Wheels on Fire

November 11, 1999

SEARCH THE GAZETTE

HARVARD GAZETTE ARCHIVES

Wheels on Fire
Photos by Jon Chase

bike

bike ABOVE: A renovated barn in Lexington offers a backdrop for a rustic row of cyclists. LEFT: Jeff Barneson, faculty adviser to the Harvard University Cycling Association and Christian chaplain at the United Ministry at Harvard, streaks past some peak foliage in Concord on a Saturday morning team ride.

A whir, a breeze, and a flash of color! A bird? A plane? An SUV? Or is it a member of the Harvard University Cycling Association (HUCA) crouched over a few fast pounds of aluminum and rubber?

A collegiate club devoted to competitive road racing, HUCA is composed of a pack of devotees that includes undergraduate and graduate students, men and women, novices and veterans. Many of the riders who join are beginners, but the ones who stick around become athletes. Recognized by the United States Cycling Federation and the National Collegiate Cycling Association, the team spins its wheels in collegiate races from Vermont to Pennsylvania.

The pedal-pushers are coached by John Allis, a member of the Cycling Hall of Fame and a three-time Olympian (’64, ’68, ’72) who has participated in five world championships.

To prepare for the collegiate racing season in March and April, the team trains throughout the school year. During the fall term, they undergo a 10-week program designed by Allis, which focuses on a different skill each week. In the winter, members focus on weight training, cross-training, and indoor aerobic work. And in the spring, the cyclists rev up to competition level through intense aerobics and the mastering of race tactics.

	LEFT: Team coach and former three-time Olympian John Allis gives some pointers to a rider. BELOW: Harvard cycling team members turn normally sedate Brattle Street into a blur of color as they speed to Belmont for an early morning practice.