Megan Wyatt

mbwyatt@theadvertiser.com

A new club aimed at bringing together competitive and social cyclists is expected to begin this semester at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

The UL Cycling Club is undergoing the final steps to become an official club sport at the university, according to founding members Jose “Allan” Brambila and Leilani Theriot.

“We’ve turned in all our paperwork,” Brambila said. “We have our required members, our constitution, our faculty advisers. And we’re slated to get started on the 18th of August with the university.”

Brambila has been cycling for about two years now, works as a mechanic at Acadiana Bicycle Co. and is pursuing his master’s degree from UL in public history.

While pursuing his bachelor’s degree at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Brambila began competing on the university’s competitive cycling team.

“That’s something I felt like Lafayette was really missing — competitive biking,” Brambila said.

The competitive portion of the biking club would compete in the South Central Collegiate Cycling Conference against other colleges in the South.

The UL Cycling Club’s social side will be led by Theriot, a junior marketing major who began her own club called Geaux Bike before connecting with Brambila.

“It will be one big club with two different branches,” Theriot said. “I have been getting an outpouring of responses from students. It is just remarkable.”

The social part of the club will include regular rides around town during the week and weekend day trips to places such as Lake Martin. Theriot also plans to provide UL students with bike safety services and training, such as how to change a tire and how to properly use bike lanes.

UL Director of Recreational Sports Dave Suter said the university has never had a cycling club, at least not in recent years.

“I think this is something that the community will get behind and support,” Suter said. “Lafayette does have a big cycling community, and there’s a lot of people in Lafayette who cycle for races and fitness and fun. This is a good place for a club like this.”

Learn more

The UL Cycling Club is currently undergoing the final steps to become an official club sport at the university. Visit recsports.louisiana.edu to learn more or visit the club’s booth at Get On Board Day, happening Aug. 27 at the corner of Hebrard and St. Mary boulevards on the UL campus.