What would make you join a university?

incog24

If you were/are deciding on a university, what of facilities, or standard of coaching set up would make you want to go to a particular one? Assuming that the area is good for cycling, and the uni does well in the league tables.

Would a full time coach be an incentive? Or/and Wattbikes or Computrainers and regular tests? Deep section/disc wheels available for racing?

A full time coach would probably eat up the majority of a budget whereas a part time coach (plans, feedback etc) would allow more money to be spent on equipment.

What would make you think, that's where I want go?

Hypothetical situation, but interesting to know anyway.

GavH

Maybe I've missed something here but what has a coach and availablity of deep section rims got to do with picking a university???

Surely you pick the institution based on a whole host of non-cycling related reasons? :?

incog24

Obviously the academic side is the most important, but there will be some people who will prioritise sport over getting destroyed every night of the week. Assuming the academic side is good, what provisions would entice a good cyclist to choose a certain uni?

gavintc

I think a coach would be well down the list of priorities to be almost irrelevant. There are many many more important factors than wheels and a coach. A good course, location, costs, accommodation. If training was such an important factor - join the local club.

incog24

'Join you're local cycling club' is pretty much the answer I expected. Why is it that cycling in the UK isn't really a university sport? In lots of sports universities play a large role, for example in rowing, rugby, hockey, cricket there is masses of support.

Is it possible to change this, and for a university to develop a good team through developing athletes in house and tempting established ones to join? Or do you think that in cycling people will always tend to be dependant on their own team above a certain level?

gavintc

I know Edinbugh Uni has a cycling club and a tri club as their athletes are often out with us on the Sat morn club ride.

incog24

Lots of uni's have a club, but I'm not sure any are particularly focussed and high performance. If you compare this to rowing, probably a sport that is less popular across the country, there are several high performance facilities at uni's across the country (Brookes, Durham, Imperial, to name just a few). Why shouldn't cycling be the same?

wheelermuk

quite simply becuase less people do it seriously at uni age. and for those that do there is quite often a local club which can cater for them.

universities pump money into rowing becuase it's a sport more students do, or would like to do when they get to uni. therefore they get designated coaches and support, whereas there simply wouldn't be the number cyclists at uni to warrant that expense, not to mention nice zipp wheels for anyone who fancied trying out the sport. obviously it would be nice if more students were tempted to take up cycling, but for the few that do, joining a cycling club is actually a good way to spend some time with people who aren't hungover at 9am saturday.

Tom Butcher

I reckon a good cycling area would be the main thing - that probably would have been a consideration had I been a cyclist at the time I went to uni. An active Uni cycling club probably would appeal to me if I was late teens/early twenties. Maybe a local track would be nice. For me a coach wouldn't really be a consideration - not saying I wouldn't take advantage of that if it was on offer but for me the training is what I enjoy and the competition just something I do occasionally for a challenge and to motivate me to train.

edhornby

I'd agree with Gav - the first and by far the biggest factor is the course

uni is expensive, life changing and the reason for going there is to get really good at what you are truly best at - if riding your bike is the best thing you do then pick a sports course with bike specialists, otherwise pick the best tutors, lecturers and facilities and make the best of whatever you have bike wise

guilliano

I'd be looking at the course, the facilities, the career prospects after the uni in question. Simple.

If a coach and expensive kit is what you are looking for why not try for a scholarship in a country that has serious cycling at uni?

oldwelshman

You full time students have it too easy
When I did my engineering degree part time, I had to do 12 hour day, and take holidays for revision and exams, full timers had roughly 2 days to attend, rest of week free, I did not get time to train

teagar

oldwelshman wrote:

You full time students have it too easy
When I did my engineering degree part time, I had to do 12 hour day, and take holidays for revision and exams, full timers had roughly 2 days to attend, rest of week free, I did not get time to train

Eeerr...

Some things never change... Trust me!

liversedge

Putting the four yorkshireman aside and assuming you have sorted you course and the reputation and credibility of the institution, lecturers and tutors I would be looking to see if the uni had a well established and successful cycling pedigree.

Wouldn't hurt if there was a good sports sciences department and lab either that way you can pretty much bet sport is important to the institution as well as the individuals.

Past results etc at busa of course - http://www.bucs.org.uk/sport.asp?sectio ... le=Cycling

eh

Problem is there is more than one kind of cycling, whereas rowing is rowing give or take.

Some quick thoughts:
If you like the track then Manchester is obviously best bet. Oxford and Cambridge are quite time trial dominated with also some road racing. Think some of the northen uni's are more into mtbs e.g. Newcastle & Sheffield. But at the end of the day it all depends on the people at the Uni at the time and how much they can be bothered to organise in the way of rides, races etc.

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disgruntledgoat

What would make me choose a university?

1) Preponderance of girls. Chiefly ex-catholic-school ones.

2) Location. I attended (i'm stretching the word here) the University of Liverpool. It had everything I wanted as a cycling student. Great local clubs, you could be out in the countryside in half an hour AND i was within walking distance of some ace pubs.

3) Course. I'm not the best to ask about this, although in retrospect it is quite important. I returned for my final year 4 weeks late having stayed on in France to do some more racing.

nolf

As to what university to choose based on cycling.

Loughborough have the biggest cycling club as far as I'm aware. They've hosted the BUCS road race the past 2 years, and I believe have over 100 members. They'll have serious training rides and events. However they are a sports university and everyone knows Loughborough is where athletes go.

Oxford also has a pretty good time, but are TT orientated. Mancester presumably have a good track squad, and when I went to Bristol they seemed to have a fairly serious cycle club (training etc) and Bristol is a quality institution.

Contact each cycle club. You have to judge them club by club, the quality of the current leadership, objecctives of the team (are they the same as yours), support, enthusiasm etc. If they seem like a racing club then you will find training partners whom you can ride with. You won't really come across acing teams per se, so have to make a judgement on individuals.

BUCS/BUSA road race results are a bit deceptive as it's an E/1/2/3/4 road race, and the winner isn't necessarily anything to do with the quality of University. Last year it was won by Pete Williams who at that time rode for Pinarello RT, (also won a premier calender, Blackpool GP, that year if I'm not mistaken) and went to York St John's. As far as I'm aware York St Johns don't even have a uni club! (They're just down the road from me).

Someone asked why Uni clubs aren't used as development grounds for more advanced participation and training, the easy answer is that Universities are too inconisistent. Every 2 years (ish) you've lost everyone who was there when you started. This means that every 2 years you need to find a dedicated and enthusiastic leadership to take things over. Thats really difficult! So the quality of the club varies.

At my university we didn't have a road club 2 yeas ago, now we have 30 something members. But in 2 years it might be back to 0...

If you want to base a uni on cycling, choose an area thats got a good racing scene nearby. An ambitious and race orientated local club with chaingangs etc, and somewhere you think you might find a training partner for during the daylight hours. Also some good hills neaby is handy.

Other than that, you've got to focus on you career pospects, whether you think you'll fit in, and a good subject depatment.

P.s I can recommend University of York, good uni, some great departments (especially History, with access to the Minster library and some great quality lecturers) and a good acing scene nearby.

2tired2ride

I am looking at Uni's at the moment and am quite temped by Loughborough as it has a good well know cycle club.

One of the most important factors I think is SAFE space to keep the bikes. Wheather this be in the accomidation or in a club lock up withe the bikes all seperately secure (with space for more than one bike per club member. You don't want to take your bikes worth a couple of grand to uni for them to be nicked.

A comunial workshop where there are stands and all the tools needed for club members to use and share knowlege and skills and even to hang out in would be nice.



There are more things to think about than coaches and wheels. A place to keep your bikes is essential. Also regular trips to other palces by van ect. would be good.

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gavintc

eh wrote:

Problem is there is more than one kind of cycling, whereas rowing is rowing give or take.
c.

Clearly never been near a boat then have you. This is a rather dismissive comment about a sport with a range of disciplines, distances and techniques. But, after all, if you can turn a pedal, cycling is just cycling.

eh

It isn't a dismissive comment at all since at BUCS level rowing is pretty much just 2km stuff, unlike cycling which covers XC mtb, Downhill mtb, track, road/TT, and cyclocross.