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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PEDAL MEDDLE
Lawrence cyclists take advantage of numerous trails and clubs
Story by Katie Nelson Photos by Jamie Roper
Jed Schneider, Topeka graduate student, powers up Mount Oread from Spencer Art Museum on his racing bike. The KU Cycling team member said he enJOved competing in mountain, racing and cyclocross events.
t was perfect.
The swooping glitter handlebars, the brightly colored banana seat and even the 'click-click' buttons will scroll words toon
sound of the baseball cards taped in the spokes were gloriously perfect. It was sleek and speedy. It was the ultimate form of transportation.
A kid's first bike is often memorable. The excitement of taking that new Huffy or Schwinn for a spin is unmatchable.
BIKERS UNITE
For some, that passion never fades.
"It has the speed dynamic that a lot of other sports don't," said Jed Schneider, Topeka graduate student and member of KUCycling, a student bicycle organization.
"There is a perfect balance between technique, practice and the physical," he said. "It exemplifies individual competition but, at the same time, you have a lot of camaraderie with your team members."
But bikers don't have to be as serious as Schneider, who competes nationally on mountain, road and cyclocross bikes, said Ryan Lash, Overland Park sophomore and president of KU Cycling.
Lindsey Rusher, Overland Park freshman, uses her bike to get to class from Hashinger Hall.
"it's a lot faster than even the bus," she said. "It only takes me two or three minutes to get there from the dorms."
Rusher hasn't had a chance to use her bike elsewhere in Lawrence, she said, but she wants to try.
When she does, her choices will be plentiful.
"Lawrence, as a community is really blessed as far as biking goes," said Dan Hughes, owner of Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop, 802 Massachusetts St. "We have some of the premiere trails. There is the river trail, Clinton Lake Trail and Perry Lake, which are all very different types of mountain biking. Douglas County has great paved county roads for road bikes."
THOUGH PRICEY, BIKES PAY OFF
Hughes had nothing but good things to say about cycling.
"There is the physical fitness aspect," he said. "It's a low impact kind of sport. If you do it right, it's easy on the joints.
"Plus, there is the green side," Hughes continued. "The more bikes people ride, the less cars there are on the road, which equals less pollution."
Dan Carey, Overland Park graduate student, said biking was cost effective.
"You don't have to pay for parking or a bus pass," he said. "I never have to worry about parking tickets."
But that first step of purchasing a bike can be difficult for some people those like Lucy Scott. St. Louis senior.
"I don't have the money to spend on a bike if I don't need it," she said. "I live close enough to campus to walk."
Phillip Smetak, owner of The Bike Shop. 818 Massachusetts St., said he had bikes priced from $200 to $1,500.
"It's a good investment," he said. "You can commute and shop on a bike. In Lawrence, you can go just about anywhere."
FAVORITE SPOTS
The roads around Clinton Lake are a favorite of Matt Minard, Lawrence junior and retail employee of Sunflower Outdoor & Bike, for using his road bike. He enjoys the Perry Lake trails for mountain biking, he said.
"They're almost nine miles long," said Martell, president of the Lawrence Mountain Bike Club. "It's a really fabulous resource. It's an enjoyable place to ride for beginners because it's not real rocky, and it's real fun for experienced riders because they can go really fast."
"They aren't quite as technical and the trails are always nice," he said.
The Lawrence River Trails, located east of the Massachusetts Street Bridge, off Eighth Street, are Curtis Martell's favorite place to mountain bike.
"Stay to the left side of the loop," he said. "Make sure you are going in the right direction. There are plenty of places where, if you turn right, it will loop you back to the beginning."
Lawrence Parks and Recreation has maps and information about other designated city paths and their regulations. The department can be contacted at 832-3450.
However, Martell cautioned amateurs to follow the rules of the trails.
ZOOM WITH A VIEW
such as the River Trail's travel directions, and little known trails and road routes, are why many people join clubs such as KU Cycling, the Lawrence Bicycle Club or Minard's Lawrence Mountain Bike Club. The clubs provide a way for new bikers to familiarize themselves with the ins and outs of the Lawrence bike community.
The Lawrence Bicycle Club promotes cycling for recreation, sport and exercise. It sponsors many weekly rides and three large events a year, including the Octoginta on Oct. 6. The club charges $10 for a year's membership.
The existence of unwritten rules,
"We have around 200 members," said Jim Turner, who has been president for 10 years. "We actually originated from a KU club years ago."
Lash's KU Cycling is part of the University's recreational sports program. It's comprised of graduates and undergraduates who are both competitive racers and recreational riders.
The opportunity to race is widely available and encouraged, but it is not required or expected, the group's Web site explained.
Students must provide their own bikes and are required to pay membership fees ranging from $25 to $75, depending on their level of involvement.
The Lawrence Mountain Bike Club,
founded in 1996, is a nonprofit member of the International Mountain Bike Association.
it's a good way to meet people who are interested in cycling," Martell said.
The group's 50 members also help maintain the Lawrence River Trail. The club has meetings once every two months at the East Lawrence Recreation Center, 1245 E. 15th St.
Each of the groups sponsors rides and events for bikers of all abilities.
Contact Nelson at 864-4810
EVENTS
This 80-mile tour is the Lawrence Bicycle Club's biggest yearly event, and begins at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 7 at South Park, 11th and Massachusetts streets. Registration is from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at South Park. Events on Oct. 6 also include a 30-mile “Tour de County” at 9:30 a.m. and a SWAP Meet at 2 p.m.
OCTOGINTA
BIDE WITH THE DEVIL
Meets at 9 a.m. Oct. 28 at Clinton Lake State Park. This Halloween mountain bike race begins at 11 a.m. for beginners and 12:30 p.m. for sport expert riders. Fees are $20 or $25, depending on ability level. Fliers are available in local bike shops.
RIDES
SUNFLOWERRIDE
STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES
Meets at 4:30 p.m. Mondays at Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop, 602 Massachusetts St. The two hour ride is tailored to any type of bike. Sponsored by KU Cycling.
Meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday nights at Constant Park, Fifth and Tennessee streets. A Stop and Smell the Graval option requires wider tires. Sponsored by the Lawrence Bike Club.
LADIES RIDE
Meets at 6:05 p.m. Wednesdays at the Lawrence River Trail. Participation fee is $10 a night, which also pays for the post-ride dinner. Sponsored by SEPUSA.
Meets at 6 p.m. Tuesdays at Sunflower Elementary School, 2621 Inventress Drive. Sponsored by KU Cycling, Contact Michelle Jensen at 842-5054.
LAWRENCE AREA WEEKLY MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES
VOMITCOMET
Meets at 6 p.m. Thursdays at Broken Arrow Park, 31st and Louisiana streets. Bikers rida 24 miles from Lawrence to Vinland to Sibleyville and back. Sponsored by the Lawrence Bike Club. Contact Ben Coles at 838-4161.
STOP AND SMELL THE VOMIT
Meets at the same time and as the Vomit
Comet. This is a ride through South Lawrence.
EARLY MORNING SPIN
Meets at 8 a.m. Fridays in front of Strong Hall.
The two-hour ride is sponsored by KU Cycling.
FRIDAY EVENING RIDE
Meets at 6:30 p.m. Fridays at the Lawrence River Tails. For moderate to fast-paced mountain bikers. Sponsored by the Lawrence Mountain Bike Club.
MUFFIN RIDE
Meets at 8 a.m. Saturdays at Broken Arrow Park. Sponsored by the Lawrence Bike Club.
SUNDAY SHOW-N-GO
Meets at 8:30 a.m. Sundays at the South Park Gazebo, 11th and Massachusetts streets.
Destinations depend on weather and number of riders, Sponsored by the Lawrence Bike Club.
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