. There are three classes: A, B, and C. A is the expert class, and C is the beginner, which means rider’s can find a comfortable pace.
There are still two races remaining this season for anyone interested in racing. The last race on Thursday, takes place in Gunnison, and promises to be challenging. The Friday rides, which are open to anyone, are intended for those who simply enjoy riding, Erickson said. They offer good conditioning and practice for those who race on Sundays.
The future of the club looks bright. It is growing, and hopes to be a dominant club on campus next year. The club plans to purchase matching jerseys and shorts for next year’s season, said Erickson. “We want to attend a lot more races, do well at the races, and have a well organized club.” For information on this club contact Chris Chericks at chericks@du.edu.
