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The Battalion
Tuesday, February 20,
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Patrick McGrath, Darren Lewis, and junior Tim Poppe ride as part of their daily schedule with the racing team.
S
peed and the rush of aldrenahne — these are integral parts of the Texas A&M Cycling
Team’s challenging world.
“Racing is really exciting. Sometimes it’s almost like a natural high." Pat! ic k M< < hath,
treasurer of the A&M Cycling team, said.
McGrath said the real challenge of cycling ts the discipline bikers must use while training
for a race.
Mike Ashton, vice-president for the team, said the racer needs to be in shape mentally as
well as physically. The physical and mental endurance is necessary for the 70-to-80 mile
meets in which advanced cyclists compete, Ashton said.
Not all members of the A&M team, however, ride the extreme distances that the ad
vanced bikers do, McGrath said.
Four categories make up the team. Beginners are placed in the ‘C’ category, interme
diates in ‘B’ and advanced cyclists in 'A.’ Women’s racing is in a separate category.
The beginners’ training consists of riding about 100 to 150 miles a week, M< Grath said,
while advanced bikers pedal close to 300 miles a week.
“You really have to push yourself,” McGrath said.
The cyclists ride 12-speed racing hikes. Some bikers use 14- or 16-speed bicycles.
McGrath said cycling is not an inexpensive pastime that an uncommitted person might
try for a hobby.
“The bottom line for buying basic equipment would be around $500,” he said. “ Fhe i cal
good bikes can run you all the way up to $4,000.”
The team uses the bikes to compete in meets with 25 other teams as part of the United
States Cycling Federation, Ashton said. The team also races in the South Central collegiate
division.
The 15 to 20 active cyclists on the team travel throughout Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma
and Arkansas. The team pays for the excursions through funds from the intermural office
and membership dues. They will sell racing team t-shirts to raise some extra money in a road
meet the A&M team will host on
March 31.
Presently the A&M racing team is
ranked sixth out of the 10 teams in
the South Central Collegiate Region,
Ashton said.
Team rankings are based on a
points system. Each rider receives
points for finishing a meet. The best
scores are used to determine the
team’s standing.
Both McGrath and Ashton said
they joined the cycling team for the
challenge and to have fun.
Cycling can be contagious,
though, Ashton said.
“I joined the team to have fun but
once you’ve started you’re hooked,”
Ashton said.
Photos by Eric H. Roalson
Story by Sean FrerkSng
The team meets in front of Rudder Tower every
afternoon for practice.
O
cc
4
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John Pommier sprints in Research Park as part of his daily practice.