All bike no beer: bikers race remaining heats without spectators
Modified Beer Bike races, dubbed “Bike Bike,” were held at the track April 18 from 5-8 p.m. Results were released by email April 21.
Hanszen College won the alumni race, Wiess College won the first heat of the women’s race, Hanszen won the second heat of the women’s race and Will Rice College won the men’s race. According to Beer Bike campuswide coordinator Wiley Liou, the results for the women’s race were split because the heats took place across different days in different conditions.
“Because there will be no realistic way to compare the two heats for the women’s races, it would not be appropriate to stack them together into one definitive list,” wrote Liou, a Baker College junior, in an email to the Thresher. “For this reason, we [released] women’s results as two separate results for each heat.”
Liou said that both the men’s and alumni races were calculated as usual because both alumni heats occurred on the original race day and both men’s heats happened on the rescheduled race date.
In addition, Sid Richardson College did not race during the alumni race due to an ability to fill their roster, according to the Rice Program Council. The result for the first heat of the women’s race came after an amendment which calculated the repeat biker penalty against the Graduate Student Association and moved them down the ranks.
This Beer Bike was the first time results spanned two different days after a lightning warning interrupted the race after the first women’s heat April 5. The original races were canceled after the first women’s heat due to the warning, and the second heat of the women’s race and both heats of the men’s races took place April 18.
Liou said the structure of the rescheduled races was an anomaly and will not become a permanent change.
“Regarding concerns about spectatorship and rosters, ‘Bike Bike’ was not supposed to be an indication of where Beer Bike is headed in the future; it simply reflected the accommodations needed to make these makeup races possible,” wrote Liou. “We hope that [the makeup races] can set up a good foundation for future makeups if they are to be planned by future student-led committees.”
For the rescheduled heats, the relay teams had six bikers and six chuggers rather than the traditional eight. Throwers — pit crew members who traditionally help the bikers push off from the starting line — were also not allowed on the track. Bikers began the race with a standing start and had to begin riding entirely on their own.
Another modification was the ban on spectators. The event was livestreamed in each college’s commons.
“Ever since the spectatorless format was set in stone, our intention was always to have some sort of alternative way to enjoy the race,” Liou wrote. “We were working up until Thursday night to get all the details confirmed, so we’re really glad that Rice Athletics was able to provide a seamless livestream that many seemed to embrace.”
Suraj Chandramouli, a bike captain from Hanszen and part of the Bike Captains Planning Committee, said that he thought the rescheduled event was a success.
“Every team who didn’t get to race got the opportunity to race [at the rescheduled event],” said Chandramouli, a Hanszen senior. “We got the livestream up, which was a big win. We really wanted that to happen, because without spectators, it would have been a bit of a bummer to have no one actually be able to watch the races.”
Watching the livestream instead of attending the races in person, Sid Richardson College freshman Anjali Menezes said she was disheartened by the change.
“I am sad that the races are a spectator-free event because I was very excited and eager to watch my first-ever Beer Bike races,” said Menezes said. “I think the energy and support that spectators bring can really make a big difference for the bikers.”
Duncan College junior Ryker Dolese said the watch parties were able to preserve some of the spirit of Beer Bike.
“Even though the watchparties don’t feel the same as a normal Beer Bike, it’s definitely nice to be able to celebrate with other people in your college, and there still is a strong spirit here,” Dolese said.
The switch to a spectator-free Beer Bike occurred amid concerns regarding the administration’s restrictions on campus culture. The current Student Association President, Trevor Tobey, ran on a platform that included “preserving the traditions that make Rice special,” referring to administration-sponsored public parties.
Liou said he is grateful for groups — from the Student Center to the Bike Captains Planning Committee — who made both events happen.
“We are very grateful for everyone who has been appreciative of our efforts not just in the planning of the makeup, but also for our year-long dedication to the original event,” Liou wrote. “The future of Beer Bike is strong and this tradition isn’t going anywhere.”
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