Get Riding

This story is part of a series spotlighting Seattle University student clubs. In this installment we go inside the Bicycle Club, one of more than 100 student-run clubs on campus.

To broaden the appeal of bike riding in the city and to help newcomers ease into the saddle, the Seattle University Bicycle Club regularly holds a Sunday afternoon social ride, a five-mile, roundtrip jaunt with a coffee shop as a midpoint destination. 

“We had to make sure it’s relatively flat so it’s accessible to more people,” club Vice President Matt Baysa, ‘23, says of the route. “Especially seeing as we are living on a hill.”

Since 2011, the Seattle University Bicycle Club has provided community and encouragement for Redhawk cyclists. The club also makes available two loaner bikes and provides some light mechanical assistance if needed.

The team also joined with the University of Washington’s bicycle club to stage competitive bicycle races, like last month's Seattle Collegiate Omnium in Ravensdale.

The easy ride comes after Saturday’s usual mash fest, where the club takes on a more classic Seattle road route by pedaling upwards of 60 miles or more, which might mean circumnavigating Lake Washington or pedaling around Mercer Island.

“Those are definitely more experienced crowds who come out to those,” says Baysa, who added that the Saturday rides function as training for racing. 

Sunday rides are “fair weather” events that are planned after consulting the forecast and organized using text message groups. They are meant to be friendly, welcoming and open to all skill levels.

“We want to get as many people out as we can and we know bad weather is not super conducive,” Baysa says.

Part of the reason for the social rides is to acclimate newcomers to riding on city streets and there is safety in numbers. That goes for the tougher rides as well.

“There is also the whole mindset of suffering together,” Baysa says, with a laugh. “Everyone else is getting wet, but when you get to talk and laugh that brings your spirits up.”

For information on joining the Seattle University Bicycle Club contact club President Chris Downing at downingchris@seattleu.edu.