Frequently Asked Questions
Looking to get involved with Husky Cycling, but not sure how it all works? Here are the answers to some of the questions we get most often.
What kind of riding do you do?
As a club, our primary focus is road riding and racing. We we race in the spring as a part of the Northwest Collegiate Cycling Conference (NWCCC).
Many of our teammates also race and ride XC (cross-county mountain bike), cyclocross, and track. You’ll find us riding gravel on the Olympic peninsula, sending steep stuff in Bellingham, or at the pointy-end of local crit races.
We like to ride bikes. If you do too, come check us out! Best way to do that is to join the Discord.
When are group rides?
During the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters we ride on Saturdays at 9:00 AM, leaving from the Husky Union Building (HUB) on the main campus.
We also have weekly weight training, spin sessions, and interval training, as well as and impromptu rides throughout the week. Check the calendar and join the Discord to learn more.
Are you accepting new members?
Yes! We welcome new members year-round.
Who is eligible to join the club?
As with all UW Rec Clubs, Husky Cycling is open to currently enrolled UW Seattle students and faculty/staff who have purchased an IMA Membership. Bothell and Tacoma campus students who have purchased an IMA membership are also eligible.
How do I join and when do I need to pay club dues?
To join our team and participate in club activities, the most important thing you need to do is sign up in IMLeagues and fill out the required forms. See “How to Join a Rec Club” on the IMA Website for the steps to do so.
Club dues are only required for members who (1) purchase team kits, (2) participate in races, or (3) receive any kind of financial or material support from the club or our sponsors (travel reimbursements, etc.). Paid members receive discounts on team jerseys and bib shorts, reimbursement for some race expenses, and swag from our sponsors.
Does Husky Cycling have bikes I can use?
Beginning Summer 2022, we have two team bikes to loan out to members who don’t have their own road bikes! We’re still figuring out the right system for loaning these out. For now, send a message on Discord or email us at huskycyclinguw@gmail.com and we’ll work it out. Otherwise, if you are looking for an inexpensive rental bike to take out for a ride, we recommend checking out the UWild Gear Garage.
How do I purchase a team kit?
When you purchase a club membership (as a current member or an alum) through our Store, you will be sent a link to the team order site. If you are a current team member (student/faculty/staff), then you will also be sent discount codes to reduce the cost of your items. Kit orders typically happen in fall.
Where can we get in touch with other cyclists at UW?
Discord is our main way of communicating with each other these days. You can join the club Discord server here. This is a great place to find others to ride with outside of our officially organized events and ask questions about rides/training/maintenance/all things bikes!
What pace are your group rides?
The pace for our Saturday group rides varies from week to week depending on who is there. Typical average pace for our core group of riders in 2021-22 was around 15-17 miles per hour. Often, we have enough turnout to split into a couple of groups, and one group will be a bit slower than this. Early in the year when the weather is still nice and turnout is high, we may have 3 or more distance/pace groups that provide good options for all levels. We welcome riders of all abilities, but if you are concerned about your ability to keep up, here are a few things you can consider doing:
Join us for indoor spin sessions at the IMA (where of course we’re all together regardless of pace)
Join us for interval sessions, since these are generally repeated loops of the same hill — we’ll all be close and start our reps together
Send a message out on Discord saying you’d like to join the next ride and what your typical pace is — hopefully you’ll get some takers who want to ride a similar pace to you.
We’ll do our best to accommodate anyone who shows up and won’t leave you stranded. We would love to have a core group of riders who prefer a slower pace than what’s advertised above, so if you want to join but are intimidated by the pace, please come out regardless, and maybe bring a friend!