Who are we?

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Welcome! UCVC is a cycling club composed of undergrads, graduate students, alums, professors, and other members of the U of C community. We realize that there are both recreational and competitive riders at the University of Chicago, and we try to make everyone feel welcome in our organization.

As athletes, our skills range from beginning racers to nationally ranked riders. We have had two national champions in our ranks, and the club sends three or four riders to the collegiate national championships every year. Everyone who is enrolled as a full-time student is eligible to participate in collegiate races (undergrads, grad students, law/med students, etc). For those interested in racing, collegiate season begins early (late Feb!). Check out the conference website to see past schedules, etc. at www.mwccc.org. If you plan on racing, be sure to order a uniform in the fall.

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The club is a member of the United States Cycling Federation (USCF) and of American Bicycle Racing (ABR), and represents the University of Chicago in the National Collegiate Cycling Association (NCCA) and the Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference (MWCCC).

UCVC also hosts the oldest and most loved bicycle race in the city of Chicago -the Monsters of the Midway Criterium. This annual event draws 400+ riders. It is always held in May on the Midway Plaisance.

Although there are no regular rides, usually one of team leaders will call a friendly ride for Friday mornings (friendly = no-cyclist-left-behind). Given the social nature of those rides, this is the perfect opportunity to get to know other members.

On weekends people tend to go on longer rides (50-100 miles), ranging in pace from "casual" to "spirited" to "gruelling." Unless specified, all rides are road rides, meaning most people will be riding on a road bike. For the Friday morning rides, pretty much any bike will do, as there always will be "slower" riders. But we do take cycling very seriously, so eventually you'll need a road bike (not necessarily an expensive one, just a functioning one). Occasionally somebody will call mountain bike rides and cyclocross rides. Just because we want everyone to be safe, we require people to wear helmets and not to use aero bars (you can keep them on your bike, just don’t use them when you’re riding in a group).

This is a pretty open-minded and decentralized club. If you want to start a new cycling activity, propose it through the e-mail list or at one of the meetings, or shoot an e-mail to one of the leaders. Get a group together and get your project rolling! Things in UCVC happen when its members make them happen.

All rides are posted to the event list on this website and usually announced through e-mail. Everyone is welcome to call rides. Just tell people where and when you want to meet up, and how far and fast you want to go. We generally meet by the Istria Café (57th St., under the Metra tracks). Try to show up to rides on time –we’re all very impatient to ride our bikes, and sometimes we can’t wait more than 5 minutes! 

We look forward to riding with you!