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>> When the weather gets better
in West Lafayette, the bikes come out.
Yeah, the bicycle is a transportation alternative
for many Purdue students, but for this group of riders,
the bicycle is more than just to [inaudible] to their option.
I'm talking about members of the Purdue Cycling Club.
Over 60 members strong, this group of riders uses the club,
not only for exercise, but as a social vehicle
to gather together with other Purdue students [inaudible]
in competitive, as well as recreational riding.
>> The club started out back in 1982.
We started off as the Purdue Bicycle Racing Club,
and we've kind of evolved into a club that's try to be--
try to become more inclusive.
So we've gone from just being a racing club to getting people
of all the different ability levels in [inaudible] cycling.
>> Today, we're having a road race.
This is the 5th time we've hosted this road race,
this one in particular.
We do one every year.
>> Today, we have two races.
In the morning, we had [inaudible] a team time tryout.
We send off teams of four individuals on the same team,
and it's just racing [inaudible].
The road race, there are [inaudible] being 6 separate
races; 2 women's races and 4 mens races,
and they're divided by skill level.
Our course is a short 4-mile loop with a [inaudible] in it,
so it keeps things interesting, and it finishes right
on the top of the hill.
So that [inaudible].
I mean, the basic about this is, you know,
a lot of friendships, a lot of friends.
>> We've seen friendships from the club last for, you know,
plenty of years after people graduate.
In fact, we have 2 guys here today who graduated
from the club at 1989, and then they come back to,
you know, help with the course.
>> We started that first conference in 1989,
and I think we started it with 16 schools.
Some of them were [inaudible] schools.
I mean, we brought people in that had never ridden
in a pace line together, taught them [inaudible],
taught them how to ride as a group, and got people
into training, and it was just-- it just exploded,
and we just were benefactors from a--
what, an environment that was right for [inaudible]--
>> It's just a really constructive outlet, you know,
formed a lot of good friendships that are still, you know,
exist here today after 22 years, after graduation, you know,
brings us back to campus to cheer the team on, so--
I just treasure the memories of the time I spent in the club.
I mean, the second most valuable thing
to me behind getting a degree, you know,
from such a prestigious university.
>> Now, is all the riding in this club competitive?
>> Definitely not.
We do daily rides, every other week.
We just come out and [inaudible] of different skill levels
to the week, but anybody can come as long as you got a helmet
and a bike and you know, will to ride, you know,
we're always happy to have new people coming [inaudible].
>> Now, is everything about this club competitive cycling,
or is there a social aspect with it too?
>> We have weekly meetings on Thursdays where we also kind
of get together, talk about what kind of events we want to do.
The team does dinners on Mondays where we hang out and talk
about bikes and stuff like that.
>> The thing that I like about the cycling club is that I feel
like it's kind of like my second family.
It's just really laid back and it's kind
of where I found a lot of my friends.
>> The cycling club is a lot of fun.
I get a lot out of it.
It lets me spend my free time in a way I enjoy.
>> Not only do we ride together, but we also spend a lot
of time off the bikes together.
>> It's just kind of a way to not do school things.
I mean, it's just-- it's kind of how I have fun and how I kind
of kick back and relax.
>> And it's great.
I live at the bike house with a few other members and--
I mean, it's-- cycling is a very lonely sport.
We-- it takes a lot of time, a lot of effort,
and whenever you have any kind of support, companionship,
just having some guys to go and ride and put the miles.
I race in the A category,
so some of our races can be as long as 80 miles.
So you need to train for at least about 50 percent more.
So our longest rides are 120, 130 miles,
and if you have friends, you have support, it's a lot better.
I mean, you have a great atmosphere as you can see.
We eat together, we ride together, so--
>> If you're interested in competitive cycling,
or just want to learn more about the club,
you can go to purdue.edu/cycling.
For Boiler Bytes, I'm Kyle Cray.