The Baton Rouge biking community has taken University students by storm, and it has never been easier to jump on the bike-riding bandwagon.
Tour de Coffee, Pub Roll, Bike Polo and Critical Mass are just a few on a long list of options students have to get to know fellow rollers and get involved in Baton Rouge’s world of biking.
From bike rides to bike maintenance and safety, Baton Rouge and University organizations strive to hold events that strive to keep bikers safe.
The Environmental Conservation Organization at LSU, an on-campus organization dedicated to issues like alternative transportation and sustainability, promotes the benefits of biking and participates in local bike rides.
“It’s healthy for you, and it’s healthy for the environment, so why not go out and get a bike?” said Jenny Byrd, natural resource ecology and management junior and co-president of ECO at LSU.
Among riding’s many benefits, riders particularly enjoy not having to deal with campus traffic and parking.
“Biking is a very efficient way to get around,” she said. “You get around faster, you don’t have to worry about parking or parking fines, and there are bike racks everywhere.”
Byrd said she enjoys participating in Critical Mass, a moderately paced bike ride that occurs the last Friday of each month.
“You make a lot of cool friends,” she said. “And afterwards, we all hang out, go to the North Gate Tavern and party.”
The benefits of participating in biking events go beyond the environment, Byrd said.
“I think they’re a really good bonding experience,” she said. “I learn a lot about my bike. Friendly, knowledgeable people will point out things you need help with.”
The LSU Cycling Club, an organization that gives students the opportunity to compete in road bike racing, is another option for bike lovers.
“It’s sort of like Tour de France-type racing,”  said Mark Primeaux, history senior and co-founder of LSU Cycling. “We train and compete together for collegiate racing.”
Though members must meet qualifications to compete, Primeaux said anyone can join the club as long as they are willing to put in the work.
“It’s a competitive, social and service club, so there are a lot of other aspects to the club beyond racing,” he said.
Dustin Drewes, history major and co-founder of LSU Cycling, said the club was kick started last year by members of the Triathlon Club interested in being healthy, biking and having fun.
“We really don’t push the racing ticket so hard as we do try to get people to get on their bikes,” he said. “We just like having a good time, and it’s a way to stay in shape and kind of keep that freshman 15 off for a while.”
LSU Cycling encourages all interested students to try road bike racing at open training races held Tuesday and Thursday evenings on River Road before diving into the club.
“It’s all people from around the Baton Rouge area that like riding their bikes and riding their bikes fast,” Drewes said. “It’s a good way to see if they like the sport.”
The club also promotes awareness and offers bike maintenance classes.
“We don’t really have all the time in the world to stand in front of the Capitol and wave a sign around, but we’re on board with just supporting bike advocacy,” Drewes said. “It’s important to educate all people on the law.”
If training hard and riding fast don’t sound like a good combination, there are plenty social bike-related events in the area, Primeaux said.
“You don’t have to be a bike racer to have fun on a bike,” he said. “There are groups, festivals and big events put on by the [Baton Rouge Advocates for Safe Streets] everyone can enjoy.”
Alise Vedrenne, communication disorders sophomore, said she enjoys group rides because they make her feel safe.
“I just started riding my bike, and I’m excited these events are promoted because I feel like when I ride my bike around campus alone, I’m going to get hit by a car,” she said.
The events make an important bike awareness statement, Vedrenne said.
“They promote sharing the road and show other people that a lot of people ride bikes,” she said.
Adrienne Johnson, library and information sciences graduate student, recently moved to Baton Rouge from Washington and said she likes the easy-going Critical Mass ride because it’s available all over the country.
“I used to do [Critical Mass] back in Washington state,” she said. “My favorite part is getting to meet people that I wouldn’t otherwise normally meet, and of course getting exercise.”
Though cruiser bikes are a fad right now, Johnson said she prefers her diamondback mountain bike.
“People make fun of me for my mountain bike,” she said. “But I’m like, ‘Yeah, but I can ride it up a hill too. Can you do that on your cruiser?'”
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Contact Cathryn Core at [email protected]