Some ride seven-mile races, while others ride 25-mile races. Some race downhill going as fast as they can off drops and jumps in order to make it to the bottom in three to five minutes, while others go head-to-head with another rider, speeding down a rocky trail with the intent of making it to the bottom in about 30 seconds. Some pay $300 for a bike, while more serious riders can pay up to $8,000 for a bike.
While they all participate in different events, they are all team members of one of the most successful clubs on campus this year, the cycling team. The UNH cycling team has been a club sport on campus for many years. However, this year the team has experienced one of the most successful mountain biking seasons it has ever had.
"Those who have been around say it is the strongest team they have seen," said UNH rider David Schwarenberg. "Every rider returning to the team stepped up their racing impressively. That, plus the addition of new, fast riders, gave us a strong team."
After the 2007 Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference Mountain Bike Championships in Plattekill, N.Y., the UNH cycling team finished their mountain biking season in second place overall, and sent riders from the men's and women's A categories to Banner Elk, N.H. for the Collegiate National Championships.
The riders who attended the nationals on Oct. 26 through Oct. 28 were Sean Berry, Collin Sad, Corey Smith and Stephaney White.
The UNH cycling team participates in three seasons throughout the year: mountain biking in the fall, cyclocross in the fall and winter, and road racing in the spring. The mountain biking season this year consisted of seven races and nationals.
While all the members of the cycling club take the competitions and mountain biking seriously, there are some members of the team who are more casual about it. Since it is a club sport all students are welcome to join and depending on their skill level are placed into various categories. Men have three divisions: A, B and C. C is for the beginner level racers, while B is for intermediate or sport racers and A is for elite racers. Women have two divisions: A and B, with A being the level for the more elite racers.
The team rides on various mountain bike trails in the area, such as College Woods and Fort Rock, which UNH riders say has an excellently maintained trail system, but is not within riding distance from campus. Although the team had an excellent year this year, they are always looking for more riders and hope to get even better in the future.
"Getting second was great," said UNH rider Angus Rose. "We had a solid season as a team and many of us did well individually as well. Hopefully our team can continue to grow so that we can take first next year."
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