Racing With the Club

While most Harvard cyclists use their bikes as transportation, members of the Harvard cycling club prefer the thrill of competition.

Between 10 to 15 cyclists attend the club's early morning training sessions each day, says club president Guillermo E. "Ta" Herrera '89. "While we don't discourage recreational cyclists, we're racing oriented," Herrera says. The morning riders travel 20 to 40 miles along one of four routes. When members miss training, they set their own courses in the afternoon, Herrera says.

John Allis, a Princeton graduate who won the National Amateur Rowing Championship in 1974, is the club's volunteer coach. He also owns the Belmont Bicycle Shop.

The club's racing season runs from March to May. Riders compete once a week against local collegiate cyclists, most of whom compete for club teams as well. "Last year's powerhouses were UMass and Cornell," Herrera says.

The club will sponsor a race in Newton on April 3. Last year's edition of the annual event drew about 30 teams, Herrera says, adding that he hopes for a large turnout again this year.

"Our women's team is traditionally our better half," Herrera says. He singles out Renee Covi '90 and Kristen Berggren '88, who was women's National Champion three years ago, for special praise.

Many of the Harvard cyclists compete in U.S. Cycling Federation (USCF) races after the college season is over, Herrera says. The USCF schedule is somewhat heavier than the Harvard club's "I compete in two races a week during the summer," Herrera says.