New Cycling Club Gains Popularity

As Sophomore Stefano Byer sits at the table next to his friend, Sophomore Duncan MacLachlan at BRGR, an idea comes to mind.

Byer and MacLachlan discuss their plans for the upcoming school year, the things they wish to accomplish and an idea comes to mind.

Their casual conversation in a restaurant in early August was a launching pad for what was to come later –the cycling club.

Byer had to make the first step: getting the club form signed.  Byer made his way to the book-keeping office where (name of book-keeper) gave Byer the full instructions on the proper way to fill out the form.

He was to have it signed by Principal Dr. Krawitz, a sponsor, and the assistant super- intendent.

The request was nearly denied.

“[The club coordinators] didn’t think we would take it seriously,” Byer said.

Dr. Krawitz indicated to Byer that the club had a few flaws in that it is a club that takes place outside of school and may bring upon potential dangers.

Byer rewrote a portion of the paperwork clarifying where they would be riding and that the school would not be responsible for any accidents occurring during the bike rides.  After establishing that the club would not be directly associated with the school and thus the school would not be liable for accidents the club was closer to finally forming.

“I understand the school’s concern for the liability issues and the potential danger that it might have,” Byer said. “I was surprised that it was almost rejected but I am glad that the club was able to be established.”

Byer fell in love with the idea of bike riding at a young age.  His mother taught him how to ride his bike at the age of seven in Raleigh, NC.

While Byer’s mother taught him to ride, his father played a large role in Byer’s passion for cycling. When Byer was very young, his father would take him on bike rides in parks instead of walking like the average family.  These experiences are what impacted Byer in 7th and 8th grade to ride on trails.

“Bike riding is a good way to relieve stress, it feels like you are flying,” Byer said. “It is so much more rewarding than being in a car because you are actually doing the work.”

Byer has ridden his bike for the past couple of years to school. Byer would take the mile ride each day to school as it was a more effective than walking.  Byer said that cycling is a hobby that he has enjoyed for the fact that it is a faster alternative to walking and that it is fun to navigate in the neighborhoods.  Byer has spent much of his time—-(going to elaborate on this)

“Towards the end of the summer I decided to make the club,” Byer said. “I noticed that my friends liked to bike as well and it would be a cool thing to hang out with them.”

When finding a sponsor, the decision was not too difficult.  Byer knew Biology teacher Kimberly VanNice from last year.  Byer decided that she was a nice and helpful person to have in the club and would be willing to be in-charge of supervision.

“As a sponsor, I will have the duties of coordinating the meeting and budget any money that the club gets during fundraisers or other events,” VanNice said.

Byer  and MacLachlan would like to eventually start charity events related to cycling.

“I want to plan a fundraising or charity event with SHARE or Coalition,” Byer said. “I think that it would be a cool thing to raise money while doing something I love.”

At the club meet-and-greet during seminar, Byer and his co-president, Sophomore Emily Sneed were decked out in sunglasses. Byer was wearing his red and black helmet trying to generate interest.  They held up their handmade signs in effort to make the new club known.  At the end of the seminar session, the sign-up sheet had a whopping list of 45 names of kids.

“I originally intended it to be a group of friends and then I decided it would be a lot more fun to do it with everyone,” Byer said.

Byer plans on making the first meeting an introduction to cycling followed by a casual ride.  The club will split into two groups—the Lance Armstrong and —- groups.  The Armstrong group will be for those with more experience and have cycled for a longer period of time.  The other group will be for those who are more recreational bikers. The groups plan to ride around Shawnee Mission Park and eventually graduate to trails.

“The club is for people to hang out and have fun,” Byer said.

Byer is trying to start something where kids can hang out and have fun while pedaling along.  It is something Byer takes seriously.  He does not want kids to show up and not be willing to ride.

“[The cycling club] is one of the very few clubs where people get to leave school and, ride bikes and hang out,” MacLachlan said.

Byer has a plan for the club to grow substantially.  The only down side of a big group is that the places to ride are limited.  With a large group, it is more difficult to ride to farther places.  If Byer gets enough bikers with experience it will be possible to travel in a large clan.

Byer thinks that the toughest challenge is going to be keeping everyone focused.  Although this club is partially social time; it is a time to share cycling with others.  He worries that people will come and not do anything, and instead spend time to talk and not actually ride their bikes.

“I want to make the group as big as possible,” Byer said.  “It would be great to get a group of people that want to ride for fun and do not goof around.”