UCT Cycling: Serious or social?

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Published on Tuesday, 27 September 2011 07:35

Written by Caterina Aldera

Image: garethsmit.comWith over 100 members, UCT Cycling Club is growing every year. However, the club is not attracting all of the many budding cyclists on campus. According to Brendon van Niekerk, the chairman of UCT Cycling and a third-year Civil Engineering student, students are intimidated by the achievements of the club’s top riders, unaware of the social rides that take place almost every weekend.

UCT Cycling’s reputation as a serious, professionals-only club arises from the outstanding results of its best cyclists. This year, Ed Greene won the first Yellow Jersey that UCT Cycling has seen in the Varsity Champs in the last 15 years.  UCT also took the Men’s first and second in Mountain Biking, as well as fourth place in Women’s Mountain Biking. It’s cyclists like these who nurture beginner cyclists by showing them how to eat and train to improve their stamina and skill.

There are many highlights in the year for cyclists of different levels to get to know each other, including a pasta evening before the Argus Cycle Tour, regular braais, an AGM, and a dinner. Weekend rides are structured according to the needs and skill level of the cyclists. Each group is led by an experienced rider who ensures the safety of all the riders.

“The club caters for all different cyclists, from the one who gets a sub-3 Argus to the person who comes last,” says Van Niekerk. They attract most members through their Argus training programme, which focuses on preparing cyclists for the big day. 

A weekly time trial allows cyclists to measure their fitness against themselves and other riders. This makes it possible to gauge improvement and, in conjunction with the longer rides, forms the basis of team selection for the key races throughout the year. At this time of year, the time trial leaves at 4:45pm on Thursdays from Tugwell, taking place in Bishopscourt along a hilly course of about six to seven kilometres.

It costs only R280 to join the club, which covers the social activities, while Private Client Holdings subsidises members’ kit and pays for league entry fees. Unfortunately, due to the cost of bicycles, each member needs to have their own. It’s a good investment though, since cycling to campus is economical and convenient.

To reward its members, UCT has a gazebo at the races it enters so cyclists can grab a boerewors roll and drink or get a well-deserved post-race massage. They’re looking at entering a team in the Wines to Whales race as well as the Double Century, a 202km premier professional race, and hoping for podium finishes.

So now that you know that anyone can join, what’s your excuse?