Michael Roper works at The Bicycle Shop on Highland and has enjoyed riding bikes all his life. However, he did not know about the LSU cycling club until he saw a flyer on campus.
“We’re trying to get the word out that hey, we’re here,” said Roper, who’s now the current cycling club treasurer.
A senior in general studies, Roper got involved with the club in 1999. He began as a recreational rider and through the club he got involved with racing, but Roper said the club is more than racing. The club often takes camping trips where they ride through national parks and spend the weekend outdoors.
“It’s a nice way to get away from things,” Roper said. “It’s a good way to meet people.”
Roper said the club travels to national parks in Mississippi and Alexandria, La. for its mountain biking adventures, which he said is his favorite part of the club.
Kyle Boudreaux is an LSU marketing graduate and former president of the LSU cycling club. He still is involved with the club as a competitive cyclist after competing in several races with the LSU cycling club as a student. In 2000, Boudreaux won the South Central Cycling Conference, which includes collegiate athletes from Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
“There’s a tight-knit group of racers, eight or so, that show up at every event,” Boudreaux said. “Team tactics play a role. It makes it more enjoyable.”
Although Roper and Boudreaux both race, they differ on their views of the club.
“I wanted it to transform into a racing club,” Boudreaux said.
Roper said the club currently is trying to get back to recreational riding.
“We’re looking for a more diverse group because most people now are competitive,” Roper said.
The LSU cycling club has events that cater to both types of riders. Boudreaux said the club is being divided into three sections. One section is for recreational riders that includes group fun rides such as the camping weekends. Another section is for the collegiate racers and the third section is for alumni and current students who want to participate in non-collegiate races.
Despite the different sections, Roper said anyone can participate in any of the events. Recreational riders can participate in a race or two if they choose and competitive riders participate in the fun group rides. The point of the sections is to set up activities that appeal to both types of riders, recreational and competitive.
Roper said the mission of the club is to promote cycling in Baton Rouge and throughout Louisiana, as well as to show students and faculty an alternative to driving around campus.
The amount of time members dedicate to the cycling club varies greatly, Roper said. He said some members get together every Tuesday and Thursday at 5:30 p.m. to ride down River Road.
“It’s a fast-paced ride,” Roper said.
He said some members also get together to ride local bike trails in Baton Rouge on Saturdays and Sundays. Boudreaux said practices are up to the individual, however, and Roper said there are people who come along simply for the fun rides.
“Plenty of people come to hang out at camp-outs and do day hiking,” Roper said.
Roper said the next collegiate competition is in two weeks at Texas A&M.
Anyone interested in the LSU cycling club can attend meetings at 6 p.m. in the quad or see the club’s booth at the organizational fair.
More information can be found on the Internet at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lsucycling.