The members of the Goshen College Cycling Club have set out on their journey of giving the cycling community a means to socialize, stay fit and ride safely. Through three rides and counting, the members are making history as part of the first official cycling club at GC.
The two club leaders, Henry Meyer, a senior biology major, and Levi Moser, a sophomore environmental science major, led the inaugural group ride on Aug. 31, six days after the start of classes.14 people joined in an 18-mile ride that day along the Pumpkinvine Trail that goes from Goshen to Shipshewana, passing through Middlebury at the midway point. “It’s open to everybody,” Moser said. He added that if a potential participant does not have a bike, they can “reach out and we’ll do the best we can to get you on a bike.”
Meyer’s passion for cycling started during the forced isolation of the coronavirus pandemic. “I put a ton of miles in that summer after COVID because it was like, what else do you do?” he said. He appreciated the interactive side of cycling: “It was a good way for me to socialize … while riding many, many miles.”
Meyer also said he likes riding to stay fit and build relationships. “I just like yapping while I’m riding,” he said. Meyer currently rides a Diamondback Haanjo Tero, which is an aluminum-frame bike designed for use on gravel or hard-packed dirt.
Moser said he is drawn to cycling in part because it is “really green” and a sustainable way to commute to places. His interest in bikes began after graduating from high school and no longer being a competitive swimmer. Moser, who rides a Cannondale Topstone 4 with a lightweight alloy frame, said that cycling is a “great way to stay fit and active.”
As an added benefit, Meyer and Moser said that they became friends through their love for cycling. Meyer recounts his first real conversation with Moser at GC began with an observation and a question: “You ride a bike. You want to co-lead a bike club?”
Meyer said this is a possibility for all club members: “This is why you should come to bike club. You make friends. You meet cool people.”
Passion for biking is not only relevant in GC students, but also GC faculty. Fritz Hartman, director of the Harold and Wilma Good Library, has been on his cycling journey for roughly 15 years. Hartman was an “avid runner” until he faced a limiting back injury where he was told his “running days were [over].” This injury led Hartman to cycling because of its low impact. Hartman commutes to and from work on an Independence Fabrication bike that he referred to as his “baby.” Hartman is “thrilled” for the introduction of the cycling club and affirms the safety of traveling with a group. He said “social camaraderie” is an added value when biking.
Scott Hochstetler, a professor of music, serves the cycling club as faculty advisor.
Hochstetler, in a way similar to Meyer, said he picked up cycling during the pandemic for his mental health and to “get me out of the office of my house and not masking.” He recently completed the Ride Across Indiana, also known as RAIN, which is a 160-mile crossing of the state. Hochstetler rode his full carbon bike to complete this 10-hour challenge and averaged 160 miles a week in preparation.
The GC Cycling Club will host themed rides and other related activities. Students and faculty of all abilities and experience with cycling are encouraged to join rides at a “party pace” as Hochstetler would describe it, or a faster group pace. Organized rides are currently taking place on Sunday afternoons and those who are interested in taking part can email Meyer to join.
“I’m just happy that the students are really jazzed about cycling and that they are forming community through cycling and they keep doing it,” Hochstetler said.
