A couple of weeks back, my wife and I decided we were going to try to race our bikes.  Cyclocross seemed like the kind of racing we could get into, so we checked out upcoming races and began to make our plans.  Those plans included conducting all of the research we could on the subject of ‘cross racing, including looking at youtube videos and photos, reading about jumping on and off bicycles at entirely unsafe speeds, checking out gear, and from all of that research one thing became abundantly clear: we are without a team.  All these people have matching fancy kits and we want ours too.  But, it’s one thing to be without a fancy team kit, it’s another entirely to be without a team at all.  What if we want to race on the road some time?  A mountain bike race?  BMX?

There are racing teams in North Iowa.  There are bicycle clubs in North Iowa.  There are shops and races in North Iowa.  There are bicycle trails and advocacy groups in North Iowa and each and every one of them perform well and serve a valuable purpose which is much appreciated.  Still, a void became clear within the bicycle culture of North Iowa. 

The North Iowa Bicycle Underground hopes to fill that void. 

NIBU is not a club or a racing team.  Clubs and teams have rules, racer contracts, dues, bank accounts.  NIBU does not want your money.  If anyone would like to sponsor the Underground, that’s great, but no one will make any money from this endeavor.  Instead, any money collected will be directly funneled back into the promotion of bicycling and bicycle infrastructure in North Iowa. 

Are you down with that? 

If you want to be down for the cause, cool.  Soon, we’ll be printing up some jerseys and whatever else people might want.  If you want to wear your jersey and do some racing, super cool.  If not, that’s fine too.  Like we said, no contract to sign, no check to send.  Just this:

Represent.

The Underground is growing every day, expect more very soon.  Thanks for checking in. 

-Ben