NIU’s Cycling Club (NIUCC) takes bike rides for training, health and recreational purposes.

Emily Anderson, junior special education major and president of NIUCC, said the club was reorganized in early October after it went quiet when active students had graduated.

“I hope members learn to use their bicycles for fun, transport, better fitness and competition,” Anderson said.

During the winter, the club will hold educational clinics, workshops and indoor training for racing during the spring, Anderson said.

The club meets at the King Memorial Commons or at the North Central Cyclery, 534 East Lincoln Highway.

She said there is no fee to join and members are asked to bring their own bikes, but a bike could be lent if the club is notified in advance.

Anderson said the distance of the bike ride depends on the type, which are easy, moderate and fast. Easy rides are no longer than 15 to 20 miles; moderate rides are around 30 miles; and fast rides are up to 50 miles, she said.

“We use paved trails and roads that go through DeKalb for our rides,” Anderson said.

For their first ride, members met at the MLK Commons and rode through DeKalb and Sycamore.

“I got there really early and wasn’t sure more than a couple riders would show up, but by the announced time, we were 15 strong,” Anderson said.

Today, members are riding in costume for a Halloween ride through DeKalb.

Members find the club to be health beneficial as well as a social event.

Member Vadim Olshansky, senior anthropology major,said he transferred to NIU last year as he was the sole biker at his old college, but he found excitement with the number of bikers in the NIUCC.

“Biking runs up your metabolism, keeps your lungs in check, thickens your quads and calves and grounds your motivation for earthly pleasures,” Olshansky said.

Brian Starr, secretary of the NIUCC, said he joined the club to meet and ride with other members who have the same thoughts about biking for the health benefits and for the environment.

“More bikes equals less cars; instead of driving, I run my errands on bike. It’s fun,” Starr said. “I like to ride every day, and if I do, I go for an hour, so I’ve gotten my heart rate up for seven hours a week.”

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