Mountain Bike Club Pedals to Campus

The new Mountain Biking Club rolled its way to Lyndon State College.                                                                                              

Peter Wakeling, a junior mountain recreation management student, serves as the clubs hopeful new president.

Knowing how much he loved biking motivated him to propose the club to the Student Government Association. 

"I wanted to spread the enjoyment that mountain biking has given me and my friends of the many years."

Wakeling hopes to see the club evolve into a "family" of riders who can help each other out with everything from finding parts, to providing rides to the mountain, giving riding tips, or fixing up the bikes.

Wakeling also hopes to develop a race team.

If a race team was developed the club could compete against teams at well-known colleges such as Boston University, University of New Hampshire, and North Eastern.

Wakeling noted that Burke is an up and coming mountain with tons of biking potential. He believes there is no other school on the east coat that has such an accessible training ground so close to the school.

"It's already a shame that UVM is the host at Burke Mountain for the final race of the ECCC series, when LSC should not only be hosting, but putting our kids on the podium to send them onto the bigger leagues of the race community."

Kory Buck, sophomore ski resort management major and secretary for the club, is surprised this is the first time there has been a biking club.

"Being so close to Kingdom Trails, one of the biggest mountain biking trail networks in North America, I'm surprised LSC hasn't seen a mountain bike club before. The interest is there and I think the club has the potential to be very successful."

Along with the members of the Bike Club, Wakeling really wants the club to evolve into a well-known, trustworthy, and active group on campus.

"Unfortunately [SGA] didn't give us much of a budget to work with, $100, in a sport where I can buy bearings for more. We need as much support from our fellow riders and supporters to get us off the ground and on the map."

The Bike Club will be having an Earth day event where guided bike rides through on campus trails will happen. The club will also be offering a bike check service so students can get them dialed in for the season.

Games such as the slow race, longest track stand, highest bunny hop, and a team challenge of who can fit the most people on a bikes are aimed to help people develop their biking skills.

"There will be some swag for our winners of these events," said Wakeling.