Although the campus has no officially designated bicycle trails, the Bicycle Shop on Highland Road by Raising Cane’s always buzzes with activity, and students discuss Bianchi Pista and specialized bikes with anyone who will listen.
Nearly all the student employees at the Bicycle Shop are members of the Cycling Club at LSU, a subculture that thrives on its team mentality.
The Cycling Club started in 1990 as Team Mountain Bike, but only in the past four years has it become an officially recognized student organization at LSU.
Its mission is to provide organized cycling with a competitive nature, said Cycling Club president Kyle Boudreaux.
The team competes in three types of racing — road, mountain bike and track.
The Cycling Club is focused on its road team right now, said William Cheramie, a graduate student in exercise physiology.
Road cycling is similar to the Tour de France, a team effort where everyone works to support the best person suited for that course, Cheramie said.
Mountain biking is more of an individual effort, Boudreaux said.
The team won first place in the conference in 2001 and was ranked No. 14 in the nation in mountain biking.
Track racing depends more on technique and power, Cheramie said. It is a combination of road and mountain biking, he said.
For those less interested in racing and more interested in simply going for a bike ride, the Cycling Club holds rides every Tuesday and Thursday at Farr Horse Park on River Road, said Michael Roper, a general studies senior. These rides are open to anyone with a bike and a helmet, he said.
“For rides, you can show up with a unicycle if you want,” Roper said.
Students interested in racing, however, are expected to have the appropriate bike, for either road, track or mountain bike racing, Roper said.
The club has been stung by recent tragedies involving LSU cyclists.
Three people have been killed bicycling on River Road in the past year, Boudreaux said. The club was able to install signs to alert drivers that people bike down the road, he said.
They have escort vehicles in front and behind them as they ride, Roper said.
Many people are not aware that cars are required by law to share the road with cyclists, said biochemistry senior Josh Rosby.
Roper said people are supposed to walk against the traffic and ride their bicycles with the traffic. People who walk 10 abreast around the lakes make it difficult for bicyclists to follow the rules of safety.
Boudreaux said bicyclists are in a tough spot because legally they are not supposed to be on the sidewalk, but the cars on the road do not respect them.
“All of us have been hit by cars,” Boudreaux said.
Before students can join, the club makes sure they know the rules of the road and the rules for riding at night, Roper said.
All full-time students are welcome to join the club, Boudreaux said.
“We have freshmen and graduate students,” Boudreaux said. “We have a large demographic selection.”
Interested students can link to the Cycling Club’s Web site at www.bicycleshop.com or e-mail Boudreaux at [email protected].