A compact group of twenty bicyclists rides double-file at an easy pace through the flatlands of North Amherst, pedaling in unison and exchanging tales of UMass cycle racing lore. The circuit owes its name to an infamous training ride a few years ago when the entire peleton crashed on an icy curve. Icy curves are just one of the hazards of springtime bicycle training in New England. Roads are pockmarked with potholes and frost-heaves, covered in sand, salt and melting snow, and sometimes strewn with fallen debris. Lead riders are responsible for alerting the pack to road conditions, but it's a good idea to stay on your toes, anyway.
Punctures are common and spare tubes circulate among teammates like play money.
Especially at the collegiate level, bicycle racing is a team sport. The technique allows a group of riders to maintain a much higher speed than a lone cyclist. Strategies involve when to attack, or break away from the peleton, and whether to chase down a breakaway by another team or rider. And scores are tallied according to the performance of the entire team in all categories of skill level not which individual wins each race. The tight pack of riders stretches out like a long strand of spandex, legs pumping hard, brightly colored Italian shoes whirling like psychedelic dynamos.