Getting around campus has never been easier thanks to the Cycling Club!
It all started last year when the club held a bike drive. They collected old bicycles, repaired them, and donated them to area families. But they had a few bikes left over, and when someone told them about a campus bikes program at another college, an idea formed for their next club project.
Cycling Club members (l-r): Jack Harrison, Matt Fuchs,
Judy Morales, and James Benetzky with the campus bikes.
The repaired bikes were painted different bright colors and marked "Cycling Club." Each bike was also given a special name that was painted on. In keeping with the NCC Spartans, the bikes received Greek names: Arcadia, Leonidas, Spartacus, Draconius, and Athens.
“The idea was to make them ugly so no one would ride off with them or take them,” Cycling Club Vice President Jack Harrison said.
Starting a few weeks ago, bikes were left at the bike rack in front of the Spartan Center. Word-of-mouth quickly spread among students, especially those that live in the dorms. They began using the bikes to get from the dorms to the buildings across the road. All the Cycling Club asks is that bikes are returned to one of the bike racks on campus. Racks are located at the Spartan Center, the dorms, the Quad, and Communications Hall.
All maintenance and repairs are performed by the club. Any rider who notices a bike in need of repair is requested to e-mail the club or inform club advisor Sherri Bollinger, director of the fitness center.
Matt Fuchs, the club’s mechanic, was responsible for the bulk of the repairs. “I’d like to get more donated bikes, in good to repairable condition, to be used for this purpose,” he said.
Next up for the Cycling Club: a bike tune-up event. People will be able to bring their bikes in and get small repairs made for a nominal fee.
The club is always on the lookout for new members. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to join. To learn more, or if you have a bike you’d like to donate, visit the club’s website.
