on the path
By Amanda DePerro
A Cycle of Giving For fans of fun, friends and fundraising, the New Albany Cycling Club is a hit
Photos courtesy of Todd Brubaker and Bill Barrett
O
n Thursday summer nights in New Albany, residents may notice an influx of cyclists throughout the city. The group of cyclists was given a route at the beginning of the week, split based on skill level and, though they’re enjoying the ride, many are most looking forward to that post-ride beer. The group may seem too organized and large to be a resident-organized club, but that’s exactly what it is. Since its founding in fall 2012, the New Albany Cycling Club has become a vital part of New Albany. The club has an impressive website, www.thecyclingclub.org, and clear organization. However, despite the formality of the club, it’s still unintimidating, inclusive and easy to join. People of all ages and genders are represented within the club. The club meets Tuesdays and Thursdays after work, with upwards of 40 people on Tuesdays, and as many as 100 on Thursdays. The Thursday group is split into four subgroups, with group A being the fastest and most skilled riders, who typically ride between 50 and 60 miles each Thursday, and group D being newcomers or those looking for a shorter route. Each group is headed by a leader who ensures nobody gets left behind, everyone follows the correct trail and everyone is being safe on the roads. After all the specifics are worked out, it comes down to simply enjoying the ride and one another's company. “The thing about biking is it’s the camaraderie of riding with your friends and riding with other people and sharing that experience,” says club founder Todd Brubaker. “Some days you’re out there with blue skies and cornfields; it’s beautiful.” Brubaker was cycling weekly with a group of about 20 people. As the group 16
(Top) Members of the New Albany Cycling Club stop for a beer at the Hawks Nest Pub after a long ride. From left: Mitch Mink, Todd Brubaker, Craig Mohre and John Archer. (Left) Bill Barrett with his wife, JoAnne, at Pelotonia.
grew, members knew they wanted to organize into something more and increase attendance. With New Albany’s commitment to health and fitness, Brubaker and the original group knew the club would be successful if they could just get the word out. Luckily, the original group was made up of cyclists with diverse backgrounds. “We have a lot of talented individuals, and everybody was stepping up and bringing a lot of talent to the table,” says Brubaker. “With Pelotonia coming into
Columbus, there is such a focus on biking that people wanted to be involved.” Club member Bill Barrett says partnerships were the biggest factor in turning the weekly rides into a true club. “Girls with Gears was one of our mentors, and helped us understand what they were doing. We also had some input from Phil Heit from the (Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany),” says Barrett. “We had a role model with Girls with Gears because they were a few years older than us. It was to help with routes, training, to get people into the sport.” The club was founded with a goal to bring together a community and promote cycling – two important goals, but not everything. The group is also a major supporter of non-profits, and always has a large presence at events such as Pelotonia and Honor Ride Ohio. For www.healthynewalbanymagazine.com