CSULB cycling team pedals into another season

The future looks bright for the Cal State Long Beach Cycling Team. With last year's most successful season behind it, the team is looking forward to another winning season.

The CSULB team competes in the Western Collegiate Cycling Conference , one of the toughest and largest conferences in the nation. Last season, the team placed sixth at the state championships, but didn't reach the collegiate nationals, because only the top five schools advanced.

Team President Brian Willis said he is optimistic about this year's post-season. "As a team, I think we are guaranteed to qualify for the conference championships," Willis said. "Personally, I'll qualify for the national championships."

There are 26 schools in the WCCC, including UC Berkeley, UC San Diego and Stanford. Some schools have as many as 200 members, while CSULB has approximately 25 members. However, each week the team has been adding new members, Willis said.

Unlike many other sports on campus, the cycling team is a club sport, so members who join are not required to race. The team practices on its own, riding throughout Long Beach and down the coast.

The team receives a large part of its funding from Associated Students Inc. (between $3,000 and $4,000 a year ), but this doesn't cover all its costs.

Sponsors usually contribute about $3,000 a year to help cover the team members' required entrance fees.

Additional money is raised through fund-raising events. Two local fundraisers are The Long Beach Cl assic, a technical course held in CSULB parking lots, and the Post Office CRT, a fast criterium race that is held at the main post office on Redondo Avenue.

"We would definitely do better, if we had more funding," Willis said. "If people didn't hav e to pay so much, there would be more people able to participate."

When the team isn't able to raise sufficient funds, riders must pay for their own racing fees, equipment and parts.

This year will be the first season that racers will have to pa y their entrance fees, due to less financial support.

"We have squat; we have nothing," said Bobby Black, secretary of the cycling team. "We had next to nothing last year, except ourselves."

Male riders are categorized from A (most advanced ri ders) through D. Women cyclers are categorized as either A or B riders.

CSULB's cycling team is co-ed; however, women team members performed exceptionally last season, as Heather White and Julie Freelove placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in sta te-road racing.

"The strongest part of the team is our bond," Willis said. "We are one of the smallest teams but also the loudest. We have the most support for our riders. We're the coolest team out there."

Although the team lost some good rider s last season, team members are optimistic because they have a strong foundation to build upon. A lot of riders are moving up this season in their categories, and about 15 team members are expected to return.

The road-racing season lasts from Janua ry to May.

Willis said experienced or inexperienced riders are always sought.